Cheap entertainment is hard to find.

Federal Way has a gem in the rough with $2 movies at Gateway Movies 8. But the experience is only worthwhile for those willing to watch slightly dated movies and sacrifice the luxuries of first-class theaters.

Movies released weeks or months ago, such as “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” or “Iron Man,” can be seen at the Gateway theater, which is owned by Starplex Cinemas. Tickets are $2, but patrons can score a deal on Tuesdays, when tickets go for $1. Each movie plays four to five times per day. Starplex owns 24 theaters, and 16 of those are second-run theaters, said Traci Hoey, Starplex director of marketing. Gateway is the only theater the company owns in Washington.

The theater’s ownership was turned over to Starplex Cinemas in 2005. At the time, ticket prices began to decrease as a reaction to the soon-expected Century Theatres. In 2007, coinciding with Century’s opening at The Commons mall, Gateway switched from a first-run to a second-run cinema house.

“There was competition opening, which we were aware of,” Hoey said.

The higher-priced tickets, ranging from $6 to $9.50 at Century, as well as lines at first-run theaters keep customers coming to Gateway. Between 13,000 and 15,000 customers per week attend showings there, said Amber Burns, a Gateway manager.

Burns suggested customers show up to attend a movie 30 minutes early on Fridays and Saturdays, when the theater is the busiest. This past Saturday, a line weaved out the door and around the corner at one time, she said.

The theater operates eight screens. The film industry, which gets a portion of ticket profits, determines when newly-released movies will make their way to the second-run theaters, Hoey said.

Because the theater plays older movies, it is not required to cut the film industry as large of a percentage of ticket profits, she said. This means the theater can afford to continue offering cheap entertainment to Federal Way residents and visitors.

Tacoma resident Brandon Bobo visited the theater for the second time in one week Monday. He and a friend were happy to have saved $11 on their two movie tickets to see the newest “Indiana Jones” movie.

They had no problem waiting for the film to move to the second-run theater before viewing it. The theater’s seating and decor are aged and don’t quite compare to the environment found at first-run theaters, but Bobo said he has never experienced bad service.

“You can’t beat $2 a movie,” he said.

Making a profit is hard when ticket sales are inexpensive, Bobo said. His biggest fear in regards to Gateway is that it will not be able to maintain a profit and will be forced to shut its doors for good, he said.

“Two-dollar theaters don’t last that long,” Bobo said.

Federal Way resident Laura Johnson acknowledges that the Gateway theater is a nice addition to Federal Way, but feels that, cheap or not, a movie is not worth it if the theater’s service is not up to par. She has visited Gateway four times, including a discouraging trip this past weekend. Johnson and her husband showed up to view an afternoon movie — and found themselves locked out of the theater.

“It was just awful, especially since my husband and I had been trying desperately to find a sitter,” she said.

An employee was waiting outside and told the couple a manager, who had the key, was late. Another customer waiting outside the theater told Johnson the same thing happened to her a few weeks prior, Johnson said. Once the absent employee showed up for work, the movie was cancelled due to an employee emergency, Johnson said.

“It’s really nice to have (Gateway theater) as an option, but it’s only an option if people show up (to work),” she said.

The Johnsons have since returned to see a movie, but for now, will avoid afternoon showings.

Contact Jacinda Howard: jhoward@fedwaymirror.com or (253) 925-5565.

Gateway Movies 8 is at 2501 S. Gateway Center in Federal Way, located off South 320th Street near Interstate 5. For show times, call (253) 946-9224.