Two massive movies dropped practically simultaneously—Wicked and Gladiator II—and suddenly your group chat is planning multiple theater trips, discussing costumes for Wicked premieres, and debating whether Gladiator requires IMAX. Your wallet is already waving a white flag.

Here’s how to catch all the cinematic magic without spending gladiator-arena levels of money.

The damage: what one movie night actually costs

Standard movie experience:

  • Tickets: $12-18 per person
  • Popcorn and drink: $15-20
  • Parking: $5-15 (depending on city)
  • Total per person: $32-53

See both movies in theaters? You’re looking at $64-106 before you even consider the fancy formats.

Premium format pricing:

  • IMAX: Add $5-8 per ticket
  • Dolby Cinema: Add $6-10
  • 3D (if available): Add $4-6

The ‘I’m seeing it twice’ tax: Some people see Wicked multiple times (we get it, it’s a whole experience). That’s $32-53 every single time.

How to do it cheaper (without missing out)

Matinee showings: Morning and early afternoon tickets are $8-12 instead of $15-18. Wake up early, save $15.

Discount days: Many theaters have $5-8 ticket days (usually Tuesdays). Check your local theater’s deals.

Subscription services:

  • AMC A-List: $20-25/month for 3 movies weekly (includes IMAX and Dolby)
  • Regal Unlimited: $18-24/month for unlimited movies
  • Alamo Drafthouse Season Pass: $20-30/month

The math: If you’re seeing both movies plus one more, subscriptions pay for themselves immediately.

Sneak in snacks: Controversial, but a Costco box of candy costs $10 for what you’d spend $30 on at concessions. Bring a big purse. (We didn’t tell you that.)

Skip premium formats for one: See Gladiator in IMAX (it’s made for it), watch Wicked in standard (the songs are the star, not the screen size). You just saved $10.

The group discount strategy

Split costs creatively:

  • Designate one person to get AMC A-List and buy tickets for the group
  • Others cover snacks and parking
  • Everyone wins

Private rental for groups: If you’ve got 15-20 friends, renting a theater costs $150-300 total (so $10-15 per person for a private screening). Split the cost, bring your own snacks, and it’s actually cheaper than regular tickets.

The ‘wait for streaming’ math

If you skip theaters entirely:

  • Wicked will hit streaming/rental in 3-6 months
  • Gladiator II similar timeline
  • Rental cost: $6-20 (one-time payment for your whole household)

Your couch is free, your snacks are cheap, and you can pause for bathroom breaks. But you lose the theatrical experience (which, for musicals especially, kind of matters).

The bottom line

You don’t have to choose between seeing both movies and paying rent. You just need a strategy.

The winning moves:

  • Use subscription services if you’re seeing multiple movies
  • Go to matinees or discount days
  • Skip premium formats for at least one
  • Share costs with friends creatively

Both movies will be incredible in theaters. Both will eventually be on your couch. Decide which one matters more for the big-screen experience, splurge on that one, and save on the other.

Your movie-loving heart and your bank account can both be satisfied—just not by buying $20 popcorn every time.