Theaters will offer $3-movie tickets all day on Sept. 3 for 'National Cinema Day'

Movie lovers rejoice! Saturday, Sept. 3 is your day.

All day, movie theaters across the country, including at least five in and around South Bend, will offer tickets for $3 plus tax for all movies, showtimes and formats, including IMAX and Dolby Cinema. The discount brings ticket prices down to less than one-third of the average national ticket price of $9.17.

Participating nearby theatres include three AMC Theatres: AMC South Bend 16 located at 450 W. Chippewa Ave, South Bend; AMC CLASSIC Elkhart 14 located at 2701 Cassopolis St., Elkhart; and AMC CLASSIC Michigan City 14 located at 100 Meijer Dr., Michigan City.

Cinemark Movies 14 at 910 W. Edison Road in Mishawaka and Celebration Cinema Benton at 1468 Cinema Way in Benton Harbor also will offer the discounted tickets.

The promotion, launched by the non-profit Cinema Foundation, is a celebration of the foundation's inaugural "National Cinema Day," which thanks movie-goers for "this summer's record-breaking return to cinemas," a statement from Cinema Foundation President Jackie Brenneman said.

"The one-day event, held at more than 3,000 participating locations with more than 30,000 screens, will bring together audiences of all ages to enjoy a day at the movies," the Cinema Foundation said in a news release.

At all participating theatres, movie-goers can enjoy special previews of upcoming films from A24, Amazon Studios, Disney, Focus Features, Lionsgate, Neon, Paramount, Sony Pictures Classics, Sony, United Artists Releasing, Universal and Warner Bros before each main-feature showing.

AMC Theatres also will offer their popcorn and fountain drink "Cameo Combo" for $5 plus tax.

According to the Associated Press, Labor Day weekend is traditionally one of the slowest weekends for movie theaters. If "National Cinema Day" is successful, the Cinema Foundation may hold it annually.

A complete list of theaters participating in "National Cinema Day" can be found online at nationalcinemaday.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Movie theaters offer $3 tickets for 'National Cinema Day' on Sept. 3