See It On The Big Screen

It's hard to justify a trip to the movie theater these days when you can use the ticket money to make a mortgage payment.

OK, we exaggerate. A movie isn't that much but still, you could buy a DVD, a large pizza and maybe a full tank of gasoline for what a family of four paid to see "Avatar" on opening night.

So what do you do if you're like movie buff Matt Chmiel, 23, and you must see movies on the big screen?

You economize. And sacrifice.

"I majored in film in college so there's that part of me that says 'I'm going to the movies,' " says Chmiel, who sees a movie in a theater at least once a week. During awards season, he goes as often as three times a week. "That's something that I enjoy doing."

Matinees, which cost about $3 less than the regular $10 ticket price, are about the only cheap way to see a new movie in most theaters. They have a major drawback, though: Many people can't make the matinee hours.

But if you wait a few weeks, as Chmiel often does, you can catch a movie afternoon or evening for $1.50 at Tropicana Cinemas, the valley's only second-run movie theater. On Tuesdays, admission is $1. Among the current films are "Couples Retreat" and "Where the Wild Things Are."

The price is a good deal for a good movie; it's an even better deal for a bad one.

"With movie tickets being the cost they are, you're like, 'I'm paying $10 for what exactly?' " Chmiel says. "If you go to Tropicana Cinemas, it's only $1.50 and if you don't like the movie, you don't feel ripped off."

If waiting isn't your thing or you'd spend more in gasoline driving to that part of town than you would save on tickets, you still have options: movie passes and discounts.

But, as with any good thing, there is a catch.

Passes for movies currently running are hard to get. A studio may issue run of engagement tickets to be given away as contest prizes, but it's a limited number of tickets and they don't do it for every movie, notes Shawn Lane, spokeswoman for lasvegasmovie insider.com.

But it is easy to score a free pass for a screening. Movie studios screen films anywhere from a few days to a few weeks before opening, says Lane, who distributes passes through her Web site.

Chmiel uses the local movie Web sites whenever he can.

"It's completely free of charge and all you do is wait in line," Chmiel says.

LasVegasFreeMovies.com and lasvegasmovieinsider.com both offer free screening passes to members. Membership is free, all you do is sign up and provide an e-mail address.

Members of both sites receive e-mails that list upcoming movies. You can either download the passes at home or get passes to redeem for tickets at the box office. They are usually good for admission for two.

But if you don't like crowds or waiting, you probably won't like movie screenings, even if they are free.

In order to get varied responses, studios may overbook, meaning the theater will have an audience as big as it would on opening day. And, the passes are first come, first served so you have to arrive sometimes a couple of hours in advance to secure your tickets.

Every movie you want to see won't necessarily be screened in Las Vegas, so you're going to have to shell out a few bucks occasionally. That's where the matinees and discount tickets come in.

Century Theatres and Regal Cinemas both offer discounted passes of $6 to $7.50. They usually can be used anytime for any movie. But, you must purchase a minimum of 50 at a time, so you're shelling out a few hundred dollars to save a few dollars at the theater. The Supersaver passes might be a good savings for someone who goes to a lot of movies. Check with your local theater or on its Web site for details on purchasing them.

Adults pay about $7 for a matinee in Las Vegas, which usually is good for any showtime before 5 or 6 p.m. Seniors and children get a better discount, with tickets about $6. But each theater has its own age policy; Rave considers seniors to be 55 and older, while Regal requires patrons to be at least 62. Children can be ages 3 to 12 or any kid younger than 11. Check with the individual theater before going.

Some theaters, such as Century at Suncoast, run an early bird first matinee that's $1 less than the regular matinee price of $7.75. Brenden Theatres at the Palms has a program called "Happy Hour," offering $5 tickets for the last matinee showing on Mondays through Thursdays, and a "Last Call" deal of $7.75 for the last show on Mondays through Thursdays.

Some casinos also offer discounts for those with a players' club card; Suncoast Club Coast members who are seniors pay $3 for movies on Tuesdays.

Regal Cinemas offers a rewards card called the Crown Club. Each dollar spent on admission and concessions earns you a credit; after 50 credits, you get a free small popcorn. One hundred credits can be redeemed for a small soft drink. Eventually, with enough purchases, the card holder can win a free movie ticket. You'll have to spend about $150 before that happens, though.

Theaters offer various discounts that change, Lane says. She sometimes posts deals on her Web site.

"A lot of the theaters will offer coupons," Lane says. "If you buy a medium drink, you get a free small popcorn. Then they'll put together a package, for instance, the 'Avatar' package. It's a drink with candy or popcorn for a discounted price."

Those deals also can be found on each theater's Web site, Lane adds. Also check out social media sites of movie theaters; Brenden Theatres posts coupons and special screening times for members of its Facebook page.

So there are several ways you can save a little on your ticket. But, short of sneaking your munchies into the movie, you won't save much on popcorn, candy or soda. That's where theaters make their money.

"When a movie comes out, the studio gets a large percentage of the movie ticket sales, especially in the first few weeks," Lane says.

Add up the cost of operating a movie theater and you can maybe understand why you have to pay $7 for a large popcorn. Sometimes, that comes with a perk. Rave and other theaters often offer refills for the largest concession items.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@review journal.com or 702-380-4564.