What if I told you that not only could you watch movies at various movie theaters around Jacksonville for free, but that you can watch them before they are publicly released?
These free screenings are put on by studios in major metropolitan markets to show the film to members of the press (who in turn provide free coverage of the film) and to create positive word of mouth among moviegoers. Audiences are much more likely to recommend a film to others if they didn’t pay to see it.
There are several websites that can help you find these passes. Gofobo.com, 43Kix.com, getscreening.com, morachentertainment.com, sonyscreenings.com, and cinemit.com are the best online sources for passes. Create an account and you’ll occasionally receive invites by email. Advancescreenings.com does a great job of cataloging screenings by city. Follow these sites on Twitter and like them on Facebook for the latest info. In my experiences, most of these sites are not overly spammy. The more often you check them, the more likely you are to get passes.
Some of these sites require codes to receive the passes which you may or may not find on the advancescreenings.com website. You may also find contests on gofobo.com and redcarpetcrash.com. I find that I win these passes through these contests about 50% of the time so they are worth entering. Our local EU Magazine will list upcoming screenings with retail locations which have passes. Sign up for their newsletters and you may receive a free screening email.
I sometimes receive passes for two or three screenings a week! So now that you know how to receive the screenings, what do you need to know about attending these events?
1) Expect to stand in line. You must arrive at least an hour early to avoid sitting in the front row. Two hours for higher profile releases. Screenings are intentionally overbooked, so it is possible to be turned away if you’re not there early enough.
2) Get a seat before you make your way to the bathroom or concession stand. The theater will fill up quickly.
3) Leave your cell phone in the car. Since the films have not yet been released, most screenings prohibit cell phones in the theater. And yes, they will check your pursed and use a "wand" to make sure you do not have any electronic devices in your pocket.
So now you know the secret! Maybe I will see you at the movies!
