Movie theaters make a big chunk of their operating costs by adding a markup of as much as 85% on concessions. Who can blame them? The studios take most of the ticket profits for the first three weeks of a show’s run. Knowing that, I usually (but not always) hit the concessions stand.
Also: Kettle corn!
One study suggests the average film-snack expenditure is a whopping $16.43. With the average 2024 ticket price at $10.78, a night out at the movies can get pretty costly pretty quickly.
Sure, you could stay home and stream. But there’s just something magical about sharing a film with a room full of other fans.
Milk Duds or kettle corn can be part of that magic, and if you use one or more of the following tactics, you’ll pay less. Enjoy the show!
1. Pre-order your snacks
Sure, you say you’re going to stick with a small popcorn or box of candy. Yet the smell of movie popcorn destroys all reason and you find yourself ordering a supersized box — and maybe a supersized drink since all that salt will make you thirsty.
One way around that is to pre-order with a service like Cinemark’s “Snacks in a Tap.” The goodies will be waiting when you arrive, which might keep you from getting in line and ordering more.
The movie service Fandango announced in May 2024 that it’s offering a similar service for those buying AMC Theatres’ tickets. The company plans to expand to other chains in the near future.
2. Split your snacks
Suppose that a medium popcorn is $6, but a giant one with a free refill is $9. The math is easy on this one: Split the cost of a giant popcorn with a friend or friends.
Not that you should all be pawing into the same bucket, mind you. Instead, bring a couple of folded-up bags in your pocket, or have your friend(s) bring their own bags or bowls.
Pro tip: If you get the free-refill popcorn, dump and divide immediately so you can get the refill then and there. After all, a really long movie like “Oppenheimer” might require extra sustenance. Otherwise, take the extra home and enjoy it over the next few nights of streaming entertainment.
3. Join a free loyalty program
Theater companies want your business and are willing to offer some perks to get it. For example, Regal Entertainment’s Regal Crown Club gives you points for buying movie tickets; these credits can be traded for soft drinks or popcorn. You’ll also get a free popcorn during your birthday month, 25% off candy on Mondays and 50% off popcorn on Tuesdays.
Cinemark’s Movie Rewards program lets you trade in points for free tickets and other items. It also gives you an extra price cut on Discount Tuesday and a treat on your birthday. Members of AMC’s Stubs Insider also get an additional discount on Discount Tuesdays, when a small popcorn/drink combo is reduced to $5. Members also earn points to trade in for concessions, free refills on large popcorn purchases and a free birthday popcorn.
Every time you use one of these programs, you’re saving a little upfront plus earning points for the future. And you don’t have to pay to join!
Unless you want to take it a step further and …
4. Join a paid loyalty program
For me, that’s Cinemark’s “Movie Club,” which costs $10.99 per month and offers one free movie per month, among other perks. Here’s the beauty part: You can use that movie credit at the concessions stand — where it’s worth $11.99. That’s a savings every time I buy my great-nephew his popcorn and Hi-C to enjoy during the latest Marvel blockbuster.
Regal, AMC and other chains have their own versions of paid loyalty plans; in fact, AMC has three membership tiers. You’ll get perks such as free soft drink and popcorn size upgrades, waived online ticket fees and no upcharge for premium formats.
Remember: Every ticket fee or upcharge you don’t have to pay can be applied to those Sour Patch Kids or Junior Mints.
5. Go for the refillables
Some theater chains offer plastic refillable popcorn buckets and drink cups, which let you load up at a discount. You’ll pay a pretty penny upfront; for example, the AMC bucket cost $24.99 ($20.99 for Stubs members) for 2024. But if you’re a regular moviegoer who must have snacks and sips, it might be worth it overall.
Pay attention to the size of the offerings. The Regal bucket is equivalent to a large popcorn and its cup is equivalent to a small soft drink; refilling them costs $6 and $4, respectively. However, you can get a free same-day refill at Regal if you show a valid receipt (AMC also offers this perk).
6. Eat slowly
According to LiveScience.com, it takes up to 20 minutes for your body to realize that it’s full. Heck, some of us can burn through half of a large popcorn in that amount of time (especially if we’re sharing with someone).
Next time you’re at the movies, try this:
- Buy a small popcorn.
- Eat one or two kernels at a time, instead of stuffing it in by the handful.
- Sip your drink every so often.
- Finally, listen to your body. If you’re feeling full, stop eating and concentrate on the movie.
You could wind up taking home half the popcorn, along with a smug feeling of having saved a ton of money (not to mention calories).
7. Share drinks
Seeing the movie with someone? Bring a cup and pour half the soft drink into it once you’ve paid. Even the biggest one is likely cheaper than buying two small soft drinks.
If you’re at the movies with a partner, you might opt to skip the extra cup and just share a straw. After all, you’re presumably swapping germs on the regular.
You could also ….
8. Skip the drinks
Instead of buying a soft drink, bring a cup or an empty bottle and fill it at the water fountain. Easy enough.
If the water in your city isn’t much fun to drink, bring a flavored drink packet or bottle of flavor drops. Since some of those products have fancy flavors like blackberry mojito and raspberry lemonade, it might be better than anything you could get at the concessions stand anyway.
Pro tip: If you like your beverages really cold, bring two bottles — and freeze one of them half-full of water the night before. Use the second bottle to add more water and/or flavoring as needed.
9. Skip/cut back on concessions
Make it a small popcorn and, as noted earlier, eat just one or two pieces at a time. Enjoy each kernel fully, versus mindlessly shoveling in the snack.
Other tactics:
- Tell yourself you’ll have popcorn every other trip to the flicks, rather than automatically hitting the concessions stand.
- Opt for just a small drink and no popcorn for very suspenseful or scary films. That way you won’t spill the precious kernels when a shocking plot twist lifts you halfway out of your seat.
- Carry sugar-free gum at all times and pop a piece in your mouth right after you buy the ticket. That rush of sweetness can propel you past the concessions stand.
Would it be more fun to eat and drink whatever you want? Sure. But if you’re on a tight budget, reining in the treats means you can see more movies.
10. Look for Groupon deals
A quick search brought up deals like 37% off a regular popcorn at AMC and 12% off a small popcorn or a snack pack at Regal. These deals come and go, of course, but you might luck into one next time you hit the flicks. Worth a shot!
Pro tip: If you order a Groupon deal through a cash-back shopping site like Rakuten or Mr. Rebates, you can get up to a 4% rebate. Again, every little bit helps.
11. Buy discounted gift cards
A discounted movie gift card isn’t just for the box office. Use it at the concessions stand too.
My movie-watching buddy, who’s also a Costco member, scored us some Cinemark gift cards at a 20% discount. Cards for other theater chains, such as AMC, Regal Entertainment and Alamo Drafthouse, are also available at Costco and Sam’s Club.
Don’t have a Costco membership? Online companies like CardCash.com and The Gift Card Exchange sell movie gift cards at discounts from 7.4% to 12.6% off. Ain’t no Milk Duds like discounted Milk Duds.
12. Buy the most filling snacks
Chocolate-covered peanuts have about 12 grams of protein per 3.5-ounce movie theater box. As noted earlier, eat them slowly and wait for your body to acknowledge that it’s being given protein along with the chocolate.
Another option: Buy the most self-limiting snacks. For example, one of those Big Papa sour pickles doesn’t need an encore. The cumulative burn of a cinnamon-flavored candy like Hot Tamales can keep you from wanting another box.
13. Look for senior discounts
Some theaters have “Senior Day” discounts that are lower than the daily discounts. Whatever day you choose to go, paying less to get in means more money to spend on pretzel bites.
One chain, Marcus Theatres, offers a “Young at Heart” discount for the 60-and-over crowd. Before 4 p.m. every Friday, they can get a hot dog for $3 or a 14-oz. soda or 44-oz. popcorn for $3.50.
Pro tip: That Senior Day ticket discount might not be as good as the Discount Tuesday deal at some theaters. The Cinemark in my city prices Senior Day tickets at $6.75, but tickets on Discount Tuesday are $5.50 ($5 if you join the free Movie Rewards program).
For a list of chains that offer price breaks, see “5 Movie Theater Chains With Senior Discounts.
14. Eat before you go
A tried-and-true grocery shopping hack is to eat before you head to the supermarket. Everything looks so good when you go in hungry, which makes it more likely you’ll overbuy.
Never grocery-shop when you’re starving — and try not to go to the movies on an empty stomach either. Choose a post-lunchtime screening or have a protein snack before you leave the house. The less peckish you feel, the greater the chance that a small popcorn will do it for you.
