Save money at the cinema: how to get cheap cinema tickets

If you’re looking for ways to get cheap cinema tickets, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ve compiled this handy guide packed with easy ways to get cheaper tickets and save money on your next cinema trip.

With the cost of living continuing to rise and the average cinema ticket price gradually increasing too, now’s a great time to get clued up on where to buy cheap cinema tickets.

Whether it’s a date night with your special someone or a family day out during the summer holidays, the cinema is always an enjoyable place to spend a few hours.

And while we can so easily watch films from the comfort of our own homes these days, there’s something special about the cinema experience that can’t be perfectly recreated on our sofa. We're passionate about helping our readers to save money on days out, so let's get started...

How much is a cinema ticket?

The answer to this question depends mostly on where you live and which cinema chains are local to you. The local rate for ticket prices at each big chain will vary, with some areas being cheaper than others.

With that said, we can still give you our thoughts on which cinema is cheapest overall, and which offers the best value for your money.

Before you read on, it’s always important to remember that while the standard price of film tickets at one cinema chain might be cheaper, other chains may offer better discounts, loyalty programmes and freebies.

Other factors might come into play when you make your decision too, such as screen size and type, film selection, food quality and customer service.

Don’t forget that if you’re looking to book IMAX tickets or premium seats, you’ll probably have to pay slightly more than the standard price.

Family tickets at the big cinema chains

Most big chains offer bundle cinema ticket deals for families. These are great for saving money with minimal effort. Prices of these tickets and the terms of sale vary by company.

A family ticket at Showcase is valid for groups of four containing at least one adult and two children aged 14 or under. The fourth ticket can be either an adult or child.

At Cineworld, one adult and one child under the age of 14 can get a family ticket for the price of two children's tickets.

Everyman do things slightly differently, with their family tickets only being valid for groups of two adults and two children (up to the age of 14). They also don’t offer family tickets for all screenings, so make you check before you book.

Standard Vue ticket prices are generally cheaper than other chains, which is perhaps why they don’t offer further cinema discounts like family tickets. ODEON also removed the option for family tickets, along with student and senior concessions, as a way of streamlining their pricing.

We’ve compared the prices of the main cinema chains in Cardiff, Glasgow, the Midlands and London to give you an idea of movie ticket prices across the UK. We've compared peak ticket prices where possible, so if you book for an off-peak time you may pay less than the amount we've shown.

Ticket prices can vary depending on the day, time and film, so check the prices on the company’s website for the most up-to-date figures.

Vue ticket prices

Vue don’t offer a student discount or concession rate for children or senior citizens, but when the tickets are this comparatively cheap, it doesn’t really matter. Booking fees for Vue tickets are 90p per ticket, which is only slightly more than most other big chains.

Unsurprisingly, Vue tickets in Leicester Square are considerably more expensive than all other Vue cinemas in the UK. Vue cinema ticket prices still come out on top in the London area but not by as drastic a margin as they do for the rest of the UK.

Showcase ticket prices

Showcase are a relatively small and cheap cinema chain within the UK, with 17 cinemas. They’re slightly higher in price than Vue in all areas of the UK but remain one of the cheapest chains overall.

We’ve compared ticket prices at Showcase around the UK. As Showcase don’t have a London branch, we’ve compared prices at their Bluewater cinema in Kent instead. This is a Deluxe cinema, meaning you'll be paying more for a ticket at this location.

If you’re booking online, you’ll have to pay a £1 booking fee per ticket at Showcase.

Cineworld ticket prices

Cineworld Cardiff is one of the cheapest cinemas out of the big chains in Cardiff, so it’s definitely worth keeping them in mind if you live in South Wales.

Cineworld recently scrapped their old family tickets for two adults and two children. Instead, they have an adult and child bundle family ticket, which includes one adult's ticket and one ticket for a child under the age of 14.

With this ticket, adults get in for the price of a second child's ticket, which means a saving of a few pounds.

Cinesaver tickets at Cineworld mean that you can get a ticket to any 2D film at any time on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday for £5.99. Depending on where your local chain is, that could be quite a hefty discount. You'll also be able to buy a small pocorn and small soft drink with your ticket for £5.

Cineworld cinemas charge a 95p booking fee per ticket to secure your seats online.

ODEON ticket prices

ODEON offer adult tickets and children’s tickets, with the child rate generally costing a couple of pounds less than the adult rate. The downside to this is that there are no separate ODEON ticket prices for students or seniors.

ODEON have also introduced an adult and child bundle ticket for one adult and one child, so there are savings to be snapped up here for families.

As with most things in London, tickets at ODEON’s Tottenham Court Road branch are considerably pricier than in Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow.

While ODEON charge a £1 booking fee per ticket, it’s included in the price of the tickets outlined above, meaning you don’t need to worry about additional charges when you reach the checkout stage.

ODEON charge extra if you want to sit in a premium seat. The charts below show the prices of standard seat tickets, rather than premium seats.

Everyman ticket prices

Everyman offer a distinct level of luxury, so while they’re certainly not the cheapest cinema chain, they’re great for special occasions.

Everyman cinema concessions are only available at off-peak times. The charts below show peak pricing (so we could draw a more direct comparison between the chains) but the concession and family prices are for off-peak showings.

Booking fees at Everyman are £2.25 per transaction when you book tickets online, which is very reasonable if you’re booking more than a couple of tickets.

A few quick tips to make your cinema trip cheaper

There are loads of ways to get cheap cinema tickets for all your favourite cinemas.

Whether you join a cinema membership scheme or take advantage of a loyalty club like Meerkat Movies, this guide will help you make sure you never pay full price for a cinema ticket again. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Do a quick search for free cinema ticket codes or vouchers

Past offers have included discounted Tastecard subscriptions to use at Cineworld or a discounted ODEON myLimitless membership, you’re bound to have a decent selection to choose from.

You can also buy bundle tickets for ODEON on Groupon. If you’re looking for tickets to standard screenings, past deals have included two tickets for £10 or five tickets for £22. We’ve also seen past ODEON Luxe deals where you can get two tickets for £14 or five for £30.

There’s a range of Vue ticket offers available to snap up over on Wowcher, so make sure you check out their current deals before you buy your tickets.

Previously with Wowcher, customers have been able to enjoy two Vue cinema tickets for £9, five tickets for £20 or 10 tickets for £38 (making tickets just £3.80 each).

Avoid ticket mark-ups

Some cinemas will charge you a premium rate for better seats in the screen. You’ll generally get a little bit more legroom and sometimes you’ll get the option to choose recliner seats, but you’ll have to pay extra for the privilege.

If this is a dealbreaker for you, then of course don’t deprive yourself. But if you’re not that fussed about fancy extras when it comes to seating, this is a great opportunity to save some money.

The type of screening you attend will also affect the price you pay, so you might want to avoid things like 3D showings if you’re trying to save money.

Saving money on cinema food

Did you know you can actually take your own food to most cinemas? Cinema chains don’t tend to advertise this because it discourages you from spending more money at the tills, but it’s true.

For the purpose of safety and everyone’s enjoyment of the film, most cinemas still say a big no to taking in hot food, alcohol or anything in glass containers (including glass bottles). But other than that, you can take in all the snacks, popcorn and drinks you like.

Join a film club to get free tickets to preview screenings

At ShowFilmFirst, you can enjoy free tickets to film screenings and other events in exchange for you sharing your thoughts on the experience afterwards. ShowFilmFirst are dedicated to providing engaged target audiences for films and live performances.

All you have to do is help spread the word about what you enjoyed, create a buzz about new projects and provide valuable feedback about your experience.

If you’re genuinely passionate about film and theatre, it’s definitely worth applying to become a ShowFilmFirst member. If you're looking for more money-saving theatre tips, check out our guide to getting cheap West End tickets.

Check out independent cinemas near you

Sometimes independent cinemas charge less for tickets. While the screens might not be as big or high-tech, you’re likely to enjoy a more intimate and memorable cinema experience.

What’s more, smaller venues like art centres often run exclusive events alongside film screenings, including Q&As with cast members and directors.

So, why not support your local independent cinema and experience a different kind of film event?

Check to see if you can earn cashback

All you have to do is visit the merchant through our site and you could earn cashback on your online purchases.

The average savings in cashback for our members each year is £300 and you don’t have to pay anything to join, so it’s definitely worth setting up your free account to see how much you could save. In fact, if you buy a digital TopCashback ODEON or Cineworld gift card, cashback can be earned on this purchase too.

Fancy earning a free £15? We're currently offering a £15 sign-up bonus when you join TopCashback via the green button below and spend £15 at any of our retailers.

Which is the cheapest day to go to the cinema?

If you’re keen to save money on your cinema tickets, you should consider booking tickets for off-peak screenings.

Everyone wants to go to the cinema on a Saturday evening or bank holiday, so cinema tickets are always a little pricier on these days.

Consider going to the cinema during a weekday morning or early afternoon if you’re not at work during this time, as tickets will likely be cheaper.

If this isn’t possible for you, lots of UK cinemas also have certain discount days where you can get cheaper cinema tickets in the evenings too.

Before the pandemic, there were more discount days on offer than there are now, but we’re hoping this will pick up again soon.

Each September, hundreds of cinemas across the UK celebrate National Cinema Day, offering customers £3 tickets to mark the occasion.

Get cheap ODEON tickets with myODEON saver and Screen Unseen

myODEON Saver tickets are available for selected showings between Tuesday and Sunday every week, as well as all day on Member Mondays.

ODEON Saver tickets start from £5 each and it’s totally free to sign up and start taking advantage of these fantastic deals.

While you’re checking out cinema listings on ODEON’s website, you can filter your search to only show myODEON Saver showtimes. This way you’ll only see the cheapest tickets available for each film, helping you save money without even trying.

Fancy adding a bit of mystery to your cheap cinema experience? Check out ODEON’s Screen Unseen showings, where you pay as little as £6 for your ticket to a totally surprise film. All films are highly-acclaimed pre-releases, but you won’t know what you’re seeing until the lights go down.

Kids’ cinema deals

If you’re looking for ways to entertain the little ones without draining your bank account, kids’ cinema deals could be your saving grace.

Most big cinema chains offer cheap film screenings for kids (aged up to 14 years old) over the weekends and during the school holidays. Here’s a round-up of the deals we’ve found.

Many chains also hold Parent & Baby screenings for parents visiting the cinema with babies under two years old.

These showings have a ‘lights up, sound down’ policy to help you feel relaxed while you enjoy the latest films without worrying about your little one making noise (noisy babies are actually welcomed).

You and your child are free to move around the auditorium during the film without worrying about disturbing other cinemagoers. These Parent & Baby screenings are usually held on weekday mornings and afternoons, which is when cinemas are usually at their quietest.

Endless adventures with a money-saving cinema membership

If you’re a regular cinemagoer or you want to make a habit of visiting your local cinema more often, a loyalty membership might be perfect for you.

Cinema membership schemes are a fantastic way to save money on cinema tickets, especially if you’re someone who likes to watch all the latest films as soon as they come out.

Some of the memberships we mention below also include discounts on food and drink, which is a plus.

Many of the UK’s biggest cinema chains have their own membership schemes, including Cineworld, ODEON, Vue, Everyman and Showcase. Here’s a brief overview of each scheme to help you decide which might be best for you.

ODEON myLIMITLESS annual membership

If you’re looking for a meaningful gift for a loved one or just a treat for yourself, a myLIMITLESS ODEON cinema pass is a smart idea.

A myLIMITLESS pass will get you free tickets to all the latest films on the big screen whenever you want. You’ll also get a 10% discount on most cinema food and drink, so you can treat yourself without breaking the bank.

The monthly fee for this membership scheme is £14.99 per month or £16.99 for myLIMITLESS with West End cinemas included.

A standard adult ticket at ODEON will likely cost you somewhere between £5 and £14, depending on what part of the country you’re in. So, if you’re planning on using your pass three times a month or more, you’re pretty much guaranteed to break even on your membership cost. This means any extra showings you go to are essentially free.

Upgrade to the myLimitless Plus membership and you'll get free entry to Luxe cinemas and West End cinemas too. This membership costs £17.99 per month, or £179 annually, which means you could get 12 months for the price of 10 if you pay upfront. You'll also get infinite seat and screen upgrades as part of this membership.

And on top of all these amazing member benefits, you’ll also get exclusive offers to see member-only advanced screenings of films before they’re released. If you’re a true film buff, we have no doubt this will be the cherry on the cake for you.

Don’t forget to check TopCashback for a relevant cashback offer before you order your ODEON myLimitless or myLimitless Plus card online. We often give our members cashback for buying their myLimitless cards through us, which will help you save money on your subscription.

My Cineworld Plus and Cineworld Unlimited

Fancy getting your hands on discount cinema tickets so you can watch movies at a fraction of the usual price? As a My Cineworld Plus member, you’ll get 10% off online tickets, as well as discount vouchers for drinks and snacks.

This annual membership costs £6.95, so you’ll probably make that money back in just a couple of trips. With such a small annual fee, it’s the perfect scheme to try out before committing to a full Cineworld Unlimited pass.

There are even more brilliant savings to be made when you sign up for Cineworld Unlimited. Cineworld Unlimited membership card prices start from £10.99 per month, which is cheaper than a standard ticket at many UK cinemas.

Where your local cinema is will dictate which group your membership falls under and prices vary depending on the cinema group.

As an Unlimited member, you’ll get free Cineworld tickets for all the 2D films you want, whenever you want. After your first year, you'll be able to enjoy free 3D tickets too. This membership also entitles you to 50% off Event cinema.

You’ll also get the chance to attend exclusive preview screenings of upcoming releases. What’s more, members don’t have to pay a booking fee when booking tickets online.

On top of your film perks, you’ll also get to enjoy 10% off snacks and drinks for the first year, then 25% off after that (plus free popcorn on your birthday!).

With Cineworld Unlimited, you have to subscribe for a minimum of three months when you pay monthly. But with so many opportunities to save on your cinema trips, you’re going to want to stick around for longer than that, so you might want to invest in the Unlimited annual cinema pass instead.

Everyman memberships

However, if you’re looking for ways to enjoy the finer things in life at a slight discount, then an Everyman pass could be right for you. After all, who doesn’t love a bit of luxury every once in a while?

The standard Everyman pass has a £89 annual membership fee. This will entitle you to six tickets throughout the year, equating to a price of just under £15 per ticket. If you’re visiting your local Everyman on a Monday, you can bring a guest for free too. With this Monday cinema ticket deal, your six free tickets can quickly become 12 (taking your tickets down to around £7.40 each).

There’s no option to pay monthly for this one, so keep that in mind when deciding which tier you want to go for. Check out the prices and benefits of the other membership types below to see which one suits you best.

Become a Vue Member

Vue offer their own membership which works differently from classic cinema membership schemes. As a Vue Member, you’ll be able to self-refund any tickets purchased online, up to three hours before the film is due to start.

You’ll also get access to rewards and exclusive freebies, including free upgrades, cinema food and drink and even tickets.

Although you won’t get unlimited free cinema tickets with a Vue membership, the big positive of this scheme is it’s totally free to join (with a one-time purchase of a cinema ticket). So, if you live near a Vue, you’ve got nothing to lose by signing up.

Showcase Insider

That’s cheaper than their student discount rates, so it’s definitely worth considering signing up. You’ll also be rewarded with exclusive access to advanced screenings of some new films, as well as exclusive competitions.

Just like with the Vue scheme, there’s no fee for joining this membership scheme. The difference here is you don’t even need to purchase any tickets before you join this scheme — anyone over the age of 15 can join for free at any time.

Loyalty schemes for discounted and free cinema tickets

Many companies offer their customers cinema discounts as a thank you for shopping with them. In fact, you might already have access to discounted or free tickets without realising it.

We’ve got the lowdown on all the best customer loyalty schemes that’ll get you cheap and free cinema tickets.

Get a free film ticket every week with Meerkat Movies

How do you get two-for-one cinema tickets with Meerkat?

To qualify for this Meerkat cinema deal and enjoy a year of Meerkat Movies and Meals, all you need to do is purchase an insurance or utility product through Compare the Market.

The next step is to download their free app. Here you’ll find your two-for-one cinema voucher code, which refreshes each week.

Buying any of the following things through Compare the Market will allow you to qualify for this deal:

• Insurance: car, van, bike, caravan, taxi, motorhome, home, pet, life, health, over 50s, income protection, landlord, business or travel.
• Utilities: broadband, home telephone, digital TV, gas or electric.
• Credit card, loan or mobile phone contract.

Once you’ve bought your product and downloaded their free app, all you need to do is show your discount code at the box office when you buy your tickets. Most big cinema chains in the UK accept Meerkat Movies discount codes, with the exception of Everyman. Some cinemas allow you to claim your free ticket online too, if that’s easier for you.

As well as free movies, you’ll also get to enjoy two-for-one meals or 25% off your total bill at a wide range of restaurants. You can also indulge in Papa John’s and Pizza Hut delivery for half the usual price, seven days a week.

What’s more, if you visit Compare the Market through TopCashback before getting your quote, you can earn cashback on your purchase too.

Whether you’re looking for car insurance, travel insurance, broadband or something else, don’t miss out on our Compare the Market cashback deals.

Get discounted Vue tickets with AA Breakdown Cover

All you have to do is log in to your AA Breakdown account and buy your Vue cinema vouchers online. You then just take your vouchers to the cinema box office and exchange them for your tickets.

It can be used on up to two standard 2D, 3D, VIP, Recliner, Gold Class, Xtreme Screen or IMAX tickets, although you'll have to pay the difference in ticket price if you're not going for a standard 2D showing.

Get two Vue tickets for £9 with O2 Priority

Use your unique O2 Priority code to buy two £9 e-codes, which can be exchanged at your local Vue cinema for two 2D general admission cinema tickets. You’ll also get 20% off a range of food and drinks to enjoy alongside your film.

If you’re already an O2 Priority member, make sure you don’t miss out on this Vue cinema tickets offer. If you’re not with O2, maybe this is a reason to switch.

Get two free Vue tickets each month with Sky Cinema

If you’re a Sky Cinema subscriber with access to the MySky app, you can enjoy two free Vue tickets every single month as an extra perk.

This deal will get you free entry to any 2D film at your local Vue between Sunday and Thursday.

Get free Vue or ODEON cinema tickets as a Lloyds bank account holder

If you have a Lloyds bank account, you can access member benefits which include free tickets for films at your local cinema. As a member of Club Lloyds, you can opt to receive six free Vue cinema tickets or six free ODEON cinema tickets.

As ODEON tickets are normally more expensive than Vue, you’ll get more value for your money if you go for the ODEON tickets.

These member benefits refresh every year, as long as you remain a Lloyds current account customer.

Get a Cineworld discount as a Three mobile customer

As a Three mobile customer, you can access a wide range of discounts and rewards on the Three+ loyalty app, including two Cineworld cinema tickets for £6.

So, if you’re a movie buff looking to change your phone or SIM, it might be worth considering moving to Three in order to access this cinema deal.

Put your Tesco Clubcard points towards Cineworld tickets

So, if you have 50p in Clubcard vouchers (that’s the minimum you can exchange), this will become £1 when you spend them with Cineworld. If you have £5 in Clubcard vouchers, this equates to £10 to spend, and so on.

Tastecard membership

You’ll also get other exclusive perks, such as 50% off pizza delivery, 25% off coffee at Caffè Nero and two-for-one restaurant offers.

If you’re not ready to commit to an annual membership, you can pay monthly for £7.99 per month. They sometimes have 30 and 90-day free trials you can take advantage of too.

Get cheap cinema tickets through your work

Whether you’re treating yourself to tickets to the latest Ryan Gosling Hollywood blockbuster or an indie horror film to get your heart racing, it shouldn’t drain your bank account.

Luckily for us, lots of different types of workplaces offer their employees free or discounted cinema tickets as a perk of their employment.

Whether you’re a teacher, a paramedic or you work with us at TopCashback, there are a wide range of work benefit schemes that include discounted cinema tickets and food.

1. Discounted teachers’ cinema tickets, vouchers for food and more

If you sign up to the free Discounts For Teachers scheme, you can enjoy up to 40% off at ODEON, Vue, Cineworld and more. If you’re a teacher, you’ll never have to pay full price for a cinema ticket again. Join free today and see how much you can save.

2. Blue Light discounts

Did you know Blue Light Card holders are also able to get discounted cinema tickets? Vouchers can be bought online or on the Blue Light app, and you’ll then need to take the voucher codes to the cinema and exchange them at the tills for tickets.

Membership costs £4.99 for two years of benefits, so it really is worth signing up if you work for a qualifying employer.

If you’re wondering whether you qualify for a Blue Light Card, you probably do if you work at any of the following:

3. Work at a cinema to get a generous cinema discount

If you’re looking for casual work, cinema jobs are enjoyable, interesting and a great way to save money on your cinema trips.

As a cinema employee, your managers will want you to be clued up on film. And what’s the best way to stay informed on everything film related?

Watching the films as they come out is one of the quickest and most enjoyable ways to become an expert on all things cinema. For this reason, most big cinema chains give their employees free tickets to see films for themselves.

Some companies give their staff an allocated number per month, whereas others offer unlimited tickets per employee.

You’ll also most likely get a limited number of cinema tickets to give to your friends and family too, which is a surefire way to become everyone’s best friend/favourite child.

Other cinema benefits may include discounted food and drink. When a large popcorn costs you a couple of quid and your tickets are totally free, it won’t take you long to realise that working at a cinema is one of the best part-time jobs out there.

And if you’re already working full-time, you don’t have to rule out a part-time cinema job if it’s something you’re genuinely interested in.

Most cinemas need their staff predominantly during evenings and weekends. This makes working at a cinema a great job to fit around your other commitments.

And because cinema work is often quite casual, your contract might be as little as zero or four hours a week. This means you could theoretically only work one short shift each week and still benefit from the extra income and amazing work perks.

Are you already eligible for free or discounted tickets?

You may already qualify for free or discounted cinema tickets without realising it. Check to see if you qualify for any of the schemes below.

Get a free ticket for every cinema trip if you’re eligible for a CEA card

If you have a disability or are a carer for someone who does, you could get one free ticket to accompany a full-priced ticket to as many screenings as you like throughout the year with a CEA card.

The CEA Card is valid for applicants aged eight years and over and only costs £6 a year (and you’ll make back that money in one trip). All you have to do is fill out their application form online or send it by post.

So, how do CEA card discounts work? The free ticket is technically for the person accompanying the person with the disability, as the purpose of the scheme is to ensure disabled guests are able to visit their local cinema safely and comfortably.

Once you have your card, just present it at the till when you’re buying your movie tickets (or you may be able to use your CEA when booking online, depending on which cinema you’re visiting).

Silver screenings

Many cinema chains offer senior screenings for people aged 60, where a relatively recent film will be shown at a discounted price. Some chains include a free hot drink and biscuits with your ticket too.

These screenings are a fantastic opportunity to get to know new people, so don't be scared to go on your own!

Student discounts for cheaper food, drink and tickets

If you’re a student, remember to do some digging and find out if your chosen cinema offers a student discount.

As we’ve already seen, most big chains offer cheaper tickets for students. Cineworld and Showcase advertise cheap tickets all week round and Everyman offer students discount tickets during off-peak times.

Whichever cinema you’re off to, make sure you bring a valid form of student ID (which has the dates of your study on it) as staff may check it before allowing you to enter the screen with your student ticket.

So, you’ve come to the end of our ultimate guide for finding cheap cinema tickets. Whether you sign up for a cinema membership scheme or fancy giving Meerkat Movies a go, there are a huge number of things to try.