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

Get ready for cheap summer movies, because we have the scoop on what several theaters are offering for summer 2024. We’re talking $3 movies or less. Plus, summer specials at theaters like AMC, Harkins, Classic Cinemas, and Phoenix Big Cinemas.

While we don’t know any details yet for Cinemark, Regal, Marcus and Megaplex theaters we’ll update this post as soon as theaters drop their cheap summer movie tickets for 2024.

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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Cheap Movie Tickets in 2024

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

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

• Ticket Price: $3 + tax

• Showtimes: Check with your local AMC theater.

• Days: Wednesdays or Saturdays

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 partiticipating theaters. Showtimes vary by theater.

Upcoming Sensory Movie:

• Unsung Hero, April 27

2. 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 in the morning. Although they have yet to announce all the ticket details here's this year's movie schedule:

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: Migation

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

3. 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 dedicates an auditorium to sensory-friendly films on Wednesday mornings.

• Ticket Price: $2

• Showtime: 10 a.m.

• Days: Wednesday

Movies in 2024:

• June 5: The Bad Guys

• June 12: Trolls Band Together

• June 19: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Productions

• 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

4. Enjoy free movie days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) at Phoenix Big Cinemas.

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 - August 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.

• 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 Flinstones

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

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

5. Cinemark Theatres’ cheap movie tickets for kids — only $1.50 a ticket.

We expect the Summer Movie Clubhouse at Cinemark Theaters to return this year from June to August. Watch for cheap movie ticket prices of $1.50, plus a discount on popcorn and drink combos and kids’ snack packs.

6. Get Regal Summer Movie Express tickets for $2.

With the Regal Summer Movie Express you can watch family movies each week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for $2 a ticket. The program will most likely run this year from May to September. Regal usually offers their Regal Crown Club members exclusive savings like 50% off popcorn every Tuesday!

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

Marcus Theatres will most likely launch their Kids Dream Summer Film Series and $3 popcorn and drink specials in June. Look for other discount rates for seniors, students, and anyone over the age of 60 on Marcus Theatres’ Special Offers page.

8. Megaplex Theaters offers a cheap movie ticket pass for $10.

We expect Megaplex Theaters will bring back their Megaplex Theatres’ Kids Summer Movie series in 2024. The $10 movie pass works for kids and adults — and gives you access to 10 movies for 10 weeks at 10 a.m. Additional tickets to individual movies will be available at an extra cost of $1.50 - $2 each.

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 most 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.

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.