Not many people know this, but Amazon releases movies to movie theaters. And with a program called Amazon Prime Premiere, Prime members can get free movie tickets and concessions at the cinema.
Amazon Prime Premiere is a special program exclusive to Prime members that launched in September 2023. (It’s included with Prime membership). With Prime Premiere, Prime members and a guest can get early screenings of new movies coming to Prime Video. Plus, they can get some freebies, like a free snack or drink.
So how does this work, and why should you care? Let’s dig into what exactly Prime Premiere is below, and how you can take advantage of its benefits. It's important to know that there won't always be Prime Premiere screenings in your area. If you get, "Sorry for the inconvenience, but there are currently no screenings in your neighborhood," you'll have to check back.
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What is Amazon Prime Premiere?
Think of Prime Premiere as a special benefit that’s already included with your Prime membership. With Prime Premiere, any Prime member has early access to Amazon movies and series. All you have to do is reserve your tickets ahead of time and check in to your theater by 7 p.m. the night of the show. These shows are typically one night only.
Reservations open a week before the showing and do sell out. That said, try to grab a ticket as soon as the reservation portal opens.
Here’s how it works:
Head to the Prime Premiere homepage. Hit "Upcoming screenings," then "Login." You can use your Prime account login credentials.
Once logged in, hit "Find Screenings." Find input your ZIP code to find a screening you want and then hit "Reserve tickets." Choose your preferred theater location and showtime.
Choose how many tickets you’d like (though you only get two max). While the person who reserves the tickets must be a Prime member, their guest doesn't have to be.
Follow the instructions to get the redemption code for your tickets and vouchers.
Make sure to check in at the theater before showtime.
RELATED: Is Amazon Prime Membership worth a $139 fee? Ask yourself these questions.
Amazon Prime Premiere also gives attendees $10 - $12 in free snacks.
Moviegoers get a small popcorn and a small soda or water included with every ticket. But in case you forgot, a movie theater “small” is still pretty big. A small popcorn generally costs between $5 - $7, and a small soda is about $5. So you’re saving around $10 - $12 on snacks per person. Not bad.
KCL TIP: We’ve heard that Amazon also has the occasional giveaway for Prime Premiere attendees. If you’ve won anything, let us know. They keep these prizes under wraps pretty well.
Get tickets for films like The Accountant 2, G20, Picture This, and more.
Prime Premiere is constantly adding new films and events to its roster. Generally, you can count on one or two movies or series premieres every month. To see a full selection of currently available and upcoming films, check the Prime Premiere coming soon tab.
What theaters participate in Prime Premiere?
Only select theaters participate in Prime Premiere. If you’re in a rural area or a smaller city, you may have a hard time finding local options. Here in rural Texas, my closest participating location is 60 miles away. But even a metro area like Boise, Idaho, hasn’t had any showings yet. They’re mostly in major metropolitan areas, and there’s no central list of participating theaters either.
What happens if you miss a Prime Premiere showing?
If you get tickets and later find out you can’t attend, Amazon wants you to return them on Prime Premiere’s homepage.
Other Important Prime Premiere Info
You can only get a max of two tickets per Prime account. Even if you have Prime Household with several children listed, you can still only bring one guest with you. Sadly, Prime doesn’t have a babysitting service (yet).
Seats are first come, first served, and latecomers won't be admitted. Check-in begins at 6:15 p.m. and the showtime is at 7 p.m., so try to beat the crowd by arriving as close to that check-in time as possible.
Only select theaters participate in Prime Premiere. If you’re in a rural area or a smaller city, you may have a hard time finding local options.
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