National Cinema Day returns in 2025 as “@ the Movies” with year-round discounts and fun events

National Cinema Day is coming back in 2025 but with a new name and bigger plans. It will now be called “@ the Movies.” The event won’t just be for one day anymore. Instead, there will be quarterly events across the year to keep people coming to theaters. The Cinema Foundation, the non-profit arm of the National Association of Theatre Owners, is hosting the program.

Fandango, the ticketing service, will help by subsidizing these promotions. The first event will start on January 19, National Popcorn Day, with half-off popcorn and free upgrades. The next is Sneak Peek Saturday on April 19, which will show trailers and previews of upcoming summer and holiday films, as per the report by Variety.

Movie events and discount days

The content will come from CinemaCon, which is usually only for industry people. On August 15, there will be Date Night @ the Movies, and on November 9, Family Day @ the Movies. The exact discounts or deals for these days are not yet clear.

Bryan Braunlich, executive director of The Cinema Foundation, said the campaign gives exhibitors chances to connect with local communities in fun ways. He also said it took months of teamwork with industry partners and that they are excited to welcome audiences, as stated by Variety.

National Cinema Day history

National Cinema Day was first created in 2022 by Jackie Brenneman and her team at The Cinema Foundation. That first year, tickets cost only $3, compared to regular prices that can go up to $18 in cities like New York and Los Angeles.

Though the ticket prices inflated to $4 in 2023, the attendance went strength to strength, with 8.5 million people turning up for the concert, and raking up revenues to the tune of $34 million from $24.3 million last time.

Though both the years were among the very best of all time, 2024 didn’t see the observation of National Cinema Day. Calling Cinema essential to the cultural craft of any time, Mike Bowers, chair of the Cinema Foundation told Variety that cinema was critical to bringing people together and create memories of community.

FAQs

Q1: What is @ the Movies 2025?
A1: It is the new name for National Cinema Day, with movie discounts and quarterly events throughout the year.

Q2: When are the special movie discount days in 2025?
A2: The events are on January 19 (Popcorn Day), April 19 (Sneak Peek Saturday), August 15 (Date Night), and November 9 (Family Day).