Regal is bringing back its $1 Summer Movie Express for the summer, giving families a low-cost way to get out of the heat from June 1 through Aug. 13. The program starts at 11 a.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and is limited to weekdays, with mostly older releases on the schedule.
The chain launched the summer program in 1991, and it remains aimed at families looking for a little cool entertainment during the hottest weeks of the year. This summer’s lineup includes Sing, A Minecraft Movie, Kung Fu Panda 4, Paddington in Peru and Animal Farm, Andy Serkis’ animated adaptation of the George Orwell novel featuring the voices of Seth Rogen, Steve Buscemi, Glenn Close and others.
Regal also is offering $3 off a Snack Pack that comes with a junior-size drink, popcorn and fruit gummies, adding a cheaper concession option for moviegoers. The theater chain operates locations on Long Island in Deer Park, East Hampton, Lynbrook and Westbury, giving local families several places to use the deal.
The appeal is simple: the movies are cheap, the showtimes are early and the films are not new releases, which keeps the offer squarely in the category of a summer diversion rather than a major box-office draw. That is why the program has lasted for more than three decades, and why it is likely to fill seats again this year when the weather turns hottest.
