Summer Family Movies

Just wanted to give you a heads up on a couple cheap or free movies that are happening over the summer break.

Free Family Film Festival. Certain Regal Cinemas are hosting weekly free family movies on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10am. . They have a G rated movie in one theatre and a PG rated movie in another. Doors open at 9:30and seating is on a first come first served basis. Once the theatre is full, it's full, so plan on showing up around 9:00 and waiting in line if the movie is a more current title. You can't reserve seating for friends that are planning on showing up either. They have to be in the theatre. To find if there is a theatre near you and what movies are playing, check out Regal Cinemas Free Family Film Festival site: http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/familyfilmfestivalschedule.aspx

AMC Summer Movie Camp. Certain AMC theatres are hosting a $1 family movie on Tuesday mornings at 10am. Admission is $1 and you can purchase advanced tickets online or at the theatre. Doors open at 9:30. Even if you purchase advanced tickets I would still suggest showing up at or before 9:30 in order to get seats that are actually next to each other. Their kid's concession combos are reduced to $4 also. To find a theatre near you, what movies will be playing, and to order tickets online, visit: http://www.amcentertainment.com/smc/

CineMark Summer Movie Clubhouse. CineMark which includes Century Theatres, CineArt, and Tinseltown is also having $1 family movies on Wednesdays at 10:00am. There is also a limited availability punch card for all 10 shows for $5 which is a savings of $.50 per show. To find a theatre, see what movies will be playing and to order the punch card, visit: http://www.cinemark.com/summermovieclubhouse/index.htm

Other chains also host free or reduced cost summer movies so check out your local theatre.

A couple movie tips.

Get your seats first. Generally, the theatre will fill up fast. Find your seat before you go to the bathroom or get concessions or you may not be able to find seats that are next to each other. Put down the, "these are my seats" sprawled out jackets or other items, then go do your other business.

Go to the bathroom before the movie starts. But if your kids have to go in the middle of the movie -- it's ok too.

Bring some before the movies games or activities. You may be waiting up to an hour or more in a line or in the theatre before the movies starts.

Bring your car seats with you. My little ones have a hard time sitting in the chairs without them collapsing and they have an even harder time seeing. Instead of fighting off all the other parents for one of the limited number of booster seats available through the theatre, just bring in your own booster from the car.

Don't worry about your fidgety, talkative, up and down child. Remember, you're in a theatre with over a hundred other families with small kids, they understand (and if they don't then they really shouldn't have come to the show). Don't be completely disrespective and let your baby cry through the movie but if your kids don't have the perfect theatre manners, don't worry about it.

Don't forget $ for concessions. Though the movies are free or reduced, chances are the concessions are not. Most of the time the concessions are regular priced.


Remember, enjoy your time together. This is supposed to be a family event. Try to keep your stress level down by preparing before hand and remembering that it's about the kids enjoying their theatre time, not whether or not you have everything together and your kids are on their most proper behavior. And hey, if you have to walk out, at least you didn't have to pay full price.