Make The Most Of The Movies

Want to see films for free, before they're released? Rent cheap DVDs? Get amazing discounts on cinema tickets? You can do it all -- and more! Here's how.

When it comes to the movies, we Brits love a good film. Movies provide a great way to unwind after a long week, offering a great source of entertainment for us all.

However, popping out for some popcorn and a film can end up costing more than you think. Research by the Cooperative Bank found that Brits spend an average of £12.59 every Saturday on entertainment such as cinema trips -- so you can see how the costs could quickly mount up.

So, with the cinema becoming an increasingly expensive pastime, here are five money saving tips you can use to cut the cost of your next chick flick, or save more on your next sci-fi...

1. Go Orange

Orange Wednesdays is one of Britain's best deals when it comes to the movies. As long as you have access to an Orange SIM, every Wednesday you can get two for one on cinema tickets simply by picking up your mobile and texting `FILM' to 241.

If you're not already with Orange but still want to take advantage of the offer, sign up for a free pay as you go SIM card, and provided your phone is compatible, pop the SIM into your existing mobile, top it up with credit (minimum £5), and you can still get two for one on tickets. Texts cost 35p each.

2. Bag A Lastminute Bargain

If you don't want to restrict your cinema viewing to just Wednesdays, visit Lastminute.com, where you can get an adult cinema ticket for just £4.99. Unfortunately, the offer is only valid at 13 cinemas across London from Monday to Thursday, but if you live in the capital, it's worth knowing about.

You have up to 4pm on your chosen day to book a ticket via the website. Then, print the email confirmation and pop down to your chosen cinema any time from 12 noon on the day of the showing to exchange it for tickets. It's as simple as that, and considering a West End ticket normally costs £12.15, you could bag tickets for less than half the price.

3. Sign Up For Exclusive Previews

Fancy watching a film, for free, before it's even released nationwide?

See Film First and Momentum Pictures are just two sites which offer regular preview screenings at cinemas up and down the country. Simply sign up, and you will be notified via email when they become available.

Screenings are frequent and wide-ranging. However, from my experience, you have to be quite quick off the mark to land a seat, as screenings fill up remarkably quickly. Still, if it's something for nothing, and you get to see the film before it hits the screens officially, then why not sign up?

Be aware, however, that you may also be forced to agree to receive information from 'selected partners' of the sites to get the tickets.

Alternatively, newspapers such as the Sunday Times regularly offer free preview screenings to readers. Check out the `Culture' section from time to time to see what's on offer.

Staying with The Times, the newspaper has got a special offer on at the moment aimed at lovers of classic films. `Movies That Matter' are a series of films including Dr Zhivago and Gone With The Wind, screened across the country this summer to remind us of these timeless classics. Tickets are only £5, but if you register via the Times Online you can get two tickets for the price of one (plus a booking fee).

4. Go Unlimited

If you're a frequent movie buff, it may make sense to invest in a monthly cinema pass which will give you unlimited access to your favourite stars.

At Cineworld cinemas, you can watch unlimited movies at any day, at any time for a whole month for just £11.99 (£14.99 including cinemas in central London). That's less than the price of two adult cinema tickets.

There are other perks to getting a monthly pass too. As well as access to exclusive previews and special promotions, if you are a monthly pass holder, you can get 25% off your food bill at Bella Italia, providing a tasty bonus before going for your film.

5. Rent-A-Deal

If you prefer snuggling up at home to going to the cinema, signing up for online DVD rental could be a smart move.

LoveFilm are probably the best known provider of DVD rentals, and you can get a free 14 day trial, as well as unlimited DVDs from £9.99 per month - or for less avid users, a maximum of two DVD rentals per month for £3.99.

If you're already a member, you can get 30 days' free when you introduce a friend, who then also gets 30 days free. So if you're thinking of joining, it might be worth first checking whether any of your colleagues and friends are members and can 'introduce' you.

Although online DVD rental can provide good value for money -- personally I think you have to be a bit careful as, like a gym membership, if you forget about your membership or become lazy, the money will continue to be debited from your bank account. For this reason, unless you're an avid film fan, you could be better off with a pay-as-you-go plan.

There's a site called easyCinema, also powered by LoveFilm, which offers 'credits' instead of monthly limits, which you redeem against your rentals. The DVDs work out at £1.99 per film, which is still is cheaper than popping down to your local Blockbuster. Bear in mind that credits expire 90 days after you've purchased them.

One final thing to remember. If you do go to the cinema, make sure you bring your own food, as cinema prices are extortionate! Make your own popcorn at home and bring your own drinks. Just be sure not to flaunt them in the queue, as some chains can be quite fussy about what you bring in to the cinema.

So, these are my top tips. As always, any extra movie money saving tips will be appreciated from Fool readers. So please post your tips using the comment boxes below!

Whether you decide to go out to catch your next movie or prefer to curl up on the sofa, hopefully these tips will help ease the cost of your next cinema trip, and set you on your way to making the most out of the movies...

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