Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Good advice Cinemonics 101: Movie Snacks for Tightwads
Posted by Carrington Fox on Tue, Jul 7, 2009 at 6:15 AM
Scene intern Caroline Hallemann contributed this post.
As if $20 for two adult movie tickets wasn't enough to make you consider NetFlix, $17 for a medium popcorn and two medium drinks could make you kick the movie habit altogether.
But with a quick course in cinema economics--Cinemonics?--you can have your movie snack and eat it too.
Of course, there's always the American Gangster approach to film snacks, i.e. smuggling, but for those of you who like to play by the rules, here are a few ideas for skimming the fat off your concessions bill:
- Buy one drink and ask for an extra cup. With almost a liter of liquid in a medium Coke, you can quench your party's thirst with one drink and a small upcharge for extra cups.
- Apply for a loyalty card. These free promotions, while a little gimmicky, track how often you visit the theater and award you coupons on concessions and tickets every so often.
- Order a kid's meal. Regal Cinemas offer a small combo of popcorn, fruit snacks and drink for $5.75. It's not on the menu though, so you have to ask.
Unfortunately, if you have a hankering for concession-stand egg rolls and are short on cash, I've got nothing for you. But to be honest, after a round of those you're going to need more than money-saving advice.
Comments (11)
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Thanks for a platform to rail about Regal's miserable "loyalty card" program, which jacked up the number of points you need to get anything at roughly the same time they boosted ticket prices to $10. Plus there's no cumulative incentive for people who amass thousands of points on their cards, which shows you how much they truly appreciate your loyalty.
Don't get me started on their horrible pizza. I wouldn't eat the eggrolls through a HAZMAT mask.
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Also...Mrs. Pink and I took the two Pinklets to see the new Ice Age at a matinee, and with a large popcorn, one drink and a packet of candy, the whole outing ended up costing up close to $70. Considering what we paid to see, I'd have been happier giving Fox $20 just to kick me in the nuts and get it over with.
Last fall I took three Woodlets to see a film at Regal. Tickets: $36. Snacks: $9 for one kid's drink and candy. Two others got the "real meal" (which is only a real meal if your idea of an entree is chocolate) for, like, $6 each. I was parched but didn't want to break the $60 level for a simple rainy afternoon outing. For that princely sum, I could have bought us all wellie boots and taken them puddle jumping.
For our family of four, we usually get one large popcorn. Regal has little black plastic trays available for the asking, we just scoop some popcorn into two of those and give them to the kids, then refill as necessary from the bucket during the movie. We also take advantage of the one free refill on a Regal large popcorn or drink. For drinks, my husband and just I share one. Depending on how well the kids are getting along with each other that day they do the same.
Loonytick: Those all sound like sensible suggestions—and believe me, I sympathize with "depending on how well the kids are getting along."
Does the Thoroughbred 20 in Cool Springs still have the soda shop in the lobby? Watching a movie while sipping a chocolate malt just seemed like the height of decadence.
Belcourt popcorn: $3 / $4 / $5
or "The Big Combo" - large popcorn, large soda and candy for $10
Ticket price: $8.50 ($6.25 matinee)
Pint of Yazoo: $4
Shot of whiskey: $6
Done.
Interesting to read about the extra cup--I assume that's the tiny water cup? Even an empty big cup will usually cost full price, particularly if it's a refillable drink.
I love movie popcorn, but I never buy it. I got burned out on in when I worked at a theater in college and then learned about all the fat and calories in there. That yellow coconut oil is lethal.
Movie theaters make most of their money on the snack bar (they receive as little as 10% of ticket sales), so that's why the prices are so high. Though you'd think they'd figure out they should sell better food. Me? I smuggle in Twizzlers and Raisinets and may occasionally buy a drink if I'm feeling kind. I'd be more willing to part with my money if they sold some Papa John's pizza and decent beer in there, though.
Cheap movie snacks are really hard to find. I always pop up some popcorn and smuggle it in in my diaper bag. You can also ask for a cup of water (and they usually give it to you). I love great new snack ideas. My favorite website for learning about new healthy snack ideas is
http://www.snacksnoop.com
I hope this is helpful.
Lisa
I generally don't sneak in movie snacks, just because that's what keeps movie theaters afloat. Right before the Belcourt closed briefly in 1999, I remember a couple talking in the lobby about how sad they were the theater couldn't stay open, even as they ate from a bag of contraband microwave popcorn.
But the price of movie concessions is ridiculous now, especially considering the quality of what you get. I actually got sick from moldy nachos at a theater here in town. An exception: the awesome concession stand at the Stardust Drive-In in Watertown.
Whoever posted that about the Belcourt deal is right on. Cheapest movie date in town (except Sarratt). Wish they'd get Pizza Perfect instead of Domino's, though.
Also, you've gotta love a revival theater that names its special after one of the most awesome noirs of all time.
