Finding a movie the whole family loves can be a burden. But it doesn’t have to be. Check out these family movie night tips.
My family loves watching movies. I particularly love a good chick flick, the husband loves pretty much all movies, my two boys love anything with action heroes and my daughter loves anything with teen icons. Finding something that we all like can be quite challenging at times — okay, all the time. But we all have one thing in common — we love sitting down as a family with a big bowl (or two) of popcorn.
Spending time together as a family is crucial, so I wanted to share some family movie night tips from Jenn Sbranti, Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Hostess with the Mostess.
A Family Affair: Hosting a movie night at home is such a fun way to get creative and entertain the entire family! Take your viewing party to the next level with cool, affordable entertainment and electronics.
Setting the Mood: Get creative with a few fun (and EASY!) decorations inspired by your feature presentation. For a Star Wars viewing party, turn off all the lights, hang white string lights across the room and scatter some glow-in-the-dark stars around the coffee table to help bring the “galaxy” to life in your own living room. Use a little silver craft paint to transform a black paper lantern into the “Death Star”, and hang some movie posters and metallic paper stars for the finishing touch.
Who’s Thirsty?: Sip creative, themed drinks inspired by the movie of the night, such as “Yoda Soda” (lime sherbet + lemon-lime soda) or “Frozen Jedi Juice” for a screening of Star Wars. To make “Frozen Jedi Juice”, partially freeze your favorite flavor of juice or koolaid and serve it “slushy style” from cups embellished with the phrase “May the Freeze be with you.”
Turn it Up: Great sound is key when it comes to bringing movie magic home. For those times when the mood is more “dance party” than “movie night”, you can utilize a iPod/iPhone and crank up the music instead.
Themed Treats: Think outside the popcorn box and serve up clever treats named after elements of the movie, such as “Darth Cheddars” (grilled cheese sandwiches) or “Storm Trooper Sundaes”. Make edible “Light Sabers” by dipping pretzel rods in colored candy melts or tinted white chocolate. After the candy has dried, wrap one end of the “light saber” with tin foil to create the “handle”.
Keep it Simple: Don’t let confusing settings and “multiple remote syndrome” throw a frustrating glitch in your movie night…try a universal remote to streamline the process so that even the smallest family members can be in the driver’s seat sometimes!
Brand New Stars: Use a home video camera to make your own “movie magic” starring the best cast of all – your very own family members! Have little ones do re-enactments of their favorite scenes from the movie you just watched, or capture clips of the kids doing a craft activity or a recipe inspired by the movie. These are the “films” that you’ll love to watch over & over again – long after the movie-of-the-night credits roll!
Megan says
One of our tips is that we rotate with who picks the movie each family movie night. Tonight we are watching The Flintstones via my oldest son!
karen M says
Take the time to schedule a night, take turns with a theme, do we want a cartoon, comedy, or a family movie.. we put a time for intermission for the quick potty breaks.
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Mary Beth Elderton says
We like to arrange a platter of veggies and a bowl of chips and set out hummus and guacamole.
We are huge movie buffs.
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Geri Sandoval says
My favorite tip is to let the kids help make the snacks. The kids favorite is adding nuts and M&M’s to the popcorn.
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Debbie jackson says
my tip is lots of popcorn debbie jackson
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Pamela Hansen says
My tip is get a movie for the whole family and then one for mom and dad for their special alone time
karen M says
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Sarah says
We do documentary themes. The last one was Bowling for Columbine and we had “Left Wings.” lol
Linda Kish says
We order pizza on movie night and have it between movies.
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Mary Beth Elderton says
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Karen Dalferes says
My family of four enjoys snuggling on the sofa under blankets while eating popcorn and watching a movie that we can all agree on. We have movie night once a week. It usually falls on a night that the kids don’t have much homework.
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Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
WE love to do movie night!
felecia says
Have great snacks!
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Debbee Reed says
Two boys, 3 & 8. As my lilltle one gets older it is easier to do movie night. I have them get their jammies on, bring their pillow and blanket and I let them sit in the reclining couches with their OWN bowl of popcorn
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Vicki Wurgler says
we pick a movie we all would enjoy, wear our PJs and make alot of popcorn
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Marilyn Wons says
Our family night movie night tips is that we take turns in our family picking movies to watch!
Adrienne Gordon says
Make sure you have popcorn!
Shannon Baas says
We order pizza so we arent having to spend time cleaning up.
Amber says
My tip is to take turns picking the movie and eat lots of buttered popcorn!
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Mike Metzler says
We vote on which movie to watch together. Pixar is always a favorite.
Thanks!
renee walters says
I follow your blog on GFC, subscribe to your email and like you on Facebook! I would love to win this for my family! My tip is to make sure everyone has their snacks and drinks before the movie starts or else you will miss most of the flick getting them stuff. Thanks so much for the great giveaway!
Renee Walters
bored2quickly@hotmail.com
Mary Beth Elderton says
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Valerie Mabrey says
give people plenty of time to get pj on and order pizza
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Jacob says
We learned how to make our own pizza and on movie night first we all gather in the kitchen and make a home-made pizza! It really makes it a lot of fun!
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Amy Green says
Everybody picks out a movie, something that everone likes, a big meal, and phones off!
Adele says
Pick a movie that appeals to everyone!
Donna says
healthy snacks and drinks!
paul haddock says
Graet popcorn will get all the family members in the mood
Stephen N. says
Always turn the lights off. It creates a better movie watching vibe.
Stephen N. says
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Mary Beth Elderton says
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Kyl Neusch says
eat butter popcorn
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Jim W. says
Hot popcorn makes the night special
Denise M says
Turn off the lights and silence the gadgets, just like in a real theater
Jacob says
10/02 Tweet http://twitter.com/#!/JCHARRIES/status/120502264908611585
Helen Keeler says
My movie night tip is to have lots to snack, buttered popcorn, and soda on hand.
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Liz says
One of my tips is to get out your comfy pj’s and a bunch of blankets. We curl up on the couches while the kids make forts with the blankets and watch movies.
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Mary Beth Elderton says
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Monique Rizzo says
Get out your sleeping bags and have fun!
Thanks for the chance.
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Marj M. says
I have no specific tip but I’m going to use the blankets and forts tip for our next movie night. Too Cool.
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LISA BLUMENSTEIN says
Popcorn is a must, no phone, NO VIDEO games just us as a family snuggled on the couch with popcorn
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sandra says
make sure eveyrone potties before beginning the movie 🙂
karen M says
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Andrew Dankleff says
the best tip is to start early, that way the kiddos are tired earlier! haha
emily l says
Lots of popcorn, unplug the phones and silence the cells. 🙂
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Jacob says
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sweeter the berry says
Get everything prepared early.
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ferriz says
have a schedule of who picks the movie which week. saves on the arguing. whoever doesnt get to pick the movie gets to pick the food and snacks.
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jeremy crane says
Get comforable, pop lots of popcorn and have some chilled cherry coke ready!
Kim Kelly says
Doing movie themed snacks or activities can be fun 🙂
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Angela W says
We love making our own ice cream sundaes before the show starts, thanks
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Mary Beth Elderton says
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Daniel M says
we always order in and everyone picks (and shares) a snack
Ann B. says
Everyone gets to choose one thing. One chooses the movie, one the snacks, and one gets to get first dibs on which place to sit/sleep.
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Deborah Wellenstein says
My tip? Keep it simple! We take turns picking out the movie, we pop up a bunch of popcorn, and enjoy!
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Jacob says
10/05 Tweet http://twitter.com/#!/JCHARRIES/status/121588410937917441
Lucy Schwartz says
Having a family fav night. It is amazing how everyone remembers their favorite lines.
Gladys M says
We like watching our movies late night! 🙂
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Ross Hassel says
Making the home like a theatre experience. Big screen, sound, food.
♡♥♬ Louis ♡♥♬ says
turn computer and phone off, prepare some snacks and drinks and enjoy the movie night
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
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Jen says
We bought popcorn bags just like at the movie theater so everyone gets their own personal popcorn, its so much fun!
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April W. says
Actually, my family movie night tip is to start early. All too often I fall asleep during the movie!
Erica C. says
We let everyone pick out their own snack on family movie nights.
Katie S. says
My best movie night tip is NO PHONES ALLOWED! If its too hard to block off 2 hours to watch a movie with your family without chatting or calling or using your darn cell phone, then I feel bad for you…
Rosey says
We let the kids pick the movie for family night.
shawna says
Have family night as often as possible and we always have to have popcorn and snacks.
Diane Baum says
We cook a pizza dinner before we watch the movie
tracey johnson says
we eat nachos and popcorn. we also turn off all the lights and put on the surround sound
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Christina says
We like to order takeout and curl up on the couch to enjoy food and movie.
Christina says
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Debbie says
Um… Napkins are my best tip! When you cuddle in bed with the kids and give them popcorn, they always want to wipe their hands on the sheets! Oh and a little mini vac for crumbs 🙂
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Bonnigene says
When we have family movie night all my kids participate and work together with us to create a fun environment with snacks, pillows, blankets and anything else we can think of….sometimes we even decorate.
Mary Beth Elderton says
https://twitter.com/#!/mbm218/status/122074121692651520
cindy says
i like to get the kids together and we prepare the nights snacks as a family
Ed Nemmers says
We make homemade pizza together before the movie!
Jacob says
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karen M says
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Darcy B says
family movie night tip–order pizza so you don’t get stuck doing the dishes while everyone else watches the movie
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Samantha says
One family movie tip is to make enough popcorn for everyone! I can eat a whole bag by myself!
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Marco says
One tip is to let friends know not to phone you at family night (which can interrupt attention to the movie and the mood of the family)–unless, of course, there is an emergency or a very good reason for the interruption.
monte says
movie night tips turn the phone off
reeg2223 says
Turn the lights down, turn off the phone and get out the snuggie blanket!
Brittney House says
Pop lots of popcorn and pick a comfy spot to sit in
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Christina says
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kathy pease says
each person in our house gets to pick a movie we love redbox
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Kerrie Mayans says
We always get pizza for dinner and rotate taking turns on who picks the movie.
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Susan Smith says
Our kids take turns picking out what movies we will watch
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Desiree Dunbar says
Homemade Popcorn with real butter…YUMMMM
AEKZ2 says
My tip is to rotate who gets to pick the movie.
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Jackee says
Sometimes we have a theme night, like “The Word POP”. We’d eat popcorn and drink pop and watch Mary Poppins! It gets the creative juices going 🙂
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Jackee says
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Samantha says
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susan smoaks says
my family movie night tip is to get everything done before you sit down to enjoy the movie, turn off the phone and the lights and enjoy the movie!
Breanne says
Go to the bathroom before the movie starts!
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Nick H. says
Best movie night tip, popcorn and lots of pillows.
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Nick H. says
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Veronica Garrett says
I let everyone participate in what movies to rent and let everyone fix their own tacos or order their own pizza.
DanV says
For family movie night we like to have a picnic in the living room
Jacob says
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