See Movies for Less: Cinema for a Song

Going to movies was one way my grandmother survived the Great Depression. Growing up, our house was filled with the bounty of those days-Depression glass galore. But, its a different world now and the cost of movies may leave you depressed. Fear not, there are ways to see the movies for less, even for the best price of all-free!.

Film companies often need to tighten up their films or build advance buzz. Companies such as Movie View or the Screening Exchange exist to help industry market their best product. To see these movies for free, look for promoters who work the largest movie theaters, particularly the theaters around Broadway in the 60's, Union Square or Times Square.

If you fit the demographic for the release, you may be given a coveted invitation. Typically, you are sworn not to write about these films as they may still be experiencing minor technical glitches. In exchange for your filling out a brief questionnaire at the end, the film is totally gratis. Once you are on the company's lists you will receive periodic invitations via phone or email for other pictures you may like.

Some local merchants will work in conjunction with motion picture companies to offer free passes. In this case, you may be able to score tickets by bringing a copy of an advertisement to the store and then showing up when the screening commences. Publications that frequently run these types of ads include New York Magazine, Time Out New York and most of the daily newspapers.

If you get your tickets through either of the above sources, be prepared to come early-- as much as an hour before the show. More passes are given out than seats, and you are not guaranteed admission. Try to get everyone together before the show begins because these companies often refuse to seat patrons until all of their guests have arrived.

Another excellent source of free films are the contests run by local radio stations and penny-savers or through sweepstakes in newspapers. These tickets will often get you first seating in the best sections.

The computer is also an excellent source of movies. For example, Wild About Movies frequently offers movies for those patient enough to click through three or four screens of come ons. Film Metro is another excellent internet site with screenings throughout the entire country. Still another website is: Gofobo. Gofobo requires registration and the sponsors will send you a special code that allows you to register for a free pass. Move quickly, when they're gone, they're gone.

Suppose this scene is getting a little old, and you want to avoid the hassle of standing an hour in the freezing cold only to be turned away. In that case, expect to part with a little scratch. If you are an advance planner, discount vouchers available through Working Advantage can easily save you four or five bucks a ticket. These come in two flavors: a deeply discounted one invalid for the first ten days of a new release and a slightly more expensive variety without that restriction. Sometimes you can pay a differential at the theater to upgrade to the deluxe pass.

If you go that route, make sure to also apply for the free frequent moviegoer card at the chain of your choice. These cards offer free or discounted popcorn, candy or soda on designated days and also allow you to build points towards free concession items and movies. AMC, Clearview Cinemas and Regal Theaters all offer their own cards and may give you additional points for things like agreeing to monitor film quality or noise levels. I have listed the websites for each chain under sources.

Merchants often offer movie ticket vouchers as well. The same deluxe movie vouchers that you can purchase through Working Advantage are also offer free through American Express Membership Rewards in exchange for membership rewards points, and American Express even allows you to borrow points towards the reward for free as long as you earn sufficient points within the year to pay back the borrowed points, otherwise there is a financial penalty.

Pizza Uno restaurant also runs a dinner and a movie promotion at locations near movie theaters that allows you to purchase discounted movie vouchers while you are eating and apply them to the cinema afterwards. You should also ask the servers about joining this restaurant's insider club so that you can enjoy deeply discounted entrees, free appetizers and first notice of new menu items and sweepstakes for free food.

By combining inexpensive vouchers with free tickets earned through using the frequent buyer club cards, a moviegoer can drive the cost down without sacrificing comfort.

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Sources:

www.movie-view.com/Default.aspx
www.thescreeningexchange.com/ee/
www.wildaboutmovies.com/
www.filmmetro.com/
www.gofobo.com/screenings
www.workingadvantage.com/index.cfm
rcc.regalcinemas.com/CrownClub/appmanager/rcc/CrownClub
www.moviewatcher.com/index.html
www.clearviewcinemas.com/clear_advantage-terms.shtml