National Cinema Day: How to Get $4 Tickets to See 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer'

Hollywood has an enduring love for sequels, and it's a sentiment shared by moviegoers who appreciate a good cinematic encore. Following the massive triumph of the inaugural National Cinema Day last year, which drew over 8 million film enthusiasts to theaters with the allure of $3 tickets, the National Association of Theater Owners is gearing up for an encore.

This year, over 3,000 theaters across the nation are poised to participate in National Cinema Day, inviting the public to enjoy the silver screen spectacle on Sunday, August 27. Tickets will be priced at $4, marking a 33% uptick from the previous year, and this includes premium formats such as IMAX and Dolby.

While last year's National Cinema Day treated audiences to the exhilarating "Top Gun: Maverick," starring Tom Cruise, this year cinephiles will have the delightful opportunity to savor "Barbenheimer" at a discounted rate.

Bryan Braunlich, CEO of the non-profit Film Foundation, shared with CNBC Make It that the decision to organize a second National Cinema Day was a swift one, emerging just two days after the triumphant conclusion of the inaugural event, when it became abundantly clear that the nationwide event was an undisputed success.

"We reached out to our partners, and there was a palpable enthusiasm to explore the possibilities of doing it again," he revealed.

While last year's event was in part designed to entice audiences back into theaters after two years of pandemic-induced closures, Braunlich explained that this year's Cinema Day is motivated by a simpler aspiration: to let the audience revel in the joy of being at the movies.

"With 30,000 screens and 3,000 locations spanning the United States, we anticipate that most people will have a local theater participating in National Cinema Day," he stated confidently.

Braunlich further anticipates that moviegoers will enthusiastically seize the opportunity presented by the reduced prices for premium formats. For instance, a standard 70mm IMAX screening of "Oppenheimer" in New York City would typically set you back $26.99. However, on National Cinema Day, the price drops to a wallet-friendly $4, reflecting an astonishing 85% discount.

Nevertheless, for those eager to experience a movie in an immersive format like 4DX or any other special viewing experience, Braunlich offers a prudent piece of advice: book your tickets in advance.

"Last year, a majority of tickets were snapped up on the very day of the event," he noted. "Moviegoers would arrive at theaters only to find them sold out, especially for premium and large-screen formats."

Curious about what National Cinema Day has in store for your city? You can simply visit the official National Cinema Day website and input your location in the search bar to get all the details.

As for the future, if this year's edition replicates the success of its predecessor, Braunlich and his team envision an annual tradition in the making.

"If this momentum continues year after year, as we sincerely hope it does, our ultimate goal is to transform National Cinema Day into a full-fledged event," Braunlich concluded. "We aim to shift the focus away from pricing and towards creating a unique experience, much like mini Comic Cons in every city, where you never know which celebrity might grace your local theater with their presence."