What's the best Movie Deal?

My people, Indians, are naturally thrifty when it comes to movies. It's true that while Bollywood and Kollywood are multi-million dollar industries,  Indians still now how to stretch that movie entrance ticket as far as it can go. For example, a typical Hindi film easily spans 3 hours filled with long, windy plots, extensive dances and musicals, and frequently an intermission midway. Indians are used to getting 3-4 hours worth of entertainment from one movie ticket. It is a whole day affair.

You might think that the movie theaters would reclaim some revenue from the concession stands, but if people are anything like my mother, that is probably not the case. As a child I would sit down next to her in the movie theater, and in her purse there would be unlimited juice boxes, chips, cookies, and Kleenexes to last me through the most riveting moments of the Lion King. Who needs movie theater popcorn anyway when you have Hi-C, pop tarts, AND starburst?

But today, admission tickets to movie theaters are on the decline, and movie rentals seem to be the preferred options for busy Americans today. The Thrifty Scholar has adapted to the times, and has created a comparison of popular movie options:

 Movie Theaters:

The popcorn and the big screen draws you in. You like to stay with the classic movie theater experience. We get it. Call up your local movie theater and ask about any discounts that are available if you purchase multiple tickets at once, they usually do this for movies that have been out for at least 2 weeks. Also, find out when you can use relevant discounts such as senior, student, and child discounts because they might not be available for new releases.

There might also be certain nights that have a standard flat rate for all movie goers which includes adults and children. This is usually on a weeknight (like $6 Tuesdays) to draw people into the establishment. In the summer,there might be special days for children. Showcase cinemas offers "Bookworm Wednesdays" where recent children's movies are shown and the only price of admission is a book report to encourage reading. Hooray for the next generation of Thrifty Scholars!

Redbox

Redbox is a truly representative name for this company that stations red box-looking kiosks at local grocery stores. On your very first visit to a RedBox kiosk you can rent 3 discs at one time and repeat customers can get up to 5 discs at one time. The more days you keep the discs, more charges are applied to your account, however it is pay-as-you-go.You can reserve movies online ahead of time, rate them online, and search local dropboxes to find which box has the movie you want available. Right now, first time online reservations will earn you a free movie rental.

Cons: You do have to pick up and drop off movies yourself so we recommend creating a schedule that coincides with your grocery shopping schedules so that you save on gas by reducing necessary trips. And, don't forget the case, if it's lost a replacement can cost an extra $1.

You might not find a redbox with the movie you want in it within a 10 mile radius, so we recommend checking online availability first. Movies are due at 9pm sharp the next day and you will be charged another night if it's even a couple minutes late. You must call the redbox company to report unplayable or damaged discs, and you might be charged the cost of the DVD.

Blockbuster
 Blockbuster does claim that many releases come out as much as 28 days before Redbox or Netflix and it has a much wider selection of in-store movie rentals priced at $0.99/day. New releases are $2.99 for the first day, others are $1.99 for the first day and then $0.99 for every day after that.

Blockbuster is in stiff competition with Netflix and Redbox, and is offering online options as well. The basic 1 disc out at a time plan allows for 5 exchanges where you can either mail your movie back and wait for the next movie to come in the mail, or drop your movie off at the store and get a new movie instantly. There are no late fees, and shipping is included in the monthly plan.

Cons: Blockbuster locations have been closing down, so depending on where you live, you might not have a store location nearby. Previously the Blockbuster plans were more expensive that Netflix plans which offered no maximum amount of exchanges in one month, but since Netflix raised their rates (see below), the Blockbuster plan is relatively more affordable.

Netflix

Netflix plans are monthly and increasing the amount of discs you can have at one time will result in an increase in your monthly membership rates, a system similar to the Blockbuster online plans. The difference is that all rentals must be mailed back to Netflix as opposed to having a kiosk or store to drop them off to. Although, there is no hassle with picking up and dropping off movies, there is a 2-3 day lag time in the shipping of new rentals out to your residence. Netflix also allows users to read movie reviews, rate how they liked the movie, and have software to suggest other movies you'd like based on your previous ratings.

 If you have a Netflix streaming device, you may stream "instant" movies to a television instead of watching the movies on your computer. It is easy to report damaged or unplayable discs through your online account, and a replacement disc is sent to you in a timely manner.


Cons: Netflix recently separated their plans. It now costs $7.99/month for instant streaming and $7.99/month for one DVD out at a time unlimited rentals. Combining the two makes for a $14.95/month plan. Previously, instant streaming was bundled with all plans that involved unlimited DVD rentals. The delay in movies arriving by mail, as mentioned above, can sometimes be unpredictable as your are relying on the US postal service.

The Library

Rental here is completely free, and there isn't usually a limit to how many discs you can take out. Online reservations can be made, and if your library is part of a consortium, you can request movies from other library branches.

Cons: You won't get a huge selection like with the other movie companies, and it might take awhile to see new releases and popular movies since rentals are on a first-come, first-served basis. Most libraries don't have a way to review movies within the library database, so you'll have to rely on other resources for reviewing. Lost rentals, mean you will have to pay the library back 100% of the initial movie price, and you do have to pay a late fee if you don't return the movie. Most libraries do not mail movies to you, or allow you to mail them back to the library itself.



When considering these options, figure out what your movie needs are. Perhaps you are just looking for a couple new releases, or maybe you are considering replacing cable television for movies, documentary, and other media. Take advantage of 14 day trials, but if you do decide to discontinue, make sure you contact the rental company so that they do not continue to bill your credit card.