A simple trip to the cinemas can chip away at your wallet more than many of us would like—and that’s before we even begin to consider add-ons like popcorn or choc tops.
All that said, there’s still nothing like the cosy embrace of a proper big-screen experience, so we’ve collated together the most competitive ticket prices from theatres around Melbourne, Victoria.
While branches like Palace Cinemas, the trifecta of Lido, Classic and Cameo, and more offer tempting discounts to cinema-goers who sign up as members, we haven’t included member prices in this list, nor concession or special event ticket prices. If you’re after the most reasonably priced standard movie tickets available in the Melbourne region, you’ve come to the right place.
The Astor Theatre
St Kilda’s iconic single-screen picture house has kept its prices decent since being bought by Palace Cinemas—namely due to the fact that you’ll get to see two modern or retro features for the price of one.
$16.00 — Magic Monday and Fantastic Thursday tickets
$19.50 — Double feature ticket price
Burwood Brickworks Reading Cinemas
A nice new six-screen complex, with sumptuous snack offerings and a state-of-the-art luxe auditorium.
$15.00 — Standard ticket price
Cinema Nova
A Carlton fave for uni students and arthouse fanatics, Cinema Nova is best visited on a Monday if you’re trying to save some dosh.
$7 — Discount Monday tickets booked before 4pm
$10 — Discount Monday tickets booked after 4pm
Forest Hill Hoyts
There’s heaps of Hoyts branches across Melbourne, but Forest Hill’s neat ticket price stands out from the pack.
$16.00 — Standard ticket price
Hoyts Ticketek Tuesdays
A brand new collab between Hoyts cinemas across Australia and ticketing partner Ticketek lets you nab Tuesday movie tix for a neat discount. Simply log into your Ticketek account and find the Hoyts cinema session you’re after there, with even Xtremescreen and LUX sessions being slightly cheaper.
$13.00 — Tuesday ticket price when booked through Ticketek
$33.00 — Tuesday LUX ticket price when booked through Ticketek
Lunar Drive-In
“In 2002 our single adult admission price was $12”, this retro drive-in claims: “in 20 years it has only increased $3”. The price is even more impressive if you bring a carload of friends along. Be sure to visit before it closes in mid-2023, following sale.
$30.00 — All carloads for Tuesday screenings
$55.00 — Carload of 3-7 people for three-film “movie marathon”
Melbourne Cinémathèque
This non-profit organisation screens curated selections around a single topic, auteur, or movement every Wednesday at ACMI: membership is required.
$33.50 — Mini Pass to six films screened over consecutive three weeks, rounding out to $5 a film
Sun Theatre
Yarraville’s independent gem of a cinema still has the best choc tops around, and modest prices too.
$13.50 — Discount tickets on Monday and Tuesday
Thornbury Picture House
A trendy family-run space for niche and new screenings, with Wednesday being the most penny-pinching day to visit.
$12.50 — All Wednesday session time prices
Waverley Cinemas
This good old-fashioned family operation has kept its tickets cheap as chips for decades, with a quaint website and interior design to match.
$8.00 — Standard ticket price
