4 Tips for Movie Theater Dates That Do Not Break the Bank

The price of everything keeps going up, but that’s no excuse not to live a little. Everyone needs an escape from reality, and movies are the perfect way, even for just a few hours.

Although movie ticket prices and concessions can leave you with sticker shock, there are still ways to save. Knowing how to go to the movies without breaking the bank means you’ll be able to have more movie theater dates. Whether you’re going with friends or out to impress a new love interest, these four tips will help you save more of your hard-earned money.

With more money saved, you’ll have more to spend and enjoy. Maybe you’ll even have enough to splurge on dinner before the show!

1. Look for Discounts

The first and most obvious tip to avoid going broke at the movies is to look for discounts you can use at the theater. Some theaters offer student discounts, military discounts, or senior discounts.

But if none of those discounts apply to you, Landmark Theatres’ discount books are an excellent way to maximize your movie potential. When you buy one of these books, your tickets only cost $9 each. You can use them at the Landmark E Street Cinema or any other Landmark Theatre location.

Each of the discount books comes with 25 tickets at $9 each. Even though you’ll need to spend that money upfront, it will save you much more in the long run. There is no limit to how many tickets you can use at once, plus you can use the discount books on Friday and Saturday nights. The only caveat is that you can’t use them on any films designated as ‘special engagements,’ and you’ll need to pay an additional $3 service charge if you want to use them to see any 3D film. Other than that, it’s a great way to see more movies for less.

2. Share Your Snacks

What’s a movie without something to snack on? You’ll also need a drink to wash it all down, but at those prices, you’ll go broke. Tempting as it may be to stuff snacks into your bag, that’s not a wise move. While it’s not illegal, the theater may deny your entry if they catch you bringing in outside food. Instead, budget accordingly to share snacks, like a jumbo-sized popcorn and soda. Besides, if you’re on a date and hoping for romance, there’s something sweet about touching hands while reaching into the popcorn bucket together.

3. Look for Theaters with Food Deals

If you’re going to share snacks, the best way to avoid disappointment is to find a theater that gives you free refills. Some offer free refills on large popcorn and sodas. So, if you polish off that whole bucket within the first 30 minutes of your film, get it refilled and enjoy the rest of the show. The same goes for your soda!

4. Go for a Matinee or Discount Day

If you want to avoid the crowds and save on your movie tickets, try catching a matinee earlier in the day. Since most people follow a traditional workweek, movie theaters’ business tends to be slower in the early afternoon during the week.

You can also look for movie theaters that offer discount days. This means they’ll offer all admission tickets for that day at a much lower rate, even for the evening showings. If you work all day, you can still have a great movie theater date in the evening while saving money if you attend on one of the discount days.

Bonus Money-Saving Tip for Movie Lovers

While this isn’t specific to going to the movies, if you want to have more money to take your date to the theater, try using your credit card with cashback benefits. If you don’t have one, get one and use it for all your purchases. Your cashback rewards will really start to add up, and that will give you more money to spend at the movies and all over town.