Anyone can put on a movie and call it an evening. However, have you ever considered taking your family movie night to the next level and turning it into a memorable experience?
If you have considered turning your living room into a next-level movie theater but never tried it, this article is for you. Use these creative tips to make your next movie night an unforgettable evening that will excite and impress your loved ones.
1. Come Up With a Theme for Family Movie Night
The key to a perfect movie night is creating a theme for your extravaganza. The theme should reflect the movie (or movies) you’ll show.
For example, if you decide to have a Toy Story marathon, everything from the decorations to the food must reflect that motif. If you’re going to show The Lion King, go with a safari theme to set the mood for the evening. Watching The Great Gatsby on a no-kids night? Pour up some 1920s-esque cocktails. You can get really creative with multiple different options.
2. Pre-Select the Movie(s)
One of the worst aspects of movie night is scrolling through the countless titles on all the various streaming platforms you can access. Simplify this process beforehand and have the movie choices pre-selected before your guests arrive (or, at the very least, enter the living room).
Remember, the movie you pick should align with the theme; otherwise, it will be awkward. For instance, showing a horror movie on a Disney-themed night might not be the best idea. The right movie can enhance the overall experience and keep everyone engaged.
3. Design Movie Tickets
Designing unique movie tickets is a delightful part of the process. These tickets essentially act as invitations to your friends and family. Embrace the theme of the evening and let your creativity run wild.
Numerous templates are available online through Canva, Pinterest, and other sites to help you get started. Make sure the tickets have the time, date, movie title, and number of guests invited per ticket. This will be your guests’ first exposure to the event, so make sure the ticket reflects the theme. You can also use the ticket to encourage dressing up for the special occasion.
4. Invite Loved Ones
Whether you’re inviting loved ones who live outside your home or those who live with you, the anticipation of the movie night is part of the fun. You can email the movie ticket invite, mail them, or hand them out in person. Make the experience extra special by personally presenting the movie ticket invite to those who live with you.
Bonus points if you dress up as an old-fashioned movie theater usher when you do. Remind your guests that the ticket is their entry card.
5. Set Up a Projector Screen
Setting up a projector screen will depend on where you plan to have movie night. If it’s going to be outside, a screen will be absolutely necessary since most people don’t have outdoor TVs.
However, you can also set a projector up in whatever room you’ll transform into the theater. If you already have a large-screen TV, you can always forego this step and use it instead of renting or buying a projector screen.
6. Decorate the Viewing Room
Decorating the viewing room is my favorite part! Everything is better with decorations; if there are none, your event might fall short of the mark. Again, considering the movie’s theme, you can transform your space from a boring living room to an immersive atmosphere.
Place movie posters on the walls and hang colorful streamers with cutouts of popcorn boxes and old movie reels. Amazon offers a ton of different packages that work great. Let your creativity shine here and wow your guests. If they’re little kids, it won’t be too hard to impress them.
7. Provide a Snack Bar
No movie night is complete without snacks, which provides another perfect opportunity to show off your creativity. In keeping with the theme, provide different treats and yummy morsels that reflect the concept.
For example, if you’re showing the Harry Potter movies, you can set out plates of pumpkin pasties, carafes of butterbeer, and dragon eggs. Be sure to include the standard movie theater fare as well, though, like buttery popcorn, Junior Mints, Whoppers, and a selection of beverages
8. Be Sure to Have an Intermission
As we all know, seeing a film in a theater doesn’t allow for bathroom breaks or a chance to refill your popcorn bucket.
When hosting a movie night at home, you can plan for an intermission so everyone can catch up on their creature comforts. That’s the beauty of hosting an at- home event: you can control the evening’s atmosphere and cadence, stopping and starting the movie at convenient times.
9. Provide Blankets and Cushions
Creating a cozy atmosphere is key to a successful home movie night. Provide comfortable seating and blankets to ensure everyone feels relaxed and at ease. If you’re hosting your event outside, make sure there’s enough seating for everyone and spread out blankets and oversized floor cushions for comfortable lounging.
If inside, and depending on the number of guests, ensure there’s enough room for everyone to sit comfortably, whether on furniture or the floor. You can even build a fort for the little ones to sit inside while they enjoy the movie.
10. Provide Ambient Lighting for Family Movie Night
I love the concept of light dimmers for an evening like this, but if your home isn’t equipped with them, you can always string up fairy lights throughout the room and turn off all the overhead lights. Doing so provides the perfect ambiance to set the mood without flooding the room with excess light.
If you don’t have access to outdoor sockets, battery-operated lights are available.
