How to Find Cheap Movies

Consignment Shops Often Offer Great Deals on Movies – Photo of Growing Pains in Salisbury, NC

Enjoying a good movie does not have to cost a lot. As many are finding tighter and tighter budgets, finding inexpensive entertainment can be a welcome relief. Find a few simple and practical tips for saving money when looking for movies.

How to Find Inexpensive Movies for Home Viewing

Those interested in purchasing pre-owned movies for home use may find bargains in a variety of places, such as:

• yard sales
• flea markets
• consignment shops
• charity thrift stores, such as Goodwill and Salvation Army
• discount sections of department stores such as Walmart
• online web sites, like eBay and Craig's list
• public library (may offer free check-outs, low-priced rentals for new releases, or sell older movies if they need the space)
• stores that sell used videos
• movie clubs (for those who wish to watch several movies each month)

Most used movies for sale have been out for a while, but some of those older movies have more appeal than newer releases. Keep in mind that older movies may be new movies to the kids. Those who still have a VCR player might pick up some especially good deals on VHS tapes. The downside to looking for used videos is that it may be somewhat of a game of chance and the buyer should beware. It may take some time to search through a huge selection of inexpensive videos that are in random order, but sometimes that search can really pay off with a great find.

Be a smart movie shopper!

1. Ensure that you use a secure web site if purchasing online.
2. Watch for shipping prices if ordering online.
3. Check for high vendor ratings if applicable.
4. Set a limit for bidding or choose one that has a set price if choosing an online auction site.
5. Purchase in bulk or search for a "lot" of movies for some of the best deals.
6. Check on return policies before buying, ensure that you have an original dated receipt, and make sure to watch the movie soon after purchase if the seller offers returns. 
7. Look for movies in original packaging to avoid purchasing a bootleg copy.

How to Save Money at the Movie Theater

How to Find the Best Deals at the Movie Theater

Many movie theaters offer a lower price for a matinee, or early afternoon, showtime. Movie patrons might also find special offers for certain days of the week or may find coupons online or through special offers when buying other products. Group discounts, loyal customer deals, or discounts for purchasing tickets in bulk or during certain times of the year may be available.

Movie theaters may utilize social media to increase a loyal base of customers and may offer special discounts to those who subscribe to their page or might offer discounts to loyal customers or to those who purchase tickets online. Do a search for the name of the movie theater and check to see if they have their own site or blog.

Discount Movie Theaters Offer Deals for Those on a Budget

Some movie theaters cater to a cost-conscious market. They may offer movies that have run at the higher priced theaters for a few weeks for greatly discounted prices and typically offer a single price for all ages, such as a $2.00 theater. Many of these are older movie theaters offer lots of rich history and they may not be as crowded as the newer theaters. One of these older theaters posted one simple message on their sign during hot summer months: "We have air conditioning." Those who have lived in the South probably understand the great value of that advertising approach! Sometimes it doesn't really matter what movie is running when it is 100 degrees in the shade.

Some of these discount movie theaters also offer deals on snacks or may offer ice water for free. Some of you may be thinking that going to the movies should always include popcorn and a drink, but those extra expenses can really add up, especially if one has a large family. My kids would much rather go to more movies and have fewer snacks, so that's what we do. You might consider packing a special snack to enjoy after the show at a nearby park and turn the outing into more quality time together with the family.

Theaters may also offer a summer movie special in which you purchase a ticket for seeing matinee movies on a certain day(s) of the week throughout certain summer months at a discounted rate. These are often geared toward those who enjoy G-rated movies. Some of these specials may not be advertised, so it may be worth your while to contact the movie theater and inquire about any specials near the beginning of summer vacation from school.

Movie Rental Deals

Those who have limited space, travel a lot, or do not wish to acquire their own movies may wish to rent, rather than purchase, movies. Many programs are available with monthly rates or fees per movie, such as Redbox, Netflix, and Blockbuster online. Some programs offer delivery while others offer kiosks where movies are picked up and returned by the customer

Those who choose an online rental program might wish to check for:

• a free trial
• selection of movies and how they are organized
• types of movies offered (DVD, blu-ray, etc.)
• services offered, kiosk locations (if applicable) and price options
• responsibilities of the customer and company – read the fine print

People might also consider purchasing video streaming. This enables people to watch a movie via the computer live or on demand.

Find more ideas for saving money by reading How to Find Free Movies.

How to Find Free Movies

A good movie can provide fun entertainment for the family, but with tighter budgets, some may assume that watching movies is a luxury one cannot afford. Actually, there are quite a few free movie deals out there, especially for those who wish to watch movies that have been out few a few weeks or longer.

Local Library May Offer Free Movies

Find Free Movies at Libraries

One of the first places I look for free movies is the public library. Many county libraries offer free movie rentals. I have checked out lots of family-friendly movies, and it only cost the gas money to drive there. Public libraries may offer free movie rentals for two weeks or longer, and many libraries offer a free card to people who live outside the county in addition to people living within the county.

Libraries typically have a limit for the number of movies per library card, but patrons may check out more when the first ones are returned. If you find that the movie you wish to see seems to always be checked out, you can request a hold and the library staff will check out the movie to those on the waiting list first.

Some libraries may only offer DVDs or perhaps Blu-rays, but a few may still have VHS tapes for check-out or may sell the older movies during book sales or special offers, so it might be helpful to get on a mailing list, email list, or check to see if they post notices on social media sites. We have found everything from classics to Disney blockbuster hits. You might even pick up some great videos about local history, ideas for travel, or even old episodes of sitcoms for free at the library. Those who financially support the library may have early bird opportunities or might be able to enjoy exclusive sales.

Summer reading programs at the libraries may also include special movie times in which families are invited to watch a movie on a big screen. They may even offer free refreshments or allow moviegoers to bring in their own snacks for the show. Even if the kids have seen the movie before, it may be fun and exciting again in a different location.

Find Free Movies When Friends Clean Closets © Katrena

More Tips for Finding Free Movies

My kids were delighted to discover that our local community college also has a movie section in their library. We found several recent releases at the community college for free check-out. College campuses may also offer free movie times for students and perhaps others on a regular schedule.

Family or friends may be cleaning out closets or be planning a move and might give away movies, offer trades, or sell the videos for a very low price. Many people have a collection of movies at their home that the kids have watched over and over, so this can be a great free way to switch out for some different titles. Some online sites like Freecycle offer people the opportunity to trade and donate items no longer wanted.

Those who write lots of movie reviews, especially for big web sites, may be able to secure some free new release movies for the purpose of reviewing them. The company will probably want to see evidence that you have experience as a reviewer, especially of movies, so it helps to have a great collection of original and trusted reviews. The free offer would need to be disclosed in the movie review, but this does not need to bias a person's viewpoint. If you write negative reviews on a free product, you might not be offered many more free deals by that company, but it might work best to move toward those that you do enjoy.

Online Deals for Free Movies

Some movies might be offered online for free. These might be short clips or full length movies. A library may offer free access to web sites that require a fee, so one might be able to find movies via streaming through this venue as well.

Some movie rental companies offer free deals when purchasing certain advertised products. These deals may work out very nicely for a customer who already plans to purchase those products, but be careful about purchasing products that you do not need or want in order to get a discount if you are on a tight budget.

Companies that rent or sell movies may offer a free trial of their service for first-time customers or may offer a free rental after renting a certain number of movies or during certain times of the year. Watch for movie freebies on their home web sites. You might also find free movie tickets with the purchase of another online. Ensure that you are using a secure web site if purchasing any product online.

Some online movies and shows may be offered for free for those who sign up as members of the site. Most of these companies, such as hulu.com, are able to offer online movies through the use of advertising. Some libraries may offer access to web sites that would normally charge for access. Check with a local library to see if perhaps they have free access to web sites that offer video streaming.

Some internet survey sites, such as MyPoints, may offer deals for free gift cards that might be used to purchase or rent movies. Some of these sites may offer points or credit for looking at advertisements or completing surveys that do not cost the person anything other than time. People who are members of these sites may also get added points if they refer friends to sign up for the program.

Ad lib for Free Movies © Katrena

A Free Movie That Can be Priceless

One of my favorite ways to watch a free movie is for my kids to put on a show for me at home. They may know the lines of a favorite movie by heart. They may be able to sing every song. Why not let them don some crazy costumes and invite me to our own home movie theater? It is guaranteed to be a show like no other!

Find more ideas for saving money on movies by reading How to Find Cheap Movies.