$4 Movies Nationwide

Movies on the cheap: See films for just $4 a ticket in movie theaters nationwide, including such blockbusters as Barbie and Oppenheimer.

For one day, all movies — in all formats at all showtimes — will be just $4 at participating theaters.

More than 3,000 theaters are participating, including leading chains AMC and Regal.

It’s the second annual National Cinema Day on Sunday, Aug. 27.

On last year’s inaugural National Cinema Day, an estimated 8.1 million moviegoers bought $3 tickets on Saturday, Sept. 3. The average movie ticket in 2022, according to the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO), cost $10.53.

The discount gimmick turned into the highest attended day of the year for theaters at what is normally a quiet time for going to the movies.

This year, the day is moving up slightly on the calendar, shifting from Saturday to Sunday, and the reduced price tickets cost $1 more.

Last year’s National Cinema Day had fairly paltry offerings, with “Top Gun: Maverick” the top draw more than two months after it opened.

Top Movies to See

This year is different, with several top-rated recent and new films. They include “Barbie” in its fifth week. Greta Gerwig’s record-breaking film has made $1.28 billion worldwide.

There’s also Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” which has earned $717.8 million globally, plus the second week of the DC Comics film “Blue Beetle” and new releases “Gran Turismo,” Helen Mirren as “Golda,” “Bottoms” and “Retribution.”

National Cinema Day also is a way for studios to sell audiences on their fall lineups. Expect to see a lot of trailers for autumn releases before each screening. A lot. Consider it the price you pay for a $4 movie ticket.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), a former Board Member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and a current member of the North American Travel Journalists Assn. (NATJA).

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.