With so many different ways to watch a movie via all of the different streaming services and apps, one might wonder why they ever bother with the cinema - least not when blockbusters find themselves on said services in a matter of weeks, sometimes. But let's be honest - nothing quite beats that feeling of togetherness and shared experience of watching a brand new release on the big screen.
And with so many great new movies out - from Mario Brothers to Dungeons and Dragons - now feels like the perfect time to plan a visit.
But a trip to the cinema can get expensive when you start adding things like luxury seats or premium snacks. So, we've rounded up some of the easiest ways to get cheaper, or even free, cinema tickets to watch your favourite films.
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From tripling your Clucard points to purchasing travel insurance for £1 - here are some of the ways you can save money on your next date night or family film day.
Mobile reward apps
Film fans who are on Vodafone or Three mobile networks have the chance to get discounted cinema tickets via their phone apps.
Shoppers who are on Vodafone can get two weekly Vue tickets for just £7 via the VeryMe app. Customers can use the VeryMe Rewards code to but two Vue e-codes online, which can be exchanged for a ticket when booking a screening online or at a Vue Cinema.
The deal is currently running until April 30, but the deal circulates quite regularly so it’s always worth checking the app if you’re planning a trip. The codes are only valid for one hour after claiming the offer, so be sure to have a movie and date in mind before claiming.
Meanwhile, those who have the Three+ Rewards app can claim one £3 cinema ticket a week, which can be used from Friday to Sunday. Similarly to Vodafone, the code is limited, but expired the Sunday after being issued if it isn’t redeemed. New codes will be available each week until the offer expires, which is currently listed as November 7, 2023 on the Three website.
You can book your cinema ticket online in advance any day of the week using your code but the offer is only available for movies on Friday-Sunday (any time of day). A booking fee of 75p is added for online bookings. Alternatively book in person at the cinema for no booking fee.
Meerkat Movies
Another way to get cheaper cinema tickets is through the Meerkat Movies scheme, which gets you two-for-one cinema tickets every Tuesday or Wednesday for a whole year.
Valid at most UK cinemas like Odeon and Vue, shoppers can buy any qualifying product via the price comparison website Compare The Market, to benefit from the scheme.
Some of the qualifying products include certain insurance, switch utilities, or financial products, but the cheapest we’ve found is one night's UK travel insurance for one person, which you can get for as little as £1.01, even if you’re not actually planning a trip - it’s still cheaper than paying full price for a ticket!
After purchasing the qualifying product, shoppers can sign into their Compare The Market account and claim the two-for-one rewards, download the Meerkat app and reveal the weekly codes and present it at the box office, or enter it when you book online.
Supermarket deals
Did you also know that you can snap up cut-price cinema tickets with your weekly food shop?
Until July 2, 2023, Asda shoppers who purchase a qualifying pizza meal deal from the pizza counter are eligible to claim either a Sky Store online movie voucher or a Vue cinema ticket for free.
Customers will need to head to the Movie Nights In site to upload a photo of their receipt featuring the £6 pizza deal, which will then be reviewed. If the redemption is successful, the link to the voucher and instructions on how to claim it will be emailed, and customers will have 14 days to redeem it.
Tesco shoppers can also save money on tickets with their Clubcard points. Until June 14, customers can turn every 50p worth of vouchers into £1.50 to use with Cineworld. After June 14, the value will be reduced to £1.
Tesco Clubcard members can select the number of Clubcard vouchers they want to exchange, and can top up the price difference on the cinema website if needed. Shoppers will then receive an email with the partner code, or will receive it in-app within 15 minutes if the order was placed via the app.
Kids offers
At Vue cinemas, families can go to the cinema on weekends from only £2.49 per person as part of their mini mornings. Children and family friendly films run as part of the offer every Saturday and Sunday morning from 10am, plus every day in the school holidays.
Similarly, Cineworld has a family ticket deal where adults pay kids’ prices, valid for groups of four with up to two adults, making for a more affordable trip out for the whole family.
Annual subscriptions
If you plan to go to the cinema on a regular basis it may be worth looking at some annual subscriptions, which you can get at Odeon and Cineworld.
The Cineworld unlimited membership enables you to see any film at any time, as many times as you like and is priced from £131.98 for the year. Alternatively, you can pay monthly from £10.99 per month, but there is a three month minimum subscription.
As well as unlimited cinema tickets, subscribers can also get other perks like 10 per cent off snacks, birthday gifts and money off at partner brands.
Tesco Clubcard holders can also put their vouchers toward a membership, turning every £10 worth of Clubcard vouchers into £30 - reduced to £20 after June 14.
Odeon also offers a limitless subscription, which is £14.99 a month with a minimum of three months, or £170 a year.
Save on snacks
It’s something of a long running joke in British culture that cinema snacks are not the cheapest - but did you know that there’s no policies against bringing in your own food? Film buffs can bring their own sweets to avoid a costly pick n mix, but there are some exclusions.
At Vue "Guests may not bring or consume any hot food or alcohol purchased outside of the premises” - but cold food/sweets and soft drinks are fine.
Cineworld have a similar no hot food or alcohol policy, allowing you to bring your own food and drink within the guidelines, adding: "We reserve the right to refuse customers entry into the screens with hot food or alcohol bought outside the premises. All our cinemas display the necessary signage, advising customers of this policy."
Finally, Odeon also forbids heated food and alcoholic beverages, but also specifically banned ‘pungent’ food, too - so maybe leave the tuna sandwiches at home.
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