Cheapest cinemas in South Africa

Although trips to the cinema are becoming increasingly expensive, there are alternative cinemas to the major chains that offer more affordable pricing.

While South Africa’s two largest cinemas — Ster-Kinekor and Nu Metro — do have the widest variety of films and cineplex locations, other theatres are more affordable and offer an equally enjoyable experience.

According to the Market Research Foundation’s MAPS data overview, from 2021 to 2023, cinema-goers in South Africa spent an average of R433.69 per outing.

Because they are the biggest cinema brands in the country, Ster-Kinekor and Nu Metro, owning 43 and 22 cinemas, respectively, are more commonly found nationwide.

However, smaller chains and independent cinemas are scattered around the country, offering tickets for under R100 each.

The cheapest cinema on the list is the MiniMax cinema in Paarl, which charges R70 per 2D ticket from Wednesday to Sunday and R35 on Mondays and Tuesdays.

It only has two cinemas, so four films are alternated across the two screens. Deadpool & Wolverine, Twisters, Longlegs, and Despicable Me 4 are all showing at the time of publication.

MiniMax also offers half-price tickets on Mondays and Tuesdays for R35 each.

CineCentre is the most affordable cinema chain on this list, with regular 2D movie tickets starting at R89.

The franchise has five screening locations nationwide: Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, and two in Killarney.

When buying tickets, customers will receive up to R1,209 or R1,909 worth of reward vouchers that can be spent at partners such as Spur, Pick n Pay, Wimpy, Krispy Kreme, Engen, Uber Eats, and Nandos.

The vouchers include R20 off a meal, groceries, or data; R100 off your relaxation therapy of choice; a 2-for-1 reward valued at R100; R100 off at Toy Kingdom; R50 off all fragrances at Triscent; R10 off at any CineCentre refreshment counter; R50 off at any Street Gym; R100 off gaming entertainment; R150 off a domestic airline flight, or R50 off an intercity bus trip.

The Labia Theatre in Cape Town is one of the oldest cinemas in the country, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

It used to be an Italian Embassy ballroom before Princess Labia turned it into a theatre in 1949. Since then, it has operated as an independent cinema, showing films on the mainstream and alternative circuits for R90 a ticket.

The Labia recently told MyBroadband that the cinema has been performing well and tends to perform above average for most films it releases, according to a weekly national box office study.

“We are selective in our choice of films and innovative in our programming, providing an attractive outing through our quality programming, variety of catering and Garden Terrace, reasonable prices and good atmosphere,” the cinema said.

Movies@ has seven cinema houses, most notably in Montecasino, Gold Reef City, and other casinos nationwide.

Tickets begin at R100, and because the cinemas are in Tsogo Sun casinos, the company’s rewards programme can be used.

Similar to the Labia, the Bioscope in Johannesburg is also an independent cinema that uses its single screening room for films that it says are mostly local, as well as live acts such as comedy and live music.

It is currently showing movies such as Loving Vincent, Deadpool & Wolverine, and Is Ebenhaezer Dibakwane Ok? Tickets are R100 each.

Between Nu Metro and Ster-Kinekor, the former comes out cheaper by R15. Nu Metro charges R110 for 2D movies, whereas Ster-Kinekor charges R124.90.

Both offer similar discounts and benefits with partnered rewards programmes, such as Ster-Kinekors 50% with Discovery Vitality and Nu Metro’s 50% with Absa and Nedbank’s rewards programmes.

The table below shows the price of each ticket from the respective cinema.