Save on popcorn and drinks
Two words: Kids Combo: If all you desire is a taste of popcorn, candy, and soda, and your movie partner does not agree with your movie-snack philosophy (popcorn vs. nachos, butter, no butter, salt, no salt, Goobers vs. Sour Patch Kids, you know what I'm talking about) then the kids combo is for you (as long as you don't mind carrying a brightly colored cardboard box around)! Almost all theaters in the NYC area have them (if you don't see it on the menu ask!) and they usually include a small popcorn, small drink, and a candy, sometimes just weird fruit bites, but if you're lucky you may get mini-M&M's or Skittles. There aren't usually refills with the kids' combo, though they are also a perfect size for a post-lunch/dinner snack and generally only run $5/$6 even in Manhattan. Some theaters may have caught on to this trick and could actually ask you to produce a child, in this case, I'll leave it up to your best judgment, you can backpedal and order regular snack sizes or get indigent and tell them your kid is in the theater…up to you!
Share and Share Alike (even popcorn): As long as you're not worried about cooties and can reconcile the movie snack differences mentioned above, then you don't need to buy two separate popcorns, or even, heaven forbid, two separate drinks. When I worked at a movie theater as a teenager it would drive me nuts when people would order two small popcorns when the bucket we had was cheaper, offered more popcorn, and included a free refill. And the price of the one large bag/bucket is by far cheaper than the price of two small bags. Same generally goes for two small drinks vs. a large soda, but I understand if that straw-sharing brings up other germ-related issues.
Combos: As long as you're sharing, check the concession stand menu to see if any combos are offered. Usually the popcorn and soda deals offered in the combos are better than the regular price. A nice alternative to the kids’ combo is the 3 for $7.50, which offers slightly larger snack sizes and a limited choice of a regular-sized candy, though this is not available at all theaters.
A corny idea: You can also do what my parents used to do when we went to the movies, they would pop microwave popcorn and bring it into the theater in a large bag.It may cause some embarrassment (and good luck hiding the smell) but at least you have your popcorn!
Clip those coupons: I just discovered that Fandango.com offers a free drink (usually when purchasing another, but this works if you’re with another thirsty someone) and snack coupons if you purchase tickets through their website. If you’re still checking the local newspapers for movie listings, watch for free popcorn or soda coupons buried in the show times.
Inside/Outside: OK, this may be the most blatantly obvious of my tips, but if you want to save money on snacks then swing by a Duane Reade, CVS, or grocery store and pick up some candy or soda and stealthily sneak them into the theater.
Freebies and Discounts
Movie cards: I'm talkin’ bout those membership cards that the box office employees always ask you about. At first I thought they were the key to a consumer conspiracy to track my movie consumption, but they (the Regal in Queens where I signed up) didn't even ask for my name. Here's how it works, you simply hand over the card when you purchase tkts or concessions, and for each dollar you spend, you earn points. After you accumulate a certain number of points then you earn free popcorn, drinks, and tickets. Cheap Chick Cheap Trick: If your friends don't have the card, have them get your card swiped when they buy items, the cashiers don't care.
Contests: Sign up to win free passes to movies, someone's got to win 'em. Many publications and other groups give away passes if you simply email your name in or are willing to go somewhere and pick them up in-person. Also check movie sections of certain publications.
Two Thumbs Up or down?: Those people with the clipboards aren’t always selling magazine subscriptions or promoting the ASPCA, chances are if they’re standing in front of movie theaters (esp, the Union Square Regal Cinema Stadium 14) and the Loews Lincoln Center at 68th and Broadway) are often seeking out audience members for studio pre-screenings of movies. Criteria often are non-entertainment industry workers and those ages 17-34, but hey what’s a little white lie about age/career in exchange for a free movie?
The Early Bird Gets the Worm, er…the movie ticket): If you’re willing to get up early, many movie theaters including the United Artists Kaufman Astoria 14, which is near me in Queens, offer $8.50 movies before 3 p.m. Mon-Thurs, and for the first shows Friday/Sat. Check for signs at theaters near you, or check the theater’s home or Fandango page for info.
Free and discounted indoor movies:
Barbès: (http://www.barbes.com) Music space that also hosts the Brooklyn Independent Film Series. Screenings include independent movies, documentaries, and shorts, and often the flim makers are present for Q&A and panel discussions.
Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimo (http://www.nyu.edu/pages/casaitaliana): Italian films screened through NYU program four to five times during the school year.
Czech Center/BohemianBeer Garden (http://czechcenter.com, bohemianhall.com) Czech films with English subtitles shown throughout the year.
Deutsches Haus: (http://www.nyu.edu/deutscheshaus) cultural center screens German-related films.
Instituto Cervantes (http://www.cervantes.org) Latin American and Spanish films as well as English-language films related to those regions.
MOMA: (http://www.moma.org/visit/calendar/filters/3) The museum screens various movies in below-ground theater venue. Price is $10, tho it goes to museum admission, except on Friday nights when museum admission is free, so you can present your stub for a complimentary movie.
Museum of the Moving Image: (http://www.movingimage.us/site/about/) Usually movies are screened on-site at the museum, but while construction is ongoing, movies will be screened off-site. Check back here for more info.
Sony Wonder Technology Lab: (http://wondertechlab.sony.com/pe-feature_screenings.html ) Amid all the techno-gadgets, this center also offers free screenings on their high-def screen. Here’s the list of upcoming screenings.
The library: Don’t forget you can borrow tons of DVDs from the local library, just be careful to return your movies on-time or you may be paying some hefty late fees, Also many NYC libraries hold free screenings, check here for Manhattan locations: http://www.nypl.org/hours/index.cfm?Trg=6 and here for Brooklyn locations: http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/branch_libraries.jsp
Outdoor screenings:
Many of the outdoor screenings are wrapping up, but some still have a few shows left, or are still going on into September.
Here’s a list of the current outdoor screenings:
Hudson River Flicks: http://www.hudsonriverpark.org/events.asp
Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens: http://www.socratessculpturepark.org/programs/outdoorcinema.php
Movies with a View (movies with the Brooklyn Bridge as a backdrop in DUMBO): http://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/index.cfm?objectid=EF670B44-3048-2C77-F20C2202337458ED
Rooftop Films: http://www.rooftopfilms.com/
Coney Island: http://www.coneyisland.com/films.shtml
Central Park: http://www.centralparknyc.org/site/PageNavigator/events_specialevents_filmfestival
McCarren Park: http://www.summerscreen.org/home.html
Intrepid Films: http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/Plan-Your-Visit/Public-Event-Details/Summer-Movie-Series-Finale.aspx
Netflix: (http://www.netflix.com) No, I’m not working for them, I'm just a client (not the president tho!) but if you have thus far escaped the ubiquitous (there’s a SAT vocab word for you) red envelope, I urge you to bow to the inevitable. At $4.99 month for the cheapest DVD by mail plan, you can’t beat that deal, it’s cheaper than a HBO subscription and we all know that they’re not exactly playing the latest blockbusters in a timely fashion these days. Plus I love Netflix's recommendations!
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