If you’ve got kids like mine — especially teens who love big releases — then you already know summer movie season is a big deal.

Between animated sequels, live-action remakes, and a few fan-favorite franchises coming back, there’s a lot hitting theaters over the next few months. And if your family is anything like mine, we won’t be picking just one.

But here’s the thing: seeing multiple movies in theaters can get expensive fast.

That’s why I’m planning ahead this year — and grabbing ticket deals now before these movies even hit theaters.

What’s Coming to Theaters This Summer!

There’s something for every age group this year, which is great… but also means more tickets to buy.

Here’s what’s on our radar:

• May 1: The Devil Wears Prada 2 (at least for me!)
• May 22: The Mandalorian and Grogu
• June 19: Toy Story 5
• June 26: Supergirl
• July 1: Minions 3
• July 10: Moana (live action)
• July 31: Spider-Man: Brand New Day
• August 14: Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie

In my house, that’s a mix of family picks and couple outings.

Why I Recommend Buying Tickets Now

When big summer movies roll out, a few things always happen:

• Popular showtimes fill up quickly
• Prices feel even higher when you’re buying multiple tickets
• Snacks and extras add up fast

So instead of waiting until release week (and paying full price), I like to lock in deals ahead of time and use them when we’re ready.

St Michael Cinema Bargain Mondays!

At St. Michael Cinema in St. Michael (northwest of the Twin Cities), see the Super Mario Galaxy Movie or any other movie for only $5 on Mondays!

Read about our visits to St. Michael Cinema and the unique decor.

AMC Theatres

Deal #1: Discounted Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Did you know they have discounted movie tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays?

If you go any other day though, you can still save. These deals are good any day. Keep reading…

Deal #2: Easy Option for Smaller Outings

This is perfect if it’s just you and one kid, or a couple of teens heading out together:

AMC Ticket Bundle Deal

• Get 2 tickets + 1 popcorn for $24
• Use code AMC38OFF at checkout

Note: Add the deal to your cart and then add the code for the price adjustment!

That’s about what you’d normally pay for tickets alone — and popcorn is already included. (And no expiration date!)

How I’d use it:
Great for a quick one-on-one outing or when one of my teens wants to see something without making it a full family event.

Deal #3: Best Value for Families (or Teens + Friends)

If you’re taking multiple kids — or your teens want to bring friends — this is the better value:

AMC Movie Night Bundle

• Get 4 tickets + 2 popcorns + 4 fountain drinks for $65
• Use code MOVIENIGHT75
• That’s a savings of $75

Note: Add the deal to your cart and then add the code for the price adjustment!

For a full family outing, this is a huge cost saver compared to buying everything separately. (And no expiration date!)

How I’d use it:
Plan one or two bigger movie nights this summer and use this bundle to keep the total under control.

Marcus Theatres

Deal #1: Value Tuesdays!

On Value Tuesdays, you can get discounted tickets. Plus if you are a Magical Movie Rewards member, you’ll even get FREE popcorn. 

Groupon!

Groupon has many movie ticket deals! Check them out here.

For Second Run Movies

Cinema Grill – Cheap tickets!

You can dine and see a movie here – movie tickets are cheap as the movies are second run. They’re located in New Hope. See their website here.

How This Works for My Family

With a summer lineup like this, I already know we won’t be going to just one movie.

It usually ends up looking like:

• One full family outing
• One or two smaller trips (just me + one kid, or teens with friends)
• Me trying to keep snack spending reasonable

Grabbing deals like these ahead of time makes all of that feel a lot more manageable.

A Few Extra Ways I Save

If you’re trying to stretch your budget even more, here’s what works for us:

• Eat before you go to avoid buying full meals at the theater
• Share popcorn instead of buying one per person
• Use deals like these for the bigger outings and keep smaller trips simple

Final Thoughts

Summer movies are one of those things my kids really look forward to — and honestly, I enjoy it too.

And I don’t want to say no just because of the cost.

Planning ahead and grabbing deals now means we can say yes to more of the fun stuff without the budget stress later.

If you know your family will want to see at least a couple of these movies, it’s worth locking in the savings now and using them when you’re ready.

Want more summer fun on a budget? Check my guide:

Free Summer Fun for Twin Cities Kids & Families 2026!

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that help support this site at no cost to you. All opinions are 100% mine.)