Tuesday, September 18, 2018

At the Movies

Netflix is a popular option for watching classic and fairly recent movies at home or wherever you and your mobile devices go. But don’t you still like to go to the movies now and then? I know I do. Sometimes I’m eager to see a new release, and sometimes I just need an outing.

Movie theaters have become much more comfortable in recent years. Stadium seating was a welcome addition in the 1990s, and now you can sit back and relax in a reclining seat while you watch a film.

I don’t go to the movies as often as I used to because it’s become too expensive. Two full-price tickets cost more than some of Netflix’s monthly plans. And that’s not including concessions.

Northeast Ohio theater chains offer some discounts that could help you (and me) go to the movies more often. Cleveland Cinemas, for example, offers Bargain Monday, when tickets are $5 all day. The deal also includes discounts on concessions. The eight Cleveland Cinemas theaters include the Cedar Lee in Cleveland Heights and the Capitol in Cleveland’s Gordon Square neighborhood, two theaters that often show movies that don’t play anywhere else. The chain also offers a free rewards program with perks including a bonus bargain day on Tuesday.

AMC Theatres has $5 Ticket Tuesdays, but you have be an AMC Stubs member to get the discount. It’s free to join, though. You also can get the Cameo Combo on Tuesdays, which is a ticket plus popcorn and a Coca-Cola for $10 plus tax. I couldn’t find information about what size popcorn and Coke you get, but I’m guessing they’re small.

Regal Cinemas has an app that provides monthly coupons. The deal for September is 15 percent off a large popcorn-and-drink combo. You also can join the Regal Crown Club for more discounts. Ticket prices vary, depending on time of day and theater. I found matinee tickets for as low as $6.64 and evening tickets exceeding $12.

Northeast Ohio also offers a moviegoing experience you can’t find in many places anymore: the drive-in theater. The Aut-O-Rama Twin Drive-In Theatre in North Ridgeville is open from early April until late September. Ticket prices are $10 for everyone 12 and older, $5 for kids 4 to 11 and free for those 3 and younger. Neither the tickets nor the concessions are great bargains, but the drive-in is a unique way to watch a first-run movie. And sometimes the Aut-O-Rama shows two first-run movies as a double feature. That's a good deal if you're up for spending that much time in your car. Interestingly, you're not allowed to bring in your own food. I don't know how strictly this rule is enforced, but the website says, "Violators will be ejected with NO refund."

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