Ten tips for saving money at the movies

Want to save money at the cinema? Well, here’s how to do it. Time Out’s crack team of film writers has put together the ultimate guide to discounts, deals, loyalty cards and other tips for making the most of Britain’s cinemas for less.

2. Become a loyal customer

Rio Cinema - © Ben Rowe

If you’re a regular filmgoer, you could save a few pounds by purchasing a loyalty card. Most of the big chains offer some sort of incentive. Cineworld has the most attractive offer. Its Unlimited Card costs £14.99 per month (£17.99 including London’s West End) which should save you about £40 per year and as much as £100 if you see everything. Odeon’s Premiere Club works like Airmiles or Nectar, with ten points given for every pound spent (film tickets amount to around 800 points). Their ‘Classic Film Fan Package’ costs £1.99 for an initial 100 introductory points. Finally, the smaller Picturehouse chain offers attractive deals through its membership system. For a reasonable £39 per year (three months extra free if paid with direct debit), members get three free tickets a year, a £2 discount on other tickets and a saving of £1.60 on the booking fee and 10 per cent on food and drink.

6. Act your age

© Scott Wishart

One of the benefits of getting old is the freebies and discounts that become available on your sixty-fifth birthday. The same discounts often apply to students too. But not every cinema chain offers discounts to OAPs or students, so it’s best to check with your local screen first. If you’re aged 13 to 18, you might wish to take advantage of Teen Screen, a catchy moniker applied to screenings specifically for youngsters. Seniors are also offered occasional cheap off-peak screenings, often quaintly accompanied by cake and a cup of tea. Finally, if you have children in tow (and enjoy a kids' flick as much as they do), take advantage of some of the major chains’ weekend kids matinee screenings. Vue Cinemas figure best here with weekend morning screenings for just £1.25 a ticket.

10. Eat before the movie

© Ben Rowe

There’s something about the smell of pocorn that gets the tastebuds going. If you want to save money, don’t be tempted. Cinema food is expensive (popcorn, for instance, has a 1,000 per cent mark up), so it stands to reason that you’d save a lot of money by either eating before entering the cinema (which is better for everyone else in the auditorium) or purchasing your snacks at a local shop. No major cinema chain to our knowledge has a policy that excludes the consumption of foodstuffs bought elsewhere. Nevertheless, subtlety is the order of the day. So don’t blow it by rocking up with a burger and fries.