The average cost of a movie ticket is $8.65, up 26% from a decade ago, according to Box Office Mojo, an industry-trend-reporting service. In Los Angeles and New York, movie tickets can cost almost twice that. But there are ways to see new-release films on the cheap.
True film buffs can check out MoviePass. You pay a flat monthly rate—$45 in most cities and $40 in rural areas—to see up to one movie a day in any major theater chain in the country. (In New York and Los Angeles, you’ll pay $50.) Plans for less-dedicated moviegoers range from $15 to see two movies a month to $31 for three movies, depending on your locale. Use an iPhone or Android app to book showtimes, then swipe your MoviePass card at the box office to pick up your ticket.
Rub elbows with critics and insiders by taking in a screening before a movie’s official release date. Studios and public-relations firms offer free tickets through Gofobo to generate buzz and word-of-mouth publicity. Create an account at www.gofobo.com and you’ll get e-mails when screenings are available (mostly in major cities).
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Catch up on the 2017 Oscar winners and nominees at home with FandangoNOW, a new streaming platform from the online ticket seller. Prices are comparable to Amazon Prime, but you can accumulate reward points to rent more movies.
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