Savings at the cinema

Going to the movies doesn’t have to blow the budget if you’re flexible enough to attend during off-peak times.

Most cinemas offer discounts on particular days of the week – usually Mondays or Tuesdays – when adult tickets can cost as little as $6.50. Event Cinemas also have $8 Mondays for students, and some Hoyts screen selected “Matinee Movies” before 5pm for between $9 and $15.

But as with most special deals, make sure you read the terms and conditions before getting too excited. Some cinemas charge extra for premium screens and 3D, while some others don’t discount these sessions at all.

Break the chains

While they may not have the huge screens or the variety, the local independent may well be a cheaper way to take the family to the movies.

CHOICE readers reported their satisfaction with several local cinemas. There are savings to be had at Brisbane’s Cineplex chain (up to $8.50 adults, $4.50 child), Sydney’s Dumaresq Street Cinema (all tickets $6), Adelaide’s Odeon Star Semaphore Cinemas ($8 all tickets), and Melbourne’s Australian Cinemas Croydon (up to $11.50 adult, $7.50 child for 2D), among others.

“I now almost always go to a small community cinema,” says Peter Christie. “It is old and dusty and plays only a selection of latest releases. However, tickets are good at $8 to any session. I still think that the cinema is a thrill and have gone to the odd midnight premiere and totally enjoyed the experience with a group of complete strangers, some of whom still like to dress up.”

Outdoor cinemas and drive-ins are also seeing something of a resurgence, with some CHOICE members happy to watch from the comfort of the car. Some are seasonal, but most are comparatively better value.

Forget the extras

Even 3D pioneer and director James Cameron admits that seeing movies in 3D doesn’t always add to the quality of the experience, but it almost always adds to the price. Similarly, while it can be nice to watch films on larger screens, they often come with a fee. If you’re happy enough to watch 2D movies on traditional-sized screens, stick to these cheaper sessions.

For those on a budget, avoiding the concession stand is also compulsory. The heavenly smell of buttery popcorn has long been associated with the movie experience, but is it really worth $10 a tub? Do you really need that soft drink if it’s going to cost you $5? Save your cash and maybe some kilojoules by bringing your own drinks and snacks with you.

It’s particularly easy if you’re going to a cinema that’s in a shopping centre - “We buy our snacks from the supermarket near the cinemas as it's much cheaper,” says Mel McDonald. Many cinemas will allow you to bring (reasonable) food with you – just don’t try to sneak in a curry, or any other hot food.

A family of two adults and two concession-card carrying students seeing a standard movie on a Saturday night at Hoyts Broadway, NSW will pay $67 for tickets alone ($18 adults, $15.50 concessions). A trip to the candy bar adds to the expenses – a bag of Starburst Rattlesnakes (180g, $5.10), a packet of Red Rock Deli chips (90g, $4.40), two small cups of soft drink (600ml, $5.20 each) and two Magnum ice creams ($4.90 each), and their evening out costs them a total of $96.70. Not that they would necessarily know how much they had each been charged – receipts are provided on request, aren’t itemised, and snack prices aren’t displayed in plain sight.

Broadway, Sydney

Sydney CBD

Savings to be had

A family of four can save dosh by going to the same cinema on a Tuesday, when tickets to standard screenings are $11. Downstairs at Coles they’ll pay far less for identical snacks: $2.49 for the Starburst, $2.57 for the chips, $6.90 for two 600ml bottles of Coca Cola soft drink, and $6.60 for two Magnum ice creams. The cheaper entire outing costs $62.56, less than they’d pay for just tickets on the Saturday, a total saving of over $34.

Join the club

In an effort to encourage return business and brand loyalty some cinemas offer cheap days, discounted or free tickets and cheaper snacks for members. In some cases, like Event Cinema’s Cine Buzz, joining up costs nothing. In others, like Palace Cinemas’ Movie Club, you may have to fork out an annual fee, but this often pays for itself in the form of gift vouchers upon joining and on your birthday.

Some cinemas also have dedicated seniors, kids or parents clubs, and in some cases is may be well worth joining - members of the Event Cinemas Seniors Club pay $8 for movies (excluding Saturdays after 5pm).

If you’re unwilling or unable to join up at the cinema, a third party discounter may do the trick. Members of some motoring associations and health funds, including the NRMA, RACQ, and Medibank Private, are eligible for discounted tickets. The downside is that they generally need to be bought in advance from the third party. Discounts are also often available through university bookshops, though you may need to be a student or on faculty to take advantage.

Another option is to purchase a Kare Kard or Entertainment Book, sold by charities, community organisations and clubs for fundraising throughout Australia. Kare Kards, which are sold online, cost $49.95, with $10 going to an organisation of the buyer’s choice. Tickets bought with a Kare Kard are up to 35% off. Entertainment Books, available through third parties only, cost between $50 and $65, with 20% of earnings going to the seller. Tickets bought with vouchers from the book are up to 50% off.

Foreign exchange

“Why are we charged so much in comparison with the US?” asks CHOICE reader Alison Reilly. An indignant Helena Kearns added: “It's less than half price in the United States and Europe!”

Alison and Helena are on to something. The average price of a movie ticket in Australia for 2010 was $12.98.

In the United States, though, the average ticket cost just $US7.89 (approximately AUD$7.40). If you’re willing to wait a couple of months, you can even catch second and third run films in 3D at the Starplex Cinemas in California for $US2, or $US1 on Tuesdays. Snacks are cheap as chips too – hot dogs are $US1.

A movie ticket in the UK will set you back on average £5.95, or around $9. But if you cough up the £10 annual membership fee, the Prince Charles Cinema in London screens classic films for as little as £1.50 a pop.

As for our trans-Tasman neighbours? They pay on average $NZ11.05 (AU$8.55) for a 2D movie, and around $NZ2-3 extra for 3D.