Revolutionizing Cinema Operations: Embracing Cashless Payments

Digital payments may dominate, but cash remains a vital part of the customer experience for many moviegoers. Accepting cash ensures that theaters remain inclusive, especially for guests who are unbanked or prefer using physical currency. With 10% of all sales in the U.S. in 2025 still expected to be made using cash, removing this option risks losing out on a meaningful portion of revenue.

However, handling cash comes with operational downsides. Cash transactions slow down lines, increase training and staffing requirements, and raise the risk of both internal and external theft. Manual reconciliation further adds to the workload, while transporting cash for deposit introduces added security concerns.

Cash-to-card kiosks offer a solution that allows theaters to continue accepting cash without dealing with the hassles of cash handling. A movie theater kiosk also unlocks a range of digital services a cash-paying customer wouldn’t be able to access without being able to make digital transactions.

Continue reading as we examine how cash-to-card kiosks work and how they can improve the moviegoing experience for all your customers.

How Movie Theater Cash-to-Card Kiosks Enable Cashless Payments

Even as digital transactions continue to dominate how most payments are processed, a segment of the population still prefers to use cash or has cash as their only payment option. In the U.S., over 17% of adults still prefer to pay with physical cash rather than use a digital option.

Cash usage has actually started to increase among members of Generation Z as this generation moves further into the workforce. Nearly 70% of Gen Zers reported using more cash than the year before, and about 25% said they prefer to use cash for most purchases.

Cash-to-card kiosks enable theater operators to remain inclusive of the payment preferences of all customers. Cash users feed money into a kiosk and receive a prepaid debit card loaded for the full amount. The debit cards can be used online or in-person anywhere Visa or Mastercard are accepted.

This allows customers to still pay with cash while allowing theaters to move away from cash handling. It also unlocks a suite of online services cash paying customers previously unavailable to this group that offer the potential to improve their experience and make trips to the movies far more enjoyable.

The Advantages of Enabling Digital Transactions in Cinemas

The moviegoing experience has improved greatly since the days when audiences had to show up, stand in line for a ticket, and hope the movie they wanted to see hadn’t sold out.

Now, tickets can be purchased online and seats selected in advance from easy-to-use online portals, apps, and in-lobby kiosks. These innovations are designed to enhance customer satisfaction by reducing the time spent waiting in line and allowing audiences to customize their visit to meet their expectations.

For movie theaters that still serve cash-paying guests, cash-to-card kiosks enable cash customers to access digital payment systems so they can enjoy these same features and services. This provides a trickle-down effect that improves the moviegoing experience of customers while also offering the potential to improve the operational efficiency of theaters.

Let’s look at what advantages this offers both the customer and the theater:

1. Increases the Number of Transactions by Reducing Time Spent in Line

Whether buying tickets online or ordering concessions in advance, digital features help reduce the time customers wait in line for service. When customers can arrive at a theater with their tickets in hand, seats selected, and concessions waiting for pickup, it creates a more pleasant and memorable experience that increases customer satisfaction.

Theaters also benefit, as digital transactions take far less time to process than cash transactions. The average EMV transaction takes 2 seconds to complete, far shorter than the time it takes for a cashier to count and make change for a cash transaction, which enables lines to move more quickly. Customers not wanting to miss a minute of the action will be more willing to purchase concessions if they see a short line moving quickly rather than a long line moving slowly due to accommodating cash customers.

Accepting cash when the majority of sales are made with digital payments may not seem like a big deal, but cash payments can profoundly impact your bottom line. For example, let’s say a theater enjoys a 70/30 split between digital and cash payments. The average order ending in a cash payment takes roughly 40 seconds to complete, while orders ending with a digital payment take roughly 20 seconds. This means a theater that only accepts digital payments could process 30% more transactions in the same time it takes a theater with a 70/30 split.

The quicker service not only enhances customer satisfaction but also boosts revenue by allowing theaters to serve moviegoers more efficiently during peak times.

2. Convenient Online Ordering Reduces Staffing Needs

With many theaters across the country facing ongoing staffing shortages, online and automated services allow operators to maintain smooth operations with fewer employees. 

Presales and online ticketing make it easier to predict audience size and adjust staff schedules efficiently. Advance purchases also reduce the number of employees required for box office operations, while online concession orders let staff focus on preparing and fulfilling orders rather than taking them.

Mobile apps, QR codes, and in-lobby kiosks give customers the flexibility to purchase tickets and concessions in advance without waiting in line. By removing the need for staff to handle cash directly, theaters can improve both safety and productivity. Employees are then free to focus on enhancing guest satisfaction rather than managing transactions.

3. Enhances Customer Loyalty and Engagement

Cash-to-card kiosks enable customers who previously used only cash to access digital loyalty programs, unlocking features like points, discounts, and special offers. These features enhance the moviegoing experience by adding value and encouraging repeat visits. Customers feel appreciated and more connected to the theater.

For theaters, this increased engagement leads to higher customer retention and more consistent revenue. Additionally, digital loyalty programs offer valuable data for tailoring marketing campaigns, which can further enhance customer satisfaction and drive business growth. By integrating these programs, theaters create a win-win scenario for both customers and their own operations.

Transform Your Cinema with Cash-to-Card Payment Solutions

To compete with streaming services, movie theaters must find new ways to connect with audiences. Creating customized services that elevate the moviegoing experience is essential. At the same time, challenges like reduced profitability and limited staffing require operators to do more with less, all while continuing to meet guest expectations.

Ready Credit’s cash-to-card kiosks offer a simple way to support all payment preferences while reducing operational inefficiencies and improving security. When cash users can access online tools, loyalty programs, and preordering options, the result is a more seamless and satisfying experience that keeps guests coming back.