Want cheap movie tickets? This Arizona city has the most affordable prices in the US
Laura Daniella SepulvedaWith scorching temperatures hitting metro Phoenix, you may be looking for indoor activities to have fun while finding solace from Arizona's blazing sun.
If this is you, cheap movie tickets may be just what you need. And if you live in Tempe, you are in luck. According to a new ranking, Tempe is the U.S. city with the most affordable movie tickets.
Affordable movie tickets can be a summer treasure. You get entertainment and fun while staying cool and under budget. There's not much else you could ask for, especially if you live in the Phoenix area and want to avoid the triple-digit heat.
The new ranking by QR Code Generator analyzed data from movie theaters in 153 cities across America, which were rated based on the time it takes to afford the cost of an average ticket at AMC Theaters, taking into account the local median hourly wage as of May 2024.
Here's why Tempe ranked top as the U.S. city with the most affordable movie tickets, as well as a roundup of the most and least affordable cities for moviegoers.
10 cities with the most affordable movie tickets in the U.S.
These are the 10 most affordable cities for moviegoers in the U.S., according to QR Code Generator.
- Tempe
- Snellville, Georgia
- Dubuque, Iowa
- Columbus, Indiana
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
- Corpus Christi, Texas
- Rapid City, South Dakota
- Albuquerque, New Mexico
Why was Tempe named the city with the most affordable movie tickets?
In Tempe, the average price of an adult ticket at AMC Theaters sits at $7.61. With the city's median hourly wage at $23.37 as of May, the average local has to work about 19.5 minutes to earn a movie ticket.
According to QR Code Generator, that is less time than in any other city and almost three times less than Los Angeles, which placed at the bottom of the ranking.
"As a night at the movie theater becomes more and more of a luxury across America, it is promising to see some cities across the country which still provide moviegoers with an affordable experience," said Marc Porcar, chief executive officer of QR Code Generator.
Porcar said the most popular movie this summer is forecast to be the long-awaited sequel of "Inside Out," which premiered on June 10 and was released in theaters across the U.S. four days later.
"'Inside Out 2' seems to have ignited the summer movie season with a record-breaking opening weekend, bringing in $295 million worldwide, the biggest opening of any animated film," Porcar said. "Families now appear to be ready for a day at the movies for Pixar’s emotional sequel."
How can I find cheap movie tickets in metro Phoenix?
Chains such as AMC Theatres, Harkins Theatres and Cinemark and independent movie houses such as Pollack Tempe Cinemas and West Wind Drive-In offer deals for just about every budget and schedule that will help you stay cool while you avoid shelling out the big bucks this summer.
- AMC Theatres' discount matinee deals offer 25% off tickets before 4 p.m. every day at all theaters.
- Harkins also offers $3 off adult tickets, $1.50 off student, senior and military tickets, and 50 cents off child tickets on any show before 6 p.m.
- Cinemark Mesa 16 theater offers Family Discount Day deals every Monday for parties of three or more, discounted tickets at $5.85 each on Tuesdays and senior deals on specific days. Check the website for details.
- Pollack Tempe Cinemas offers second-run movies for a discounted price of $3.50. All you have to do is wait a few weeks after the movie's opening date to watch it at Pollack.
What U.S. cities have the least affordable movie tickets?
Los Angeles ranked bottom in the study as the least affordable city for moviegoers. The average employee in LA must work 54.2 minutes to afford a movie ticket, which costs $21.85 on average, more than any other city in the country.
New York performed better than L.A. but still ranked low, placing as the 12th least affordable city in the country for a movie ticket. Tickets are priced at $20.02, with 42 minutes of work required to earn the cost.