How to Get Free Movie Refreshments- an old school trick

Whether you can do this depends on how hard up you are, and how gross this is to you.

The trick takes advantage of the concept that your cinema of choice offers free refills for larger sizes of popcorn- and it's very simple.

Sneak into a theater which hasn't been cleaned yet--this can be rather difficult because ushers follow the schedule pretty closely--- or that is still in session, but almost finished-- and grab one of these super size buckets or bags.

You could find a perfect theater opportunity by arriving about 10-15 minutes early for your movie. That is the most likely way for you to get what you are seeking. You can set up camp before the ushers come in, hiding the container under your seat, or on your person if you think they will ask you to leave.

If you have no shame, or are very discreet, just snatch the container and get it "refilled" right away.

You can also pocket the container- whether you pay for it once, or after everybody else has left the theater-- and bring it around for next time. Only the concessionaire would know your dirty secret and--from experience as such-- will either forget all the faces they see or not give a flying fuck. Also, there is always more than one person working the snack bar. You know that.

Look- nobody touches the inside of the popcorn bucket- so you're cool. Plus, I don't think you can get herpes or hepatitis from touching paper. In fact, I know you can't.


So-- shameless savers/ cheap bastards of all description--and who can afford not to be one of those in these times? Enjoy your free movie popcorn!!!




Oh--by the way-- if you do manage to beat the ushers to any empty theater---you'll find a gold mine of half-finished candy in the seats, awaiting your grubby paws to grasp them. Let's just say, when I worked at a cinema, and was doing usher duty--I never went without a treat for too long!

Which was good, because it is otherwise a mostly thankless, minimum wage, goofy teenage job: a humiliation if you are no longer a teenager; and one which robs you of energy and works you hard. They are also exempt from paying over time. I'll probably blog about working at the movies next time...The thing is though, you work as a team so- if you want to harvest such things without the embarrassment of five or ten people's notice--you have to work your own area and act quickly. Just grab your target and silently stuff it in your pocket.


Or you could just do what I'm describing and grab the free candy as a paid movie goer.


Here's a final tip for avoiding ushers: come in during the last 10 minutes of the previous movie--that is, about 20-30 minutes prior to your showtime. There may be a manager standing inside, which is never a good thing, but usually you're home free--I worked at a retarded cinema-- yeah so--if you put in that dedication, you've earned that kind of reward in my book.

Ha ha. Enjoy yourself.



And while I would never follow my own tip here, I have, on occasion smuggled my own concessions into a movie--usually at a discount cinema (I love those---don't have any nearby though,) based on the largely accurate assumption that the underpaid sods working there couldn't give a shit what you do.

For the most fun, smuggle alcohol!!!! That's been a popular antic for me, to, on public transportation, to college classes---etc....