There are SO MANY ways to see free or really cheap movies all over Chicago including renting movies or streaming movies online. Here is everything that is available:
Free movies at the theatre:
- The Chicago Park District shows free movies throughout the summer all over the city.
- The Chicago Outdoor Film Festival happens every Tuesday in Grant Park after July 4th.
- University of Chicago Film Studies shows films as part of their lecture series and are almost always free.
- Eye & Ear Clinic is programmed by the grad students at the Art Institute with film and video from their archives and faculty/student works and screens for free.
- Facets shows amazing movies at their theatre. Normally, it’s $9 a movie but it’s FREE if you become a Facets Patron Club member.
- If you join Landmark Theatre’s Film Club, you will be informed when they have free screenings.
- If you’re a member of Facebook sign up for CHICAGO FREE MOVIE SCREENINGS from gofobo.com and 43kix.com and Chicago Movie Screenings. Both will alert you when free movie screenings are happening and tickets are available. Also, sign up for gofobo.com. They will inform you of other screenings above and beyond what is listed in the Facebook group.
- Sign-up to be a hollywoodchicago.com member. They’ll let you know when they have free screenings of wide release movies.
- Film Metro lists free screenings in Chicago. While not always updated, it’s always good to check.
- The
geekiestmother of all movie gossip sites, Ain’t It Cool News has free screenings in Chicago on a regular basis and they are usually better movies. Click here for the Chicago screening information. - Wild About Movies is a little difficult to navigate and filled with too many ads. BUT, if you click on the movie posters on the left hand side of upcoming movies, they will let you know when free screenings are happening of the movies they have listed.
- Other places to check:
- Slickdeals and Fat Wallet continuously posts free screenings on their forums.
- While clunky and not Chicago specific, Free Movie Codes lists free screenings in Chicago.
Free movies at home:
- Redbox is the way to go for free movies. Go to their site to find the closest one and then go Inside Redbox to find out the latest Redbox free movie codes. You can use the codes once per debit/credit card.
- Facets has a Netflix-style membership that allows you to rent movies through the mail. While that cost money, it allows you to rent FREE at their store and see FREE movies at their theatre. For info here.
- While it may seem obvious, Hulu, Joost, IMDB, and the Internet Archive all have free streaming movies.
Cheap movies at the theatre:
- The Alliance Française de Chicago shows French language films for $5.
- Bank of America Cinema shows classic movies with a short or cartoon at the beginning for $5 and free parking. (There is no official site for it, but you can get the current listing at Time Out Chicago.)
- Block Cinema at Northwestern programs excellent movies and is $6 a movie, or cheaper if you’re a student or buy a membership.
- Brew & View at the Vic Theatre is $5 for a double feature and they have beer specials.
- Chicago Filmmakers has screenings that are only $8, $7 Student and Seniors (with I.D.) $4 Members. Plus, if you become a member for $25, you get 4 free admissions.
- Music Box has a discount card for $33 for 5 movies.
- The Nightigale regularly screens independent and experimental films for $5.
- Siskel Film Center has cheap tickets if you are a student or become a member ($10 general admission, $7 students, $4 for students and faculty of the School of the Art Institute, and staff of the Art Institute, $5 Film Center members.)
- University of Chicago Doc Films shows films every day U of C is in session, $5 movie or cheaper if you get a membership.
- White Light Cinema regularly screens independent and experimental films around town with tickets starting at $7.
September 25, 2009, 11:13am Comments
