Best movie bargain in Central Fla.? $5 Tuesdays at Oviedo Marketplace – Frankly My Dear – Orlando Sentinel

A reader tipped me that without fanfare (and when you don’t advertise, that’s the very definition of “without fanfare”) the Regal Oviedo Marketplace multiplex has started discounting its Tuesday showings.

$5 per ticket for every movie on its 22 screens, $5 for every showing during the day and evening on Tuesdays.

For 3D movies, the surcharge is still there, so it’s $8.50 for “TRON: Legacy.”

But considering that tickets to that one are $14.50 most days and nights at most theaters, that’s a pretty steep discount.

As anybody knows who lives near there, this mall is the constant subject of speculation — and erroneous reports on TV about the theater closing.

They’re not closing. not yet. but this does suggest a serious effort to increase traffic to the mall and its theater. Tuesday discount nights are an ancient theater chain custom, that being the weakest day and night of the week for moviegoing.

But taken in light of what’s been going on with that mall, this could indicate difficulty drawing a crowd, reminding people that they’re still there and still open. of course, if they advertised, they wouldn’t have to slash prices to remind people they’re there, at least.

And in any event, a bargain’s a bargain. With the soaring price of concessions, a $5 ticket could get a lot of people into “Black Swan,”“The Fighter,” etc., and well before the Oscars.

(UPDATE: Regal’s older, smaller 8-plex at Wekiva Riverwalk does this on Sundays. less of a selection, no 3D theaters, etc., but $5 all movies all day, including likely Oscar nominees like “The Fighter.”)