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You are here: Home / Home Movie Night Essentials – Ultimate Checklist!

Home Movie Night Essentials – Ultimate Checklist!

Movie nights are all about relaxing and having fun with your spouse, family, or friends! Some of our best memories are from simple nights at home! Of course, there are a few essentials you’ll need to have on hand, and we’ve put together our ultimate movie night checklist with all of them! 

collage of movie night essentials on our checklist

What should I eat for a movie night?

Grab the popcorn, pizza, nachos, hot dogs, Twizzlers, and gummy bears, and get ready for an amazing movie night at home! We also love a themed dinner or getting food delivered with Uber Eats or DoorDash! 

Grab $20 off your first Uber Eats order of $25 or more with the code at checkout: eats-kaleed36ue

How can I host the best movie night?

We have 5 easy tips to help you host the best movie night ever — whether you’re watching with your kids, spouse, or friends!

  1. Prepare — Pick a day and movie and let everyone know ahead of time. We love these printable movie night invitations!
  2. Snacks & Activities — We love themed snacks! Check out all of our movie and food pairings here!
  3. Get Cozy — Turn off your phones, put on your pajamas, and cuddle up with throws, pillows, and stuffed animals!
  4. Take Breaks — Whether your 5 or 55, you may need an intermission to go to the bathroom or load up on snacks!
  5. Chat After — Watching a movie requires some silence (in some cases haha!) so it can be fun to talk after about whether you liked the movie or not.

Below is our home movie night checklist to help you plan a great family tradition or host an epic date night or slumber party!

Home Movie Night Essentials - Ultimate Checklist!

Movie nights are all about relaxing and having fun with your spouse, family, or friends! Of course, there are a few essentials you'll need to have on hand, and we've put together our ultimate movie night checklist with all of them! 

Favorite Foods

You have to have the right snacks for your movie night! We have a ton of movie-themed recipes you may like, but these ideas fit any movie night!

Popper Popcorn Maker

We love how quick & easy it is to make popcorn with this maker! It's also small enough for even a tiny kitchen or dorm room!

You just measure your kernels out and push the start button. You can also add a tablespoon of butter while your popcorn pops, and pour once melted for movie theater-style popcorn.

    Jiffy Pop Butter Popcorn

    You can also keep things old school with Jiffy Pop right on the stove!

    Kernel Season's Popcorn Seasoning

    We love customizing our popcorn too! There is something for everyone in this variety pack! The flavors include White Cheddar, Nacho Cheddar, Ranch, Butter, Kettle Corn, Caramel Corn, Bacon Cheddar, and Cheesy Jalapeño.

    Retro Style Plastic Popcorn Containers

    There are always free refills when you're at home! Create a fun theater atmosphere at home with this massive popcorn buckets!

    Cotton Candy Machine

    Is this a little over the top? Well, yeah. But the best movie nights are! We love to pair this with classic baseball movies like A Field of Dreams or Sandlot!

    Cuisinart Snow Cone Maker

    Another fun (slightly over the top) idea! But a snow cone maker is so much fun -- especially for a Summer outdoor movie night!

    Spanish Cheese Assortment

    You may be saying, cheese?! Really? But we love the idea of doing a cheese and wine pairing for a romantic movie night or a girls night!

    Winc Wine

    Where there is cheese, there has to be wine! We love that Winc ships wine directly to your door and gives you a quiz to help you find the best varieties for your taste buds! You can get $20 off your first order too!

    Charcuterie Platter & Serving Tray 

    Your cheese and wine will need a place to sit, and a charcuterie platter is an easy way to throw it all together.

    Photo Credit: www.doordash.com

    DoorDash Food Delivery 

    We are obsessed with DoorDash! It makes it so easy to order takeout or even restaurant food while in your jammies! You can even ask them just to leave it at your door! Plus, there are a lot of local businesses on the app, and you'll also be supporting the local driver!

    Creating a Fun Atmosphere

    Part of the reason movie nights at home are so fun is because you get the best of both worlds -- the theater AND being comfortable at home! These ideas help make your movie night more fun and memorable!

    Free Movie Night Invitations - Printable Template!

    Set the date for your movie night and print off your own movie tickers with this free printable!

    Portable mini fridge cooler and warmer

    When I saw this fridge, I immediately thought of Joey and Chandler from Friends when they got their new recliners. The only thing better than watching TV in them was reaching over into the cooler for a drink versus getting up! This portable fridge is the new cooler!

    Folding TV Tray Table and Cup Holder

    We love our snacks, but they can take up some room! We love these folding trays because they're compact but sturdy! You can load up your treats and head to the couch!

    KOVE Soda Can Straw and Lid, Set of 2

    Got kiddos? These straw and lid sets can keep things easy and clean!

    Glacier Stainless Steel Double Wall Wine Glass

    No one likes hot wine! This sippy cup is perfect for anyone over 21+!

    Chinese Take Out Boxes & Chopsticks

    Takeout can be expensive! If you're cooking for a large family or gathering, why not make your favorite Chinese dish at home and then place it in containers for everyone to eat around the TV?

    PajamaGram Fun The Grinch Pajamas 

    Whether you decide on these matching PJs or another set, we love the idea of picking jammies that match the movie!

    Oversized Hoodie Blanket Sweatshirt

    We also love this oversized sweatshirt! It's so soft and comfy. It's like wearing a blanket!

    Mermaid Tail Blanket

    The Mermaid Tail Blanket is a must for any Ariel fan! It also doubles up as a blanket!

    Chill Sack Bean Bag Chair

    This chair is a splurge. We almost linked to a cheaper one, but the reviews just were horrible. This chair is 5' and has memory foam in it! Plus, the soft micro fiber cover is easy to clean!

    Butterfly Craze Girl's Floor Lounger Seats Cover and Pillow Cover 

    Are these not the cutest things?! While you're preparing for the night, why not have the kids create a fort in the living room?

    Fluffy Dog Bed

    Everyone is invited to movie night -- including the dog! Spoil your pooch with a special spot during the movie, too!

    Faux Fur Throw Blanket 50" x 60"

    There is nothing like a big furry blanket to cozy up in! We love this one because it's comfy and affordable!

    Millffy Bunny Slippers for Women

    I mean, does anything else say, "I'm staying in tonight" like bunny slippers?! These are a must!

    Cinema Light Box

    Creating the movie theater vibe is easier than ever with these cute cinema light boxes!

    Buttered Popcorn Candle Premium 100% All Natural Soy Candle 

    We've got our tummies full of yummy foods, cozied up in our jammies, and now all we need is a great smell! We love this soy candle option!

    Fairy Lights

    We love these fairy lights because they're affordable and make a big statement! You can use them all through the year too!

    TCL 40S325 40 Inch 1080p Smart LED ROKU TV (2019)

    You probably have a TV already, but we wanted to throw this into our ultimate movie checklist because it makes streaming so easy!

    Photo Credit: www.hulu.com

    Hulu

    We currently have Hulu, Netflix, HBO MAX, Disney+, and Amazon Prime to stream movies on, and we are so happy with all of the choices! Hulu offers a ton of great TV options too!

    Logitech Z906 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System - THX, Dolby Digital and DTS Digital Certified - Black

    Another splurge that totally transforms your movie night! We added surround sound about 5 years ago, and I cringed at the price. This system has great reviews without breaking the bank, and it really does totally up your movie night game!

    VIZIO SB2920-C6 29-Inch 2.0 Channel Sound Bar, Black

    If you're looking for a cheaper option, we love this VIZIO sound bar and have it in our other rooms!

    LCD Video Projector with Carrying Case

    This projector is so cool and perfect for outdoor movie nights!

    One reviewer said:  This projector is amazing, I am very happy with this, it is the easiest to set up and use. It took me a few minutes to open the box to a fully configured projector, the screen is very bright. The sound is excellent. I recommend this projector to anyone looking for a quick setup and excellent sound. You can see in the videos the excellent quality that this projector has. I put it on my ceiling and on the wall and I am surprised at the brightness it has. My kids love it!

    Mini Projector, GooDee W18 WiFi Movie Projector with Synchronize Smartphone Screen 

    We also like this projector because it hooks up to your phone!! It has WiFi Projection, 1080P, iOS/Android Device, Built-in Speaker, and 50,000 hours

    Activities

    While the movie is your main event, you may also like to have activities planned around it!

    Movie Trivia Party Game -- 2 or More Players for Ages 12+

    Test your movie knowledge with a game of trivia!

    Dinner and a Movie Cookbook

    If you don't find a recipe or theme you like here -- you didn't look hard enough! Just kidding (sorta). But seriously, if you didn't, this cookbook has so many wonderful movie themed recipes to enjoy!

    What is on your movie night checklist? 

    Have an idea for us to add? Let us know!

    If you’re setting up a movie room, you may also like our guide to the Best Paint for Movie Screen or Projector Screen.

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    Kim & Kalee

    We're so excited to help you create the best movie nights at home! With our movie themes and recipe ideas, you'll never want to do a night out on the town!. Learn more about us.

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