Watching Summer Movies for Cheap or Free!

Need an inexpensive way to cool off this summer? Take advantage of the summer movie series offered at several movie theaters nationwide!

With prices ranging from free to $2, you can’t go wrong to take all the kids to see the selected G or PG rated movie. They usually have great deals on popcorn and drinks, or you could do like me and bring in your own healthier snacks and water bottles. I have also noticed that they usually show the previews and commercials they show before the movie begins are kid-friendly and are short. And if it says a movie starts at 10:00, that is when the movie starts — not the previews 🙂

Here are some of the national theater links I know about. Be sure to click on your local theater to get specific details.

Regal Cinemas offer $1 movies that are rated G or PG. They are typically every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 AM, but be sure to check with your local theater for details.

Cinemark, Century, CineArt, and Tinseltown Theatersoffer $1 movies or you can buy a punch card for 10 movies for $5. Of course, you’d want to check the movie list first to determine if there are 5 movies that you would really like to see. Also, be sure to print off your coupon for discounted snacks, available when you click on your theater location at the bottom of the page.

Classic Cinemasopen their doors at 9 AM to meet characters, fun games, and sponsors that hand out information and (if you’re lucky) local coupons. Movies typically start at 10 AM.

Of honorable mention: While AMC doesn’t seem to have a Summer Movie program set up this year, they do have Sensory Friendly Screentimes, with the lights turned up, the volume turned lower, and the acceptance for individuals to comment, sing, shout, and participate as some children and individuals tend to do.

Can’t find a movie you like? Or don’t have a location near you? Then spice up your summer days with free or cheap movie rentals. Bummer that you’ll have to fit the air conditioning bill, but here are some cheap ways to get the movies you want straight to your home:

Check your library. If you don’t see the movie you are looking for, ask a library if it is available at another branch and can be sent over, or perhaps you can be put on a waiting list.

Watch movies or TV episodes online. Hulu.com still offers several TV episodes for children free of charge, though to access a wider database, you can opt for a free trial of HuluPlus. YouTube also has a list of free movies you can watch online, including Popeye and The Velveteen Rabbit. You can also opt for a free one month trial of AmazonPrime for free online streaming. And let’s not forget about the free trials offered by Netflix.

Redbox is another cheap way to get movies, so why not get them for free! Here are 4 free ways to get a free DVD today:

1. Luckily, these 3 codes nearly always work!

DVDONME
BREAKROOM
REDBOX

2. Click on InsideRedbox for a list of current free codes. Take the entire list with you, as some codes may have expired or will only work at specific locations. As a reference, DVDONME tends to work the most. You can also download the IPhone app to get the list right to your phone ($0.99 for the app).

3. Sign up for Redbox texts and they will send you a code. Text SIGNUP to 727272. They will also send you one promo code every month. You can text STOP to the same number at anytime to unsubscribe.

4. Sign up for the Redbox email group and you will receive promo codes monthly. To get your first code, you need to rent one movie first, then a code will be sent to you for your next rental.

Happy Summer Movie Watching!