There’s an affordable time to go to the movies, and an unnecessarily-throwing-your money-away time to go to the movies. Let’s talk about the former, so you can get to the movies this summer for the cheapest possible price—especially if you’re taking the kids along with you.
The best summer movie theater deals
- Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: Alamo has been doing affordable family movies for over a decade. During their All Kids Camp, which runs in the summer and winter break, people of all ages can snag a movie ticket for $5 until August (some locations have an age minimum of 3 years old). Keep in mind that these will be family movies and will change every week, including new animated movies and classics. The chain also has a no talking/texting policy that they enforce.
- AMC Theatres: If you can wait until Tuesday to watch the Barbie movie, you’ll save some money. AMC Theaters has been running their Discount Tuesdays for some time too. You can watch a film for $5 every Tuesday as long as you’re a AMC Stubs A-List, Premiere, or Insider (free to join) member.
- Cinemark: Every Wednesday, Cinemark offers their Summer Movie Clubhouse where kids’ movie tickets go for $1.50 per movie. The promotion runs until Aug. 10. Only participating theatres will host the event, so make sure to call ahead or check for participating theaters here.
- Harkins Theatres: Harkins Theatres hosts Summer Movie Fun every summer where you can watch eight family-friendly movies during the eight weeks of summer for $8 (so $1 per movie). They usually sell their passes during spring, so if you’re reading this in the summer, it’s too late, but you can keep it in mind for next year. Summer Movie Fun runs until the end of July, and anyone can buy the passes (but if you’re an adult, you must have a child with you).
- Regal Cinemas: Regal Cinemas has its Summer Movie Express, where families can get movie tickets for $2 during Tuesdays and Wednesdays until the first week of Sept. Not all Regal Cinemas participate, so make sure to call ahead. There is a list of movies that will be shown every week that you can see here.
