Skip to main content

Movie theater tickets going for just $3 on September 3

Movie theaters took a battering during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while the last few months have seen audiences starting to return, right now theaters are in a tough period again, with few blockbusters hitting screens and customers’ tightening budgets making streaming services a more attractive option.

It’s against this challenging backdrop that movie theaters across the U.S. and beyond are hoping to fill seats by offering tickets for just $3 (plus tax) in a special one-day deal.

Recommended Videos

The cut-price tickets will be available for screenings on the first-ever National Cinema Day on Saturday, September 3.

The $3 offer is for “every movie, every showtime, every format,” according to the event’s website, with tickets selling at a price similar to what folks were paying in the early 1980s.

A growing number of cinema chains — and independents — are jumping on board, with AMC, Cinemark, and Regal already getting ready for the ticket sale. As of now, more than 3,000 cinemas with some 30,000 screens are involved in the initiative aimed at giving a boost to movie theaters.

“This day is for movie lovers across the U.S., celebrating how movies are meant to be seen, on the big screen,” Ken Thewes, Regal’s chief marketing officer, said in a release. “We are excited to be a part of National Cinema Day, offering our moviegoers the opportunity to see the latest blockbusters at Regal, no matter the format, for only $3.”

Cinemark said in a tweet that it will also be offering a range of snacks and drinks for $3, representing a discount on its usual prices. Other chains may follow suit.

The best way to check if the movie theaters near will be offering $3 tickets on Saturday is by visiting the National Cinema Day website and popping your city name or ZIP into the search box.

This deal is sure to be popular so it’ll be wise to book your tickets just as soon as you can.

And if you’re not in the U.S., be sure to check your local theater to see if it, too, is getting involved. Hundreds of theaters in the U.K., for example, have already said they’ll be offering tickets for just three British pounds this Saturday.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
3 action movies on Netflix you need to watch in May 2025
The Joker and Batman sit across from one another at a table.

May marks the unofficial start to summer. In Hollywood, that means it's summer blockbuster season. Now is when the studios release their tentpole films to generate box office returns that approach $1 billion. F1, Jurassic World Rebirth, Superman, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps are projected to be the summer's biggest movies. Netflix is getting in on the action with The Old Guard 2.

Speaking of Netflix, the streamer has hundreds of action movies that satisfy those blockbuster cravings. One of those movies is The Dark Knight, a brilliant Batman story. Check out The Dark Knight and two more action movies in May.

Read more
3 underrated movies on Hulu you need to watch in May 2025
Tom Cruise points a gun while a woman hugs him in Mission: Impossible III.

Franchises dominate the list of what's new in May. Andor fans can then watch Rogue One: A Star Wars Story after binging the Disney+ series. After Rogue One, go right into the original Star Wars trilogy, including A New Hope. Other new franchises on Hulu are the Kingsman movies and Mission: Impossible.

Speaking of Ethan Hunt, Mission: Impossible III is one of our underrated movies for May. One of the key plot points in the third movie, the Rabbit's Foot, will reappear in the upcoming Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. Check out Mission: Impossible III and two other underrated films below.

Read more
Don’t let these 3 hidden streaming movie gems in May 2025 fly under your radar
The cast of Bad Times at the El Royale in a promo image.

Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts* has officially kicked off the 2025 summer movie season with a bang. From now until August, many major blockbusters will premiere, from hopefuls trying to launch entire cinematic universes, like James Gunn's Superman, to bold new chapters of beloved and long-running franchises, like Jurassic World: Rebirth.

However, if you're not in the mood to go to the cinema, or you just want a different, more obscure option to watch from home, we've got just what you need. From crime dramas starring fan-favorite actresses to stylish neo-noirs with large ensembles full of now-recognizable actors, these underrated movie gems are perfect antidotes to the loud, explosive spectacle of the blockbusters at the movie theater.

Read more