September 5 2007: Saving on Movie Tickets
In a second installment of “how to save money”, today I’m focusing on movie tickets.
Going to the cinema is a guilty pleasure of mine. There’s something special about sitting in a dark room, all cares and worries soothed away by the sheer delight of immersing myself in someone else’s narrative for a couple of hours. However, it’s a pricey hobby, with each student movie ticket costing at least $12AUD. I personally don’t call that a student discount - what film buff of a student could afford $12AUD once a week?
In any case, I’ve found creative ways to get around having to pay that much for a single movie ticket. eBay is the source of all things good and cheap, and movie tickets are no different.
Earlier this year, I bought a double pass to Paris Je T’aime (very funny and quirky French movie) for the grand total of $4AUD. Then I bought a double pass to Knocked Up for $13AUD. A double pass to I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry for $14.50AUD. A double pass to Evan Almighty for $13AUD. And then, five pre-purchased movie ticket vouchers for $38AUD. All these were bought within days of the film’s release, or in the case of Evan Almighty, before the film was even released.
Essentially, I bought 13 movie tickets for $82.50AUD - half of what I would have paid if I’d bought them directly from the ticket office. Obviously, eBay is the shizz.
Alternatively if you have a fear of online shopping, most Australian cinemas have something called a “Tight Arse Tuesday”, where all movie tickets cost about $8-9AUD. I don’t know if the same concept applies in foreign cinemas, but look into it. You won’t save as much…but you’ll still save.
12 Responses to “Saving on Movie Tickets”
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Thats a great tip, I never thought about buying tickets on ebay. We have cheap Tuesday here in Perth where the tickets cost $11-12, normal price is $15-17. Theres a cinema here (really old historical type one) that is still reasonably comfortable and tickets cost around $7. It only shows movies that have already come and gone (about 2-3 months behind) but it gives you a chance to catch anything you may not have gotten a chance too, before it comes out on DVD.
I reckon the most expensive thing at the movies is food. You used to be allowed to bring your own from home etc as long as it wasn’t hot food like chips, but now you aren’t allowed to. We usually just smuggle some popcorn/lollies in my oversize handbag and buy a drink.
Reply: Yeah, I never buy food in the cinemas, they’re ridiculously overpriced. :S I usually drop by Safeway or Coles first, buy a can of soft drink and a bag of lollies/chips, and take that into the cinema in my bag.
Bobbi-lee on September 5 2007 #
Wow. You can buy movie tickets from the net? But don’t they have session times printed on them?
Reply: Nope, they’re printed double passes that are generally distributed by the production company to random members of society to generate interest in the film - these people then sell them on eBay. You take the double pass to any cinema, and get two tickets to the movie (any session you like) in return.
Rilla on September 5 2007 #
Yeah, movie ticket are around 2 RON less (they generally cost around 6 -8RON; 1USD = 2.3RON) on Tuesday… hmm seems this is an international concept…. never knew
Of course, I can never be arsed to go to these, since I’m already half dead from work :P So that’s why I only go once in a blue moon…. or when my friends who’s also a movie addict like you, gets extremely insistent.
Whichever comes first.
Vera on September 5 2007 #
In SA we have half price on Tuesday evenings. Movie tickets then cost about ZAR20.00. I agree snacks in the movies normally cost alot more than inside.
ebie on September 5 2007 #
Everything is cheap on Tuesdays, from cinema’s, DVD rentals, pizza..everything. I think it’s because Tuesday is pension day and so it has become tradition for cheap tuesdays.
Bobbi-lee on September 5 2007 #
If you watch movies from Greater Union a lot, I recommend joining their Cinebuzz club (it’s free, with only an online registration). Every week, they have a currently-screening movie going for $8 a ticket for cinebuzz members (and you can buy more than one ticket for that price). Plus there are prizes and stuff you go into the draw for.
Reply: Greater Union cinemas are generally located in QLD and NSW. There’s just the one here in Melbourne in the CBD, so it’s really too much hassle (and travel time/money) to get out there for a movie. :) Village Cinemas has a similar deal as well though.
Belinda on September 5 2007 #
You cannot do this for people in the sticks. If you could, I’d probably be living at the cinema by now.
Tracey on September 5 2007 #
Here we have orange wednesdays!
Anastasia on September 5 2007 #
If you want the ultimate in cheap cinema: be my brother in law! After thirty years of working in the film industry as a ‘grip’ (the guy who carries the cameras around — he worked on ‘Evil Angels’, where he even got a speaking role, and lots more) Village Cinemas gave him a free lifetime pass. Free films forever…
Peter on September 5 2007 #
Belinda-thats a great tip, I never thought of joining a movie club before. They have about 6 Greater Unions here, and the closest cinema to where I live is Greater Union.
Bobbi-lee on September 6 2007 #
On Tuesdays, it’s half price; almost $5CAD compared to the regular $10. Guess which day I go?
Kaylee on September 6 2007 #
[...] such things on a budget. I buy plane tickets on sale, and stay at youth hostels when I travel. I buy discount movie tickets on eBay so that I can spend time with friends and loved ones without paying full price for such privileges. [...]
Jingwen » Blog Archive » Frugalista on November 26 2008 #