The Art of Sneaking Food into a Movie Theater

I once sat down with a group of friends inside a movie theater to find that the three of them had managed to sneak an entire pizza into the theater. This is what I like to call talent! The truth of the matter is, you can easily pay more for candy, popcorn, and soda at a movie theater than you actually paid for your ticket. It is no wonder that so many people do sneak in their own snacks, and have many successfully methods for doing so. Here are some tips for sneaking in your own food to the movie theater, without getting caught.

Ladies: Ladies, you are at an advantage here. These days carrying a purse the size of a small country is not unordinary. While the movie theater employees may suspect that you are sneaking food into that huge thing, most likely they aren't going to say anything. The purse is the best tool for getting in the most food. Sorry guys, you are out of luck here. While sneaking food in is not impossible for you, it is a little more difficult.

The size of bag you carry is up to you and depends on what you will be sneaking in. If you are bringing snacks for two people, you will only need a medium sized bag. For a family of five you will need a little more room. Select a bag that securely zips across the top. You want to make sure that none of your food can slide out of the top if you bend down to tie a shoe or pick up a child.

Men: During the winter months, take advantage of your coat as an item to store the food you are sneaking in. Wear a coat with deep pockets or pockets on the inside, if possible. This is where men are at advantage. Their coat pockets are usually deeper than a female's coat pockets.

If wearing a coat isn't an option, try to wear pants with large pockets. Cargo pants have several deep pockets for storing things and these can be your best friend when sneaking food into a theater. Some candies make a lot of noise when they rattle inside the box, store these in pockets closest to your waste. If you put these candies in pockets near your knees, the sound will alert everyone in ear shot that you have something in those pockets. Gummy bears and other soft candy is the best thing to store in pockets near your knees. They don't make any noise no matter how quickly you walk.

Drinks: In most theaters you will pay $2 or more for a 20 ounce drink. Instead, buy one from a gas station or vending machine for $1 and bring it in with you. Make sure that you purchase a drink in a bottle, not a can. Soda cans tend to make a lot of noise when they are opened. The minute you pop that tab, everyone in the theater will know you have a canned soda. Before entering the theater, uncap the drink and then put the lid tightly on again. This will eliminate some of the noise when you open a bottled soda for the first time.

For men, these bottled drinks are best when carried on inside pockets. This is a more secure place and more hidden. Even if the drinks stick out of your coat pocket a little, no one will be able to see it. No matter where the drinks are being carried, do not forget they are there. You shouldn't be running or bouncing up and down. A spewing drink will be a dead give away that you snuck in a bottled drink.

Popcorn: Popcorn is probably the most popular food to eat when watching a movie. You can purchase a box of popcorn at the store for $2 to $3 and have at least 12 servings. This is compared to the $4 or more you pay for popcorn in the theater. To sneak in popcorn, pop a bag at home and let it cool down. Once it is no longer hot, pour some into a Ziploc bag. If you put the warm popcorn in the plastic bag, it will melt the bag and ruin the popcorn.

Candy: Candy is probably the most popular item that is snuck into movie theaters and also the easiest. You can purchase the same types of candy at retail stores for $1, while the price at movie theaters is usually $2 or more.

Pizza: As I first mentioned, my friends once snuck an entire pizza into a movie theater. Curious as to how they pulled this off? They ordered the pizza and put two slices each into a Ziploc bag. They simply put the bags into their purses or inside coat pockets. I thought it was a creative way to have dinner and a movie at the same time! You could easily do this same thing with other types of fast food. Select items that are a little less messy though. Instead of a hamburger, go for the chicken strips.

Healthy Stuff: Let's face it, the stuff sold behind the concession stand at the theater isn't exactly good for you. Don't let that stop you from staying on track if you are trying to live a healthier life. Granola bars, juice boxes, vegetable sticks, and fruit can easily be stashed into a pocket.

When not to sneak food in: Yes, most of the time sneaking food into a movie theater is very easy and other than the 'no outside food or drinks' sign, there is nothing stopping you. However, there are times when sneaking in snacks may be more difficult or inappropriate.

Opening Night: The first night that a big film opens, the theater is usually packed. It will be harder to find a seat where no one is sitting on either side of you. You never know what the person sitting next to you is thinking and they may be quick to tell theater staff that you brought a pizza in with you.

First Date: If you are on a first date, never sneak food into the theater. This will not impress your date and she may be very uncomfortable with the idea of sneaking in food and being caught. This is a good time to fork out the extra cash for popcorn, drinks, and candy.

Discount Theaters: The fact is, movies make most of their money from concessions and very little profit from actual ticket sales. If your theater hasn't raised the price of tickets and it is fairly reasonable, grab a soda from their concession stand. They rely on these sales to make money and keep theaters open. This is especially true of discount theaters where the cost of a ticket is only a buck or two. Buying concessions helps keep these theaters open and it keeps the ticket prices down.

Next time you go see a movie grab that extra big purse, put on those cargo pants, or wear that coat with extra pockets. Decide what you want to snack on during your movie and see if you can get through the theater without being caught.