Love taking your kids to the movies, but hate the cost of tickets? Check out these free and low cost options around the South Sound! This was last updated in fall of 2017, but I believe it to still be current.
Starplex Gateway Theater (Federal Way) Update: Now an AMC
The bargain movie theater in Federal Way became an AMC as of Februry 2016. The good news is that bargain prices seem to be continuing, although they vary a bit by movie and showtime. Prices as of this writing range from 1.99 to 2.99, so still a great deal. These are not first run movies, but they do usually have several kid friendly titles to choose from. No word on whether their cheap concessions continue.
Grand Cinema (Tacoma)
Every 3rd Saturday of the month, The Grand Cinema offers a free, family movie sponsored by Colombia Bank. Admission is limited to the first 100 attendants, and children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. They run retro flicks like Ghostbusters, and recent hits like The Lego Movie. Check out the schedule of their Free Family Movies on their site.
Blue Mouse Theater (Old Town Tacoma)
The Blue Mouse is a cool, funky old theatre in Tacoma. Best of all, their ticket prices are still old and cool, too! Regular admission is $6/adults, $5/kids; Saturday and Sunday matinees and Monday and Tuesday evenings are just 4.00 for everyone! They also have reasonable concession prices compared to the big chains, so you can leave your diaper bag (aka popcorn smuggler) at home. They only run 1-2 movies at a time, so you’ll want to be sure to check ahead to see if the current pick is kid friendly.
Capitol Theater Olympia
On select Saturday mornings, kids 12 and under can see the kids’ club title for free. General admission is 8.00 and OFS members are 5.00. Titles are older, family friendly shows, and they rotate monthly. We try to include these in our weekend lists.
Regal Theaters In the Summer
In the summer months, Regal Cinemas show kids’ movies on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings for just 1.00! Woot! We will have the whole schedule up for 2017 as soon as they release it, usually in late May/early June.
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Other Options: Most area libraries show family friendly movies at least once a month, and the Tacoma main branch library shows a movie almost every week! Check out your local library’s events page for info. Our friends at Wiggleworks also host regular movie nights, which is great if you want to see a movie with the family without stressing out about whether your kids will be talking/wiggling around etc….
If your kiddos really want to see a movie that’s just come out, most theaters offer a reduced price for the first show of the day. So, that’s always an option, too!
Be sure to stay tuned to Sounds Fun Mom year round. We’ll keep you alerted to the multiple summer movie programs throughout the area! Connect with Sounds Fun Mom on Facebook or sign up to receive posts via email.
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Those are the options I know about, but I’m sure there are others. If you know one, please share away in the comments!
NOTE: Prices current as of February 2017; always check with the theaters for current pricing.
$5 Tuesday’s at Capitol Mall in Olympia