Photo: SrdjanPav (Getty)
When was the last time you went to the movies? Now can you remember how much you spent between the tickets, food, drinks and anything else you decided to get to make your movie experience that much better? It was probably over $50. And even if you went alone because you hate everyone you probably still spent a huge chunk of change (people use that expressions, right?).
Well not to worry, because here at Mandatory we are nothing but sad, cheap folks who enjoy taking shortcuts to pay less whenever possible. So if we want to see the latest Michael Bay movie (we don’t) we’ll just wait for it to hit TV. But if we want to see the latest Marvel movie, well then we’re just going to have to use some of these life hacks. And you can use them, too.
Time to save even more money! Are You Willing To Sit On Someone’s Shoulders To Save Money At The Movies?
So take a look below at ten awesome life hacks to save yourself a couple of bucks, and we promise that you will still enjoy the show.
So you know where to go from here, folks. Get to saving!
Movie Life Hacks
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Groupon It, Kid!
You would be surprised to discover how many fantastic deals Groupon has. There are plenty of discounted deals that will allow you to enjoy Nicolas Cage's latest masterpiece at a solid price.
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Get Those Refills
If you can't control yourself and really want to get a popcorn or a drink, just make sure to bring that bag or cup back to the concession stand to take advantage of those free refills!
Those high school employees honestly don't give a damn -- they will keep helping you stuff your face.
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Use That AAA Or AARP Cards
Photo: RichLegg (Getty)
If you're super old and have an AARP card, just show it to the pimple-faced box office kid and he will give you a discount.
But if you're not old and decrepit, you can use your Triple A card for awesome discounts. Hell to the yeah.
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Seek Out Those Small 'Indie' Theaters
As much as you want to have a super comfy seat that reclines all the way back, and as much as you want ushers to bring you food, the fact of the matter is that is just more of an expense.
Seek out those small theaters that aren't a chain. Theaters like this still show incredible movies for a huge discounted price.
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Buy Tickets In Advance And In Bulk!
Believe it or not, next time you go buy a massive box of toilet paper at Costco or Sam's Club, make sure to check out their movie tickets as they usually sell them in bulk and at huge discounted prices.
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MoviePass
It's like Netflix, but for theaters. So while some folks may not be huge fans of MoviePass, you still get big time discounts and can go to the movies as often as you want for a single monthly fee. Just make sure to read the fine print!
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Stay Loyal (With Loyalty Programs)
Most movie theaters have loyalty programs, so join them and reel in the discounts and freebies. Trust us, it pays, especially when you find yourself going to the theatre a lot.
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The CineMode App
You probably had no clue about it, but download the CineMode app and actually get rewarded for not using your phone during a show. The app also offers plenty of other discounts if you're a senior, student, early bird, in the military and more!
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Sneak Food In (Forgive Us, God)
No, we're not above that. No one should be. Whether you're using a baby carrier to sneak boatloads of food in or shoving food down your pants -- it's worth it to keep you from spending a ton of cash at the concession stand. Just make sure not to share any food you shoved down your shorts.
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Screw The 3D!
Let's be honest seeing a film on IMAX or 3D is 9 times out of 10 not worth it. I once went to see Avatar in 3D and all I got was a file cabinet popping out of the screen.
So just skip that feature and see the film the regular old fashion way.
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Just Stay Home
That's the best way to save some dough. Keep your ass at home and enjoy the wonders of Netflix, your TV, YouTube or the latest dusty book on your bookshelf.
