If going to the movies seems to cost a fortune these days, you’re not imagining it. The cost of entertainment has been increasing more than many other segments of the market.
The cost of admission to sporting events (up 6.2% year-over-year), movies, theaters and concerts (up 3.6%) and buying or renting video games (up 14.2%) costs more than it did a year ago, according to the consumer price index for June.
These price hikes aren’t a recent phenomenon. The average ticket price was $132.62 in 2025, up 37% from $96.17 in 2019, according to Pollstar. A separate study comparing prices at the 20 most popular theme parks in North America found the average price of a single-day ticket rose to $105 in 2025, up 37% from $76 in 2015.
Regardless of what you have planned for the summer, there’s a chance your credit card can help you save — whether you’re applying for a new card or taking advantage of hidden benefits from cards you already own.
Ways to save amid rising entertainment prices
Credit card rewards
It’s possible that the same card you use for groceries could also be earning you cash back on some of your fun purchases as well. Even if you don’t currently have any of these cards, they’re all no-annual-fee options if you’re interested in applying.
Multiple rewards categories
If you have the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, you’re earning 3% cash back at grocery stores and on dining, but also on entertainment and popular streaming services. Capital One considers entertainment purchases to include movie theaters, amusement parks, professional and semi-professional live sports events and more. No matter what your favorite pastime is, you’ll probably earn rewards.
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the most rewarding options for earning cash back in categories such as entertainment and dining without paying an annual fee. Plus, you can combine its rewards with Capital One’s travel cards to convert them into transferable miles.
- One of the most rewarding cash back cards for entertainment and streaming services
- No annual fee
- Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
- High APR
- Requires a good to excellent credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- For a limited time, earn a one-time $250 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; 18.74% – 28.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
Introductory fee of3%of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account during the first 12 months that your account is open. After that,4%of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that we may offer you at any other time.
Custom categories
Another card that offers custom categories is the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature Card. It offers 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter in two categories you choose. From the 12 categories you can pick from, options like movie theaters, TV, internet and streaming services and gyms and fitness centers are likely the best choices if you’re looking for entertainment.
- Rewarding and versatile quarterly bonus categories
- Generous intro-APR offer
- Quarterly limits on the card’s top bonus spending categories
- No statement credit offers or other ongoing benefits outside of the cash rewards
The Citi Strata℠ Card not only earns 3X points at supermarkets, but also on an eligible self-select category of your choice. Of the five options to choose from, you can opt for live entertainment or select streaming services, both of which could help you save on fun, whether it’s at home or outside.
The live entertainment category covers a wide range of events: concerts, live sporting events, live theatrical productions, amusement parks, orchestras and more. The Strata could be a better fit for those who don’t want to deal with spending restrictions and are fine with earning a lower (but more consistent) rewards rate.
The Citi Strata℠ Card is a solid rewards credit card that earns in several everyday spending categories, with no annual fee.
- No annual fee
- Customizable earnings category
- Earns transferable rewards
- Has foreign transaction fees
- Fewer built-in benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff
- Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 18.49% – 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
- Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
- No Annual Fee
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5%of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Rotating categories
With the Chase Freedom Flex®, the card’s rewards categories rotate each calendar quarter, so you can’t guarantee each new category will always fit your lifestyle. That being said, this is the second year in a row it’s offered select live entertainment in the third quarter (and at gas stations, public transit, EV charging and United Way®), so repeats are not uncommon.
Chase counts live entertainment as “major sporting events, zoos and aquariums, concerts, theatrical productions, museums” and more. You’ll also earn 3% on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent cash-back card with generous rotating quarterly categories. In additional the rewards, you also can take advantage of the intro APRs for purchases and balance transfer for more than a year.
- Long intro APR for purchases and balance transfers
- Rewarding quarterly bonus categories
- No annual fee
- Bonus categories are capped each quarter
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Rewards
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate (then 1%)
- 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
- 3% on drugstore purchases and on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either$5or3%of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either$5or5%of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
Credit card experience portals
Many major card issuers operate their own experience programs or portals, which can provide access to unique events and invites to exclusive pop-ups. Depending on the type of card you have, you can also redeem rewards toward these experiences.
With Chase Experiences, you can redeem points for Fandango gift cards if there’s a movie you’ve been meaning to see, or a Topgolf gift card if you’re looking for a fun activity. Gift cards aren’t always the most valuable redemption option — through Chase, redeeming for gift cards is often worth 1 cent per point — but they can be a simple way to help offset costs.
While these programs can help you get into certain events, it’s likely going to be at the current market value, not any cheaper. There are some exceptions, like the MLB’s partnership with Capital One. Each MLB game has four cardholder-exclusive seats, and they only cost 5,000 miles or $40 in Capital One cash back, which is usually a significant discount.
Tip: Some issuers offer a separate portal for booking more premium experiences, such as Chase’s Sapphire Reserve Experiences and American Express’ Amex Experiences. From getting exclusive behind-the-scenes access to popular TV shows to an ultimate Napa Valley weekend retreat, these experiences are designed for unique access rather than saving money.
Statement credits
There are a variety of rewards credit cards that offer statement credits toward entertainment purchases, which can help offset your spending on everything from concert tickets to an Airbnb stay.
If you’re looking for a flexible credit that could be spent at several places, the Citi Strata Elite℠ Card comes with an annual $200 Annual Splurge Credit℠. The credit can be used toward your choice of up to two eligible brands, including 1stDibs, American Airlines, Best Buy, Future Personal Training and Live Nation. You can change your selection at any time.
The Citi Strata Elite℠ Card offers luxury travel benefits and heightened rewards on travel and restaurant purchases — while still earning 1.5X points on all other purchases.
- Exceptional rewards rate on travel booked through cititravel.com
- Earns flexible points that transfer to popular airline and hotel partners, like American Airlines
- Features roughly $1,500 in value through statement credits, airport lounge access and more
- High $595 annual fee
- $75 annual fee for each authorized user
- Limited rewards categories
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- Earn 12 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on cititravel.com and 6 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel booked on cititravel.com
- Earn 6 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants including Restaurant Delivery Services on CitiNights℠ purchases, every Friday and Saturday from 6 PM to 6 AM ET. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent any other time
- Earn 1.5 Points per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
- Up to $300 Annual Hotel Benefit: Each calendar year, enjoy up to $300 off a hotel stay of two nights or more when booked through cititravel.com.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
Balance transfer fee
Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
Both of the Chase Sapphire cards come with statement credits that can help offset entertainment costs. For starters, the $95 annual fee Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) comes with a $100 credit for hotel stays booked through Chase Travel and a complimentary year of Apple TV, as long as you activate by Dec. 31, 2026. With MLS and Formula 1 streaming on Apple TV, the Preferred offers a cheaper way to keep up with the action.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections, flexible rewards and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase’s travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- Annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver,Emergency Evacuation and Transportationand more
- Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 – a value of $156.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for12 monthswhen you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
- Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
If you happen to own the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), don’t forget that the card comes with up to $300 in StubHub and viagogo credits that you can use to purchase tickets for concerts or events (up to $150 semiannually through Dec. 31, 2027; activation required). It also features a complimentary DashPass membership and $300 in annual value through DoorDash promos, both available through Dec. 31, 2027.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with luxury perks including, hotel credits, complimentary hotel elite status, travel credits, dining credits, rideshare and delivery benefits and much more.
- Access Priority Pass lounges, including unlimited access to Chase Sapphire Lounge®by The Club locations.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase’s travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
- Complicated list of benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSMand 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTMSelect membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge®by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
General cardholder perks
A lot of the perks we’ve mentioned are tied to individual cards that you have to apply (and qualify) for before you can take advantage of them. However, some are tied to the credit card issuer or the payment network itself, like Visa or Mastercard.
Sports
If you’re a Capital One credit or debit cardholder, you can receive a 30% discount on new MLB.TV All Teams Yearly subscriptions, which also includes MiLB.TV (Minor League). MLB fans will also receive 20% off their MLBShop.com order by using their eligible Capital One card and entering code: CAPITALONE.
Further, qualifying American Express cardholders can earn 10% back on concession purchases at stadiums and arenas (up to $250 per year) in the American Express Venue Collection™. The Venue Collection is a group of stadiums, ranging from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center to London’s The O2 arena, where Amex cardholders can get access to exclusive perks and discounts.
NBA fans can also take advantage of Amex’s Jersey Assurance program, which lets you exchange a jersey if a player changes teams. Plus, during the NBA Playoffs and Finals, each time there is a triple-double, cardmembers can get a limited-time 32% discount at nbastore.com.
The arts
If you’re looking to experience some works of fine art, Bank of America offers cardholders free general admission to “cultural institutions” across the United States during the first full weekend of every month. You can check the Bank of America site for a full list of locations, but it includes some well-known sites, like The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Popular events
Some issuers, like Chase and American Express, also sponsor popular events, like Coachella or tennis’s U.S. Open, but only for registered cardholders. You may have to register ahead of time, but these types of experiences typically include complimentary food and drinks and free swag. You still need to pay your way into these events, but sponsored tents can be a nice complimentary way to elevate your experience.
The U.S Open, which starts August 23 this year, often features exclusive Chase and Amex lounges, complete with complimentary drinks and swag. You can also find smaller perks (but still cardholder-exclusive) like phone chargers or loaner radios with ESPN broadcasts and live U.S. Open updates.
Amusement parks
Credit card networks can also feature entertainment-related perks. If you have a Visa Signature or Visa Infinite credit card, you can save 10% on multiday tickets to Universal Orlando Resort in Florida or Universal Studios Hollywood in California. Plus, enjoy complimentary chef-selected appetizers at select restaurants and unlock special deals at eligible stores on property.
Before chasing perks, do the math
Many of the credit cards we’ve highlighted offer several money-saving perks or exclusive access to entertainment and events, but it’s important to consider how much value you’ll realistically get from them.
If you’re looking at a card that offers rewards categories, review your previous year’s expenses to estimate how much you’d earn in each. While your projected spending might not be the exact same as last year, it can be a good starting point for considering a card’s overall value.
Statement credits are typically easy to take advantage of, unless they’re limited by month or quarter, which requires a little more effort to track. Credits can be a great way to earn a lot of value quickly, and in a way that may feel more tangible than cash back or points. Discounts on subscriptions fall into a similar bucket, as you’ll be able to put an exact dollar amount to your savings.
More niche perks like discounts on concession purchases at stadiums or discounts during the NBA Playoffs and Finals shouldn’t be a significant factor in whether you apply for a card. But they can be the cherry on top of a card that already meets your other needs.
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