Christa Geraghty | 

Cheap Summer Movies: Where to See Movies Under $3 or Free

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Get ready for cheap summer movies! We have the scoop on several theaters offering summer programs in 2024. We’re talking $3 movies or less at AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, Cinemark Theatres, plus others.

Of course, if you’re more of a Netflix or Disney+ kinda of family, you can always check out streaming services that offer free access.

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Movie ticket prices do not include any potential tax. Local participation may vary.

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Cheap Movie Tickets in 2024

1. Regal Summer Movie Express $1 movies June 11 - Aug. 7.

Starting June 11, your family can enjoy movies for $1 per person at Regal Cinemas every Tuesday and Wednesday (10 a.m.) through Aug. 7. If you join the free Regal Crown Club, you can also save 50% off popcorn on Tuesdays. They also have a $5 Snack Pack that includes a snack-sized popcorn, junior-sized drink, and fruit snacks. Here's the nine-week Regal Summer Movie Express 2024 schedule.

  • Ticket Price: $1

  • Showtimes: 11 a.m. (local)

  • Days: Tuesday and Wednesday

Movies in 2024:

  • June 11 - 12: Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

  • June 11 - 12: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

  • June 18 - 19: Teenage Mutant Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

  • June 18 - 19: Frenemies: The Angry Birds Movie 2

  • June 25 - 26: Despicable Me 3

  • June 25 - 26: Migration

  • July 2 - 3: Spiderman: Into The Universe

  • July 2 - 3: Paw Patrol: The Movie

  • July 9 - 10: Spiderman: Across The Spider-Verse

  • July 9 - 10: Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie

  • July 16 - 17: Clifford The Big Red Dog

  • July 16 - 17: Sonic The Hedgehog

  • July 23 - 24: Trolls Band Together

  • July 23 - 24: Sonic The Hedgehog 2

  • July 30 - 31: Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

  • July 30 - 31: Kung Fu Panda 3

  • August 6 - 7: Minions: The Rise of Gru

  • August 6 - 7: Sing 2

2. AMC Summer Movie Camp tickets are $3 all season long.

For just $3 on every Monday and Wednesday through August 14, 2024, you can see popular movies with AMC Theatres Summer Movie Camp at participating theaters.

  • Ticket Price: $3

  • Showtimes: Varies

  • Days: Monday and Wednesday

Movies in 2024:

  • June 24 and 26: Minions: The Rise of Gru

  • July 8 and 10: Sing

  • July 15 and 17: Sing 2

  • July 22 and 24: The Secret Life of Pets

  • July 29 and 31: Migration

  • August 5 and 7: Despicable Me 2

  • August 12 and 14: Despicable Me 3

AMC offers Sensory Friendly Films for children on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, and on Wednesday evenings for mature audiences. Here is a full list of participating theaters. Showtimes vary by theater.

3. Cinemark Theatres’ cheap movie tickets for kids — only $1.75 a ticket.

The Summer Movie Clubhouse at Cinemark Theatres is returning this year from June to August for 10 weeks. Tickets are only $1.75, plus you can get $1 off popcorn and drink combos and kids’ snack packs.

  • Ticket Price: $1.75

  • Showtime: 10 a.m. (local)

  • Days: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday

Movies in 2024:

  • June 10 - 13: Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

  • June 17 - 20: Hedgehog 2

  • June 24 - 27: Shrek

  • July 1 - 4: Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie

  • July 8 - 11: The Lego Movie

  • July 15 - 18: Trolls Band Together

  • July 22 - 25: How to Train Your Dragon

  • July 29 - Aug. 1: Migration

  • Aug. 5 - 8: Hotel Transylvania

  • Aug. 12 - 15: Paddington 2

4. Harkins Theatres offer movie tickets for $1.

For just $1 per movie, kids and adults can take in eight movies for eight weeks during Harkins Theatres Summer Movie Fun program. These special showings from June through July are only available at 9:45 a.m. Here's this year's movie schedule:

  • Ticket Price: $1

  • Showtime: 9:45 a.m. (local)

  • Days: Monday through Friday

Movies in 2024:

  • June 3 - 7: Trolls Band Together

  • June 10 - 14: Sonic the Hedgehog

  • June 17 - 21: PAW Patrol the Movie

  • June 24 - 28: Leo

  • July 1 - 5: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

  • July 8 - 12: Paddington 2

  • July 15 - 19: Migration

  • July 22 - 26: Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

5. Classic Cinemas has $2 summer movies for kids every Wednesday.

Doors open at 9 a.m. (entertainment and games) with showtime at 10 a.m., for the Wednesday Morning Movie Series at Classic Cinemas. For groups of 20 or more, reservations are available. However, they require a kiddie combo (popcorn, kiddie drink or juice, and a fruit snack for $8). Classic Cinemas also dedicates an auditorium to sensory-friendly films on Wednesday mornings.

  • Ticket Price: $2

  • Showtime: 10 a.m. (local)

  • Days: Wednesday

Movies in 2024:

  • June 5: The Bad Guys

  • June 12: Trolls Band Together

  • June 19: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

  • June 26: Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken

  • July 10: Shrek

  • July 17: PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

  • July 24: Wonka

  • July 31: Migration

  • August 7: Sing 2

6. Enjoy free movie days at Phoenix Theatres.

How about a free summer movie for kids and a kiddie meal? Phoenix Theatres Entertainment is offering free summer movies at 10 a.m. every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from May 28 - Aug. 29, 2024 at select theaters. Start and end dates vary between locations. All ages are welcome, and doors open at 9 a.m.

  • Ticket Price: Free

  • Showtime: 10 a.m. (local)

  • Days: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

Movies in 2024:

  • May 28 - 30: Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse/Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

  • June 4 - 6: The Angry Birds Movie 2/Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

  • June 11 - 13: Smurfs: The Lost Village/Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

  • June 18 - 20: Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse/The Emoji Movie

  • June 25 - 27: Land Before Time/Beethoven

  • July 2 - 4: Sing 2/Dr. Suess' The Cat in the Hat

  • July 9 - 11: Trolls Band Together/Little Rascals

  • July 16 - 18: Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken/The Flintstones

  • July 23 - July 25: The Super Mario Bros. Movie/Dolittle

  • July 30 - Aug. 1: Migration/Peter Pan (2003)

7. Buy cheap movie tickets for $3 at Marcus Theatres’ Kids Dream Summer Film Series.

Marcus Theatres is bringing back their $3 Kids Dream Summer Film Series this June (plus $3 popcorn and drink specials).

  • Ticket Price: $3 (per person, per movie) or $18 (per person) for the Marcus Kids Dream Passport (allows you to see all 12 movies)

  • Showtime: Varies

  • Days: Sunday through Thursday (June - July), plus Saturday in August

Movies in 2024:

  • June 9 - 13: Minions: The Rise of Gru

  • June 16 - 20: Sonic the Hedgehog

  • June 23 - 27: Under the Boardwalk

  • June 30 - July 4: Trolls Band Together

  • July 7 - 11: The Spongebob Squarepants Movie

  • July 14 - 18: PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

  • July 21 - 25: Migration

  • July 28 - Aug. 1: The Jungle Bunch: Operation Meltdown

  • Aug. 3 - 8: Shrek

  • Aug. 10 - 15: The Lego Movie

  • Aug. 17 - 22: Wonder Park

  • Aug. 24 - 29: Sing 2

8. Megaplex Theatres offers a cheap movie ticket pass for $25.

Megaplex Theaters is offering their Megaplex Theatres’ Kids Summer Movie series again this year. You must have an active MyMegaRewards account to participate in this summer movie program (it's free to join!).

The $25 movie pass works for kids and adults — and gives you access to 10 movies for 10 weeks at 10 a.m. Plus, each pass holder can get $1 off one standard Kid's Combo (per movie). Additional tickets to individual movies will be available at an extra cost of $2.50 each.

  • Ticket Price: $25 (allows you to see all 10 movies)

  • Showtime: Varies

  • Days: Monday through Friday

Movies in 2024:

  • May 27 - June 6: Kung Fu Panda

  • June 3 - 13: How To Train Your Dragon

  • June 10 - 20: Shrek

  • June 17 - 27: Despicable Me

  • June 24 - July 4: Trolls Band Together

  • July 1 - 11: Migration

  • July 8 - 18: PAW Patrol The Movie

  • July 15 - 25: PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

  • July 22 - Aug. 1: Sonic The Hedgehog

  • July 29 - Aug. 8: Daddy Daughter Trip

9. National Cinema Day: $4 movie tickets

Look for National Cinema Day to return for a third year this August. More than 3,000 theaters, including AMC and Regal (even through Fandango), will likely have $4 movie tickets for National Cinema Day, plus concession deals.

Year-Round Cheap or Free Movie Offers

View free movies all year through Kanopy Kids, thanks to your local library.

A laptop displaying the Kanopy Kids homepage on a couch

This isn’t a movie theater per se, but through select public libraries, colleges, and universities, Kanopy lets you stream ad-free movies year-round. You just need a public library card, and you can view the flicks on a computer, phone, television, or tablet.

With over 1,000 options, you and the kids can incorporate this on your list of fun things throughout the year. The Kanopy Kids division has story time, television series, science/math videos, and of course, movies. For you tired parents, the standard Kanopy website lets you pick from documentaries, foreign films, and award-winning movies.

Related: This idea is also great for road trips! Need some road trip hacks for kids? We gotcha covered.

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