Calling all film fans: tickets from £3 make this weekend the perfect time for a cinema trip

If you love the cinema but wince a little when you see the price, this weekend could be the perfect time to treat yourself, and the whole family if you’ve got a film-loving brood.

On Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September, National Cinema Weekend is coming to cinemas across the UK, with tickets available for just £3 or £4 at participating venues.

That means you can grab the popcorn, round up the family and enjoy some of the biggest films currently showing without a cinema trip costing quite so much.

What is National Cinema Weekend?

National Cinema Weekend started out as National Cinema Day in 2022, giving audiences the chance to enjoy films on the big screen for a much cheaper price than usual.

It proved hugely popular, attracting 1.46m admissions in its first year, followed by 1.56m people in 2023.

Now, for the first time, the event has been extended across the whole weekend, giving you two days to pick a film, gather your favourite people and make a proper cinema day of it.

Whether you're looking for a family-friendly film, a big blockbuster or something a little different, there will be plenty to choose from.

Which cinemas are taking part?

More than 530 cinemas are taking part, including lots of independent venues as well as many of the UK's biggest cinema chains.

Here's what you can expect:

• ODEON: £4 tickets across all films and screens throughout the weekend, including premium formats such as IMAX, iSense, Dolby and XL.
• Cineworld: £4 tickets across 2D, 3D, 4DX, ScreenX, Superscreen and recliner screenings. IMAX tickets have a £2 uplift, making them £6. Cineworld Unlimited members won't pay an uplift on included formats, although the £2 IMAX charge still applies.
• Vue: £4 tickets across all films and seats, including Lux and UltraLux recliners.
• Showcase: £4 tickets for every film, showtime and screen.
• Picturehouse: £4 tickets.
• The Light: £3 tickets, although some premium seats and formats carry an additional charge depending on the cinema.

So, if you've got a family of four, for example, you could potentially get everyone through the door for £12. That's a lot more tempting than paying full price for four tickets, especially once you've added the popcorn, drinks and all the other cinema treats.

Which films can you see for the reduced price?

The exact films and screenings available will depend on your local cinema, but there are some tempting titles included.

Films available at participating cinemas include:

• Spider-Man: Brand New Day
• The Odyssey
• Toy Story 5
• Coyote vs. Acme
• The Death of Robin Hood
• Insidious: Out of the Further
• Leviticus
• The Dog Stars

And it's not just the latest releases.

Some cinemas are taking the opportunity to bring classic favourites back to the big screen, too. Showcase, for example, is showing The Lord of the Rings Extended Edition trilogy as well as The Hunger Games films.

How do you get the discounted tickets?

There's no complicated process or special membership required.

Simply head to your participating cinema's website or app and book your tickets in the usual way.

The National Cinema Weekend price will be applied to eligible screenings taking place on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September.

Just remember that what's available can vary from one cinema to another, so it's worth checking your local venue before you get too excited about a particular film.