The Dollar Rule vs. the Movies, Part 2
In the Dollar Rule vs. the Movies, we discussed that going to the movies theaters may not always be dollar-worthy, since getting to a DRR of 1.0 for what movie tickets cost is hard to justify. Do you get $7.50 - $12 worth out going to a movie? Per our limited analysis, the answer is generally "no".
But let's remember what the DRR (Dollar Rule Ratio) really is — a ratio — which is represented as a mathematical fraction:
| DRR | = |
Hours of Use or Benefit
---------- Dollars Spent |
- Increase the numerator (top number), e.g. increase the hours of use or benefit
- Decrease the denominator (bottom number), e.g. decrease the dollars spent
Since a movie is only going to last 1.5 hours typically (up to 2.5 hours if you're watching a long epic), you're generally not going to be able to increase the hours of use from a movie very much (although we discussed some "stretch"ing ideas in the DR vs. Movies article).
So to improve (raise) your movie-watching DRR value, the only option then is to lower the price.
Here are some ways to watch movies for less than the normal ticket prices:
- Corporate discounts: Many companies have programs to provide discounted tickets to the larger movie theater chains (AMC, Regal, United Artists). As of this writing I think the discount typically results in $6.50 per ticket (can be used for adults or kids, but of course if the kid price is lower, than it makes no sense to use these discounted tickets on your kids). You may have to buy them in bulk, but if you know you're going to the movies, you might as well pay as little as possible. Compared to $10 - $12 that you might pay at the ticket booth for an evening show, this is a pretty good deal (relatively speaking). Note that these pre-paid tickets often cannot be used for a movie if it's in the first week or two of it's release. But you can wait a couple weeks, right?
- Dollar theaters: If you have a dollar-theater (also known as second-run theaters) you can watch movies for 1 or 2 dollars. They won't be the most recent movies, but if you haven't seen them yet, here's your second chance to see them on the big screen instead of waiting for the DVD to come out.
- Free showings: During summer months, theaters often have free movies in the mornings, primarily for kids. But free is free, and while not first-run titles, the movies may be ones you or your kids haven't seen yet.
Of course, we're still only considering the ticket price. Gas and parking might still cost you the same, regardless of what the ticket price is. Food and drink is still a factor if you always have the urge for munchies while you watch a movie (again, I suggest you eat before you go to the movies).
So what it boils down to is if you absolutely must watch your movies in the theater, then a little planning and a little patience, will often yield some more dollar-worthy options to consider.
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