Las Vegas

This page is designed to compile all known ways to attend a free advanced movie screening, both online and offline. Because we live in Las Vegas, this city page will be more informative than most others.

General Providers

When you attend enough advanced screenings, you start to notice that the same providers keep sponsoring them. So it's in your interest to find out more about these providers.

1. Local Radio

Generally, local radio stations can give out screening passes six ways:

• Listen to win: "Our 29th caller gets tickets for two to see.."
  
• Pass pick-up: "Drop by our station office and pick up passes..."
• Expo or festival: "Stop by our booth and be sure to grab tix..."
• Follow the van: "Our wacky afternoon DJ has driven the prize van over to some local business and is giving away free hot dogs and movie passes!"
• Point system: "Join our listeners club, and when you earn enough points..."
  
• Online contests: "Enter by Monday. We'll select five winners then to attend..."
  

Mix 94.1 uses the listen-to-win approach. 97.1 The Point does the prize van thing on Friday afternoons. If you're interested, listen to that station and find out where the action is. Personally, we like the online option, because you don't have to listen to the radio, and you don't need to leave the house unless you know you've won. Three stations offer online contests: KLUC 98.5, 100.5 Jack FM, and X-107.5. All are owned by CBS Radio, and winners have to pick up their passes in the same office on West Sahara.

Feel free to find other local stations by using Radio Locator or your favorite Internet search engine.

2. Local Print

The Las Vegas Review-Journal prints notices of its screening contests in its Living section, along with the daily movie listings. Usually, you have to register online. So you can skip the subscription and just check their website periodically.

You should also check a pair of weekly papers that are published each Thursday. Look for them in libraries or in colorful boxes along city sidewalks. The Las Vegas Weekly often sponsors a few movies to be screened the following week. All of it is offline: they will publish a quarter-page ad for each, letting you know when and where to pick up passes. (Normally, you pick them up in the publisher's office in Henderson.) Also visit the CityLife website for screening contests; when available, they will appear in the right-hand column.

3. Local TV

So far none of the local TV stations in southern Nevada offer movie screenings, at least online. If things change on this front, we'll let you know.

4. Local Internet

First, the Las Vegas Movie Insider offers at least one screening a week. Sometimes you can simply print out a pass, but usually you need to pick up passes from a local business, usually in the west side of town. (Be sure to follow the directions on the site; often you'll need to print out the information and exchange it for a pass.)

Second, there's Vegas Film Critic, which updates its page less often, but sends the passes to the winners by U.S. mail. In the past we've noticed that winners may also receive an additional pass to an unadvertised screening because the site did not have the time to set up a contest for that movie.

5. Regional and National Internet

Volition, for whatever reason, compiles multi-city screenings for cities in New York, Pennsylvania, and the Southwest. Las Vegas is often among those cities. Look for an offer about once a month. When a screening is available, you can usually enter the contest once a day until it expires, and increase your chances of winning.

Film Metro has gone national and may offer screenings just about anywhere. Take a look and see if your city is included.

Be sure to check the national forums at Fat Wallet and Slick Deals as well. THE MOVIE OUTSIDER has a representative that posts offers on each of those forums, and compiles a list of screenings by city that links back to here. More importantly, other members in the forums will relay info about multi-city screenings sponsored by the movie studios and PR firms. Use these sites in tandem, and you'll get about as much publicly available information as possible.

Specific Offers

CLOVERFIELD (otherwise opens January 18)

CityLife screening
Tuesday, Jan. 15 at 7pm in Brenden Palms

THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (limited release)

Movie Insider screening
Monday, Jan. 7 at 7pm in Century Suncoast

FIRST SUNDAY (otherwise opens January 11)

Vegas Film Critic and KLUC 98.5 screening
Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 7pm in Century Orleans

MAD MONEY (otherwise opens January 18)

CityLife screening
Monday, Jan. 14 at 7pm at Rave Town Square

THE SAVAGES (already in limited release)

Fox Searchlight screening
Monday, Jan. 14 at 7pm in Century Suncoast

THERE WILL BE BLOOD (already in limited release)

CityLife screening
Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 7pm in Brenden Palms