If you are looking for a great way to spend quality time with your family, planning a movie night is one of the easiest and least expensive ways for the whole family to have a great time. It can even become a weekly ritual, but it never has to be boring or mundane, just because it’s easy. You just to elevate the experience a little bit to make it more memorable. Themed snacks, matching pj’s, or blanket forts are simple ways to do it.
Of course, there’s also a lot to be said for keeping it simple, and the suggestions below can help you do just that.
Picking a Movie
You can’t have a movie night without a great movie. For some families, picking a movie takes almost as much time as actually watching it. But there are a few methods to make this much easier and less stressful.
For starters, pick the movie in advance. Don’t wait until you’re ready to watch because it could take ages to choose one and, honestly, you’re just asking for conflict if you wait until the last minute. If there are arguments about what to watch, get your kids to take turns choosing a movie. There might still be an argument, but at least it gives you a good way to shut it down.
If your family can’t decide, create a shortlist of the favorite movie options and either pick names out of a hat, do a vote, or work through the list over a few movie nights. You could also introduce them to some of your favorite movies from your childhood. The stories will still resonate with them, and the lackluster effects will make them laugh sometimes.
You should also look through different streaming services to make sure that the movies your kids want to watch are listed. Try to avoid the same movies over and over again, so if necessary, give your kids a list of movies you’ve selected for them to pick out.
Preparing Snacks
Okay, the movie is picked and ready to go. What next?
Well, you can’t have a cinema experience without movie snacks. You can always buy snacks like popcorn, chips, sweets, and soft drinks so that you’re ready to watch in the evening. Make sure everyone can easily reach the snacks so there are no fights during the movie. You can get cute popcorn buckets for everyone at the dollar store or on Amazon.
Another option is to make movie snacks at home. These range from popcorn you pop and flavor at home, to nachos, to pizza, to whatever else you fancy. You can also make some healthier options so that, while it’s still a treat, it’s not something you can’t do more often. For really special nights (maybe when there’s a movie everyone’s been waiting to watch), consider themed snacks. Butterbeer for a Harry Potter marathon or gummy worms for How to Eat Fried Worms, etc.
Setting the Scene
The movie is set, the snacks are prepped, now all you need to do is set the scene. Dimmer lights are a great option for this because they let you create a cinema atmosphere while still making sure you’re not plunged into complete darkness.
Blankets and duvets can be a great addition to an especially cozy evening and can really add to the sleepover experience.
If you’re having more of an event, you can even have a themed movie night where you invite people over, and you might wear costumes, play games before the movie, and eat snacks that suit the film you’re watching.
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