To ensure your next visit to the movie theatre doesn't cost you an arm and a leg, Narcity interviewed Nick*, a former Cineplex employee.
After working at a Cineplex location in Ontario for roughly five years, Nick has learned his fair share of tips and tricks to help you save money when you check out the latest blockbuster.
From not paying for water to being picky about what extras you pay for, there are a few key ways to save money when you go to Cineplex.
You don't have to buy water
If you're not feeling like sucking back some pop, you can always opt for water instead. But, before you buy a water bottle, Nick has a tip for you.
"You can always get a cup of water," he said. "Oh my God, do no get a bottle of water and pay $5.50 for it. That's insane!"
"Just ask for a cup of water and generally they'll give you just the regular concession cup."
And that's free of charge! So if you're thirsty but don't want to shell out money, you could always try this Cineplex hack instead.
Refunds are possible
Sometimes you'll buy a movie ticket, there will be a change of plans and you can't make the movie.
While you might think you're out of luck, according to Nick, there's a glimmer of hope for you.
"You can get a refund, it's not hard," he explained.
"You just have to email their guest services," he said, adding that the only parameter is that you can only get a refund up to 30 minutes after the movie's started.
"I had a friend who had lost out on so much money because she assumed that you can't get refunds," he added.
That being said, this might not be the case for all locations, and is likely up to the discretion of the individual theatre and management.
But, hey, it doesn't hurt to ask, right?
AVX isn't always worth it
With all of the add-ons and plus-ups that Cineplex theatres sell, it's hard to tell what is actually worth the extra money.
Take their AVX movie experience, for example. This upgrade boasts a bigger screen, better sound quality and more comfortable seating. But, Nick says that spending the extra money isn't always worth it.
"AVX Atmos is worth it because Dolby Atmos is an entirely different sound quality," he explained.
"But if it's just regular AVX, then it's not really worth it. It could be a bigger screen but, oftentimes, there's very little difference."
Granted he did mention that some AVX screenings can still be good if the projection and screen have been recently upgraded, like at the Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto.
IMAX is only worth it sometimes
Another popular option at Cineplex is the IMAX experience.
Online, Cineplex boasts about IMAX's "immersive, heart-pounding audio" and "crystal clear images on the largest screens."
But, according to Nick, it's not always worth the fuss.
"IMAX is worth it only if [the movie] was shot on IMAX cameras," said Nick, adding that this is something that can easily be researched online.
"If it's not shot on IMAX cameras [...] it's essentially just an expanded image," he explained.
While, of course, the screen and sound are bigger when you go to an IMAX screening no matter how it was shot, when you do see a movie shot in IMAX vs one that wasn't and was blown up to be IMAX size, "you're going to physically notice that difference."
So, on your next movie night (or cancelled-movie night in some cases) you can hopefully save a few bucks with these tips!
Meanwhile, there's more good news for fans of the theatre who are looking to save money. Cineplex Canada is currently offering some movie tickets for $2.99 and this includes some favourite classics!
Cineplex's CEO has also spoken out about experimenting with lower prices in the future, and this could make those movie nights even more affordable.
*Names have been changed to maintain confidentiality. Narcity has verified their identity.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
