WORDS BY H. LONG NGUYEN TRAN 

Are you a movie lover? A film nerd? A cinephile? Are you also a student? Are you me? 

Just kidding with that last question. 

But, as a fellow cinema-loving university student, I know all too well the dilemmas that the student cohort faces. 

The simple act of going to the movies can be quite the challenge, like how sometimes when you ask your mate, Brian if he wants to go see a film with you, he says yes, then the day comes around and he changes his mind! So you’re forced to go sit in the cinema watching the Barbie movie on its opening night alone because you already pre-ordered the tickets… 

No? You don’t have that problem? Ok. Something less specific, then. Money problems, perhaps?

As students, we all want to save money. That often means cutting out some of the non-essential activities that we love doing, such as the movies. 

But it doesn’t have to be like that, especially if you’re in Melbourne, a place with a rich and dedicated relationship with the cinematic art form.

Luckily for you, I have created a guide showing you where and when you can see movies the way they are intended to be viewed, at greatly discounted prices! 

Then, after saving all that money, I will show you some of the city’s more novel venues that I think all the real ‘Cinefreaks’ are going to love.

Cinema Nova, Carlton

Price: $7 and $10, (Originally $23.50, Save $16.50 or $13.30) 
When: Every Monday (excluding public holidays)

What better way to beat a case of the Mondays than spending a little time (and money!) at the movies? The folks at Cinema Nova sure know that! 

This Melbourne arthouse staple will allow you to watch any movie on their slate for just $7 AUD per ticket on any given Monday before 4pm. But that's not all, if you miss that window, don’t worry, because they raise the Monday price to only $10 per ticket after 4pm.

Also, this discount applies to all cinema goers, not just students, so you won’t even have to pretend to be one after you graduate!

Palace Cinemas, Various 

Price: $12 (Originally $26, Save $14)
When: Every Tuesday (excluding public holidays)

If Monday is too unusual a day for you, then rest assured, on Tuesday, the Palace Cinemas chain offers $12 tickets at their Balwyn, Brighton Bay, Como, Dendy, Penny Lane, Pentridge and Westgarth locations. It may not seem as economical as the Nova deal, but the advantage here is the multitude of cinemas at hand.

This is another bargain for all cinema-goers, and it also extends to Wednesday for students. 

Classic Cinemas, Elsternwick; Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn; Cameo Cinemas, Belgrave

Price: $8 (Originally $25, Save $17)

When: Every Wednesday

All parts of one entity, Classic Cinemas, Lido Cinemas, and Cameo Cinemas give students the opportunity to watch films theatrically for just $8 on Wednesdays. 

So if you missed out on Cinema Nova’s $7 Monday matinee, just wait a couple more days to get in on the next best deal in town.

Those are all the weekdays where you can experience the big screen for significantly smaller prices. Now if you’re strong enough to wake up early on a Sunday, you’ll be able to snag a $10 movie ticket (which is $25.50 normally, saving you $15.50) at any Hoyts before noon. 

And yes, there are more ways to get cheaper tickets, but they may or may not involve signing up for things, which I understand is not so attractive to everyone.

So if you follow my guide, four cinema visits per week can net you a total savings of $63! And I know a few places where you can spend all that money to your heart’s content, such as…

Rivoli Cinemas, Hawthorn East

Price: $23 

The Rivoli is known for its historic ties with the city, so much so that it was granted a place on the Victorian Heritage Register. But this complex is more than just its past glory days.

Dating back to 1940, this art deco-styled charmer has since been renovated to operate under the Village Cinemas brand. However, the modern systems of Village Cinemas can clash with the venue’s vintage design, most notably through the lack of curated screenings of classics which are a feature of other cinemas.  

The cinema’s analog past still gets some play every now and then. Last year, it was one of the few places in Melbourne that managed to screen a 70mm print of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. 

Sun Theatre, Yarraville

Price: $19

Speaking of art deco and physical film projection, also on the Victorian Heritage Register, the Sun Theatre in Yarraville is basically a better version of the Rivoli (in my humble opinion). 

The novelty factor of its retro aesthetics is enhanced tenfold by both its dedication to celluloid and screening events that border on being makeshift film festivals. The only thing it lacks when compared to the Rivoli is the paranormal rumours. 

Thornbury Picture House, Thornbury, $20.50

Price: $20.50

If you’re looking for the perfect middle ground between modern and retro, then Thornbury’s indie darling might be the place for you. 

Thornbury Picture House's architectural concept is built around the fact this classy moving pictures exhibitor used to serve moving autos as an antique petrol station. 

When it comes to the movie-going experience itself, the cinema’s accommodation is decidedly contemporary, with a generous seating arrangement and a fairly robust audio-visual system, making new releases feel incredibly at home.

Astor Theatre, St Kilda

Price: $23

Another representative of Melbourne’s long-standing affection for cinema and a must-visit for classics and arthouse enthusiasts. 

This single-screen auditorium frequently boasts 35mm showings of cult favourites on its marquee, presumably so they can lure me to a convenient place for a sting operation a la the plot of M. Night Shyamalan’s recently released hit thriller 'Trap'. 

And if you want to see a movie before everybody else, the Astor gives that opportunity to do so, as it is one of Melbourne International Film Festival’s selected screening venues each year. 

IMAX Melbourne, Carlton

Price: $34

Sure the screen at the Astor is big, but you haven’t seen big until you’ve seen IMAX. And Melbourne’s IMAX might just be one of, if not, the world’s finest.

The 32-metre-wide by 23-metre-high behemoth of a screen will turn anything on it into an unreal spectacle. Coupled with the fact that it is one of the few cinemas in the entire world capable of projecting the gigantic 1570 format, IMAX Melbourne is truly a different beast, even amongst IMAX cinemas.

So now you’ve got all these spots to go to, instead of spending time in your dark and lonely room to stream movies on your laptop, why not go out and catch a movie with a crowd? 

Just make sure it’s not too big of a crowd, like specifically the crowd on the opening night of Barbie. Brian still owes me 25 dollars.