Ticket sales end 15 minutes after the film's listed start time. There is no late entry 20 minutes after the film's listed start time. We recommend purchasing tickets online ahead of your visit to ensure a timely entry and avoid sold out screenings. Read Ticket FAQs
Tickets
Special events, festival screenings, and partner programs may have different pricing than listed below. Visit individual listings for details.
- General Admission: $13.00
- Students: $8.00
- Valid student ID required. Limit one discounted ticket per ID.
- Discounted tickets must be purchased in person at the box office.
- Seniors (over 65): $8.00
- Valid ID required. Limit one discounted ticket per ID.
- Discounted tickets must be purchased in person at the box office
- Youth (under 18): $8.00
- Please note our policy on children & film ratings.
- Discounted tickets must be purchased in person at the box office.
- Film Center Members: $6.50
- Become a member today!
- Limit one discounted ticket per Individual membership; limit two discounted tickets per Dual membership.
- Current students and faculty of the School of the Art Institute, and staff of the Art Institute: $5.00
- Valid ARTICard required. Limit one discounted ticket per ID.
Cash, card, and contactless payments are accepted. We do not accept $50 or $100 bills at the Film Center. Checks are not accepted for ticket purchases.
Online Ticket Sales
Need help? View our Frequently Asked Questions page here.
To purchase tickets online please visit our now playing section and select the film you want to see and hit the order tickets button.
Purchasing Member Tickets Online:
To purchase member tickets online, follow the procedure above, but select the number of member tickets you'd like to purchase (1 for individual, 2 for dual) for each film. No special code is required, however, you must verify your active membership when claiming your tickets for each member ticket purchased - our staff can look up your membership, or you can show a physical or digital version of the membership card. Membership cards are not required.
There is a service charge for each ticket purchased online.
Please note that the tickets cannot be purchased or reserved over the phone or over email - tickets and seating is first come, first serve for a majority of our screenings.
Group Sales
Groups of 15 or more are eligible for the group rate of $9 per ticket. Please select the group rate online during checkout, call (312) 846-2600 or visit the box office at least five days in advance to make arrangements for your group.
Our $8 student rate is available to groups of 15 or more students (including accompanying instructors or chaperones) who purchase in advance.
If you are bringing a larger group (over 40 people), are interested in buying out the theater for a particular show, or are interested in bringing a school group, please contact filmcenter@saic.edu.
Box Office
General admission and member tickets are available 24 hours a day on our website.
All ticket levels are available at our box office, which opens 30 minutes before the first show of the day and closes 15 minutes after the last show of the day begins.
Ticket sales end 15 minutes after the film's listed start time. There is no late seating 20 minutes after the film's listed start time. We recommend purchasing tickets online ahead of your visit to ensure entry.
The box office number is 312-846-2085 and is answered during its hours of operation for questions regarding accessibility, lost and found, and other general facility questions.
Note that the box office CANNOT accept ticket orders over the phone, place tickets on hold, or predict ticket availability. During periods of heavy customer traffic, the box office may not be able to answer the phone; please leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible. We do not call back missed calls that do not leave a voicemail.
Refund & Exchanges
The Film Center does not offer refunds or exchanges for tickets. All sales are final.
Sold Out Shows
If a show sells out in advance, we will make every effort to notify our patrons via our website, Facebook page, Twitter, email alerts, and with signage on our doors and at our box office.
However, sellouts generally occur within 15 to 10 minutes of showtime, making advance notice difficult. The best way to avoid last-minute sellouts is to purchase your tickets in advance online, or visiting the box office at your earliest convenience.
Please note that Film Center membership does not guarantee a ticket in the event of a sold out show.
Waitlist Policy
For select sold-out shows, we will implement the following waitlist policy. Shows with a waitlist will be noted on their individual webpage.
- Ticket holders for a screening where waitlists will be available will be sent an email letting them know that all guests should plan to be in their seats on time. If they are more than ten minutes late, their seat may be sold to someone on the waitlist.
- Guests may join the waitlist no earlier than one hour prior to the screening time by visiting the box office and picking up a laminated pass with a number on it.
- Laminated numbered passes will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. All guests must be present to receive a numbered pass.
- GSFC staff will begin calling numbers from the waitlist ten minutes after the start of the screening time. Guests must be present in the lobby to claim their seats. If guests do not respond after their number has been called twice, we will move on to the next number.
- Having a spot in the waitlist does not guarantee seating.