Going to the cinema is a great night out but sometimes it’s just not an affordable or feasible option. If you’re bringing the whole family or going with a group of friends, it can add up quickly with the cost of tickets, snacks and popcorn thrown in. And, that’s before the stress of having to round everyone up, make sure you look semi-presentable, drive to the cinema, find parking and make the show on time!
If you want to keep your costs down and keep the stress to a minimum, having a movie night at home can be a great alternative. Invite your friends over or get the family together, pull the blinds, get out the snacks, and get stuck into watching the movie. You can even watch two movies, be a little late and pause the show for bathroom breaks if necessary, The point is you’re in control and the perfect movie night is the ideal way to spend some relaxing, quality time with your friends and family.
Let’s take a look at a few things you can do to ensure your next movie night is an enjoyable, fun-filled evening to remember.
Choose the right movie
The first thing to do is to decide what movie you are going to watch. This, of course, depends on who your guests are and what age-groups are going to be in the room. Are the girls coming over, or is it a boys’ night in? Will there be children there? Is it a family evening in? A great idea is to have a choice of movies ready to go and have a quick vote to see which will be the crowd favourite. You’re not going to be able to please everyone but a diplomatic approach is always best.
If you’re hosting a movie night for kids, perhaps choose a classic like ‘The Wizard of Oz’ that they may not have seen. Chances are that they’ll have seen all the up-to-date movies already and with a children’s movie night, keeping their attention is crucial for their enjoyment and for your own sanity.
Consider the seating arrangement
If it’s a big gathering, you probably won’t have enough chairs or sofa space for everybody. To be sure that everyone is comfortable, get out the cushions and let people create a space for themselves on the floor. Of course, the bigger and softer they are, the better. Consider asking your guests if they have beanbags or large cushions you could borrow for the evening too and get them to bring them along. Just be sure to reserve a seat for any older guests or anyone who must be seated for any other reasons.
Another great option, especially during summer, is to host the movie party outdoors where again cushions will be a welcome seating arrangement. Hard garden furniture can get uncomfortable quickly and you’ll find that anyone who snags a chair early, will have moved to the floor by the end of the movie anyway. To watch the movie, project it onto a blank wall or a white sheet. An outdoor screening makes the entire night more elaborate and an outdoor cinema experience is always memorable.
Have the right snacks and drinks
The first snack that comes to mind when watching a movie is popcorn. Buy buckets of it, or better still make your own. The great thing about popcorn is it’d easy to clean up, it doesn’t stain and it’s even relatively healthy compared with a lot of other snack options. However, salty popcorn leads to thirsty guests, so make sure that your fridge is well stocked with a choice of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Remember movie night is usually a chilled night in, so don’t worry if you don’t have much alcohol to offer, it’s not always necessary or expected.
If you really want to take things to the next level, you could even go overboard with the food and really make it a night to remember. Try serving nachos with different toppings, dips and crisps, cheese and crackers, and the all-time favourite, pizza. Ice cream is always a winner with adults and children alike and an easy snack to have as a backup in the freezer just in case you need it. Whatever you serve, be sure to have plenty of napkins to hand to make the clean-up at the end of the night easier.
Enjoy the perfect movie night
Hosting a movie night doesn’t need to cost you much money, time or stress but it really can be a fantastic way to spend an evening with family or friends. With a little preparation and thought, you can be sure that your guests have the perfect night in. Take some time to select a few movies for your guests to choose from, make sure you have enough space for everyone to be comfortable and prepare some snacks to keep everyone full throughout the night. As the movie host with the most, it won’t be long before they’ll be asking you to hold a sequel.