If it’s a spouse or a friend who might want
to come without you, getting a separate
subscription for just $1 more makes better
sense. You can also buy individual tickets for
companions at regular prices when booking
your free one.
OTHER THEATERS
Showcase Cinemas and Cinemark also offer
subscriptions but with big limits — just two or
three movies a month with Showcase, and one
with Cinemark.
Many independent theaters offer discounted
tickets through memberships; a few offer free
movies, especially at pricier tiers. You also might
consider a membership at an art museum. The
Museum of Modern Art in New York, for instance,
screened several award contenders over the past
few months — all free with a membership.
Subscriptions are typically for individual use
only, and theaters sometimes check IDs or a
photo you submit ahead of time.
Which subscription is right for you will largely
depend on which theater is most convenient.
The prospect of free premium movies at AMC
might sound enticing — but not if the closest
theater is an hour away. And be sure to factor
in the surcharges, especially at Alamo, where
they’re unavoidable.
It’s OK to binge for a month or two and then let
your membership lie fallow for a few months,
so long as you’re still averaging a few movies a
month. Otherwise, you risk falling into the “gym
membership” trap in paying every month for
something you never use.