Film admission tickets can be purchased in person only. Museum members may reserve screening tickets online.

The price of a film ticket may be applied toward the price of a Museum admission ticket when a film ticket stub is presented at the lobby information desk within thirty days from the date on the stub (does not apply during Target Free Friday Nights, 4:00–8:00 p.m.). Or, the price of a film ticket may be applied toward the price of any category of membership when a film ticket stub is presented at either the Film Desk or the Member Services desk in the Museum lobby within thirty days from the date on the stub.

Screenings are held in the Museum's Theaters 1 and 2 (The Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters 1 and 2) and Theater 3 (The Celeste Bartos Theater). Tickets for film programs in Theaters 1 and 2 are available at the lobby information desk beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the film desk beginning at 4:00 p.m. on weekdays and 1:00 p.m. on weekends. Tickets for film programs in Theater 3 are available at the lobby information desk (beginning at 9:30 a.m.) and at the lobby desk of The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building (beginning at 1:00 p.m.). Admittance to the theater is not permitted fifteen minutes after the program has begun.

Admission for a day of screenings: Adults $12; Seniors (65 and over with ID) $10; Students (full-time with current ID) $8; Children (16 and under) and members free, but a ticket is required. During Target Free Friday Nights, tickets are free from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. For complete ticketing policy, film calendar, and other information, visit the lobby information desk, the film desk, or call (212) 708-9480. Sound-enhancement systems are available free of charge at the film desk.

Film tickets may be obtained for same-day screenings at no charge by presenting your Museum membership card or your Museum admission ticket stub at the film desk.

A limited number of advance tickets are available, no more than one week in advance of a film, to Museum members for a $1 service fee and to the general public for the film ticket price plus an additional $1.50 service fee.

Tickets for guests of Individual, Dual, Family, Student, and National/International members may be purchased for $5.00, either at the time of the film or up to one week in advance of the film, along with a screening ticket. Guests of Contributing Level Members need only a screening ticket, but must be accompanied by the member. Member guests must be accompanied by the card-holding member in order to gain admittance.