If you’ve been waiting for a chance to finally get in on the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon at your local Cineplex but balked at thehigh ticket prices, your day is about to come.
National Cinema Day, the second annual one-day movie celebration that lands this year on Sunday, Aug. 27, promises ticket prices as low as $4 at thousands of participating theaters across the country — even for IMAX screenings.
It’s a welcome discount in the wake of last month’s blockbuster opening weekend for “Oppenheimer,” which sawdemand for ticketspushing prices well above their face value. At the AMC Metreon 16, the only San Francisco theater showing the movie in 70mm IMAX, film enthusiasts were reportedly offering as much $75 for resold tickets originally purchased for $18.99.
In the Bay Area, participating outlets on National Cinema Day include AMC and Cinemark theaters, among other major multiplexes, where movie lovers can catch the latest blockbusters “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer,” “Blue Beetle” and “Gran Turismo.”
“National Cinema Day serves as a celebration of cinema enthusiasm and acknowledges the unifying role that movie theaters fulfill within our communities,” said Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners.
The initiative waslaunched a year agoafter theaters nationwide saw audiences returning to indoor auditoriums at a slower rate than anticipated following the long shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We welcome everyone to join us for the communal experience of one of America’s favorite pastimes — moviegoing,” Jackie Brenneman, Cinema Foundation president, said in a statement. “We look forward to gathering at the movies and celebrating an exciting slate of new releases and classics, from beloved family favorites and outrageous comedies to thought-provoking dramas and thrilling adventures. There’s something for everyone.”
For more details, go towww.nationalcinemaday.org.
Reach Joshua Kosman:jkosman@sfchronicle.com;Twitter:@JoshuaKosman