Skip the movie theatre and host the best movie night in your own living room with these easy ideas! The best part? We have home movie night ideas that couples, friends, and the entire families will love!
Planning a fun movie night with friends or your whole family is easier than you’d think! Plus, it’s a fun way to spend some quality time together!
Now more than ever, you can create a cinematic experience with a home theater! We set up a movie room upstairs with surround sound and a big screen to help us feel like we’re at the movies without the extra cost of overpriced snacks! Plus, who doesn’t want their own private theater?!
BUT – it’s easy to fall into the old habits like scrolling through Netflix for 30 minutes not to pick anything or turning on the same movie again and again. That’s why we put together these home movie night ideas to help you host the ultimate movie night with your friends, family, or date!
Below we offer the best ways to host a fun movie night, as well as, specific tips and tricks to hosting a themed night like:
- movie night ideas with friends
- dave night movie night
- family movie night ideas
- outdoor movie night ideas
- and plenty of delicious movie night snacks!
We also have free movie night tickets you can print or save to send to everyone!
Benefits of a DIY Movie Night
Turning your living space into your own theater comes with a lot of benefits! You can control the movie, time the movie starts, the snacks, decor and even the dress-code!
Plus, you don’t have to drive to the theater and then hope no one is on their cellphone or talking through the movie!
So let’s take a look at the 9 ways to make movie night at home seriously fun!
How do you make a fun movie night at home?
With a tiny bit of planning and a little bit of effort, you can easily stream your favorite movies at home with streaming services like Netflix,Hulu, HBO Max, Apple TV, or Amazon Video. All of the ideas below can be done in just a few minutes or planned out for hours for the ultimate experience – you choose!
1. Pick Your Movie Before Date Night
It’s always a good idea to have your movie picked out before getting together with friends, family, or you date!
If you’re looking for a movie that most people like, we suggest going with a classic like Indiana Jones or Karate Kid. Since both movies are in a series, you could even do a double feature!
Harry Potter, Jungle Book, or The Lego Movie could also be great choices for a family night. We also have Harry Potter snacks and trivia you might like!
We also have a list of fun Halloween or Christmas movies if you’re doing a seasonal theme!
2. Invite guests and send them tickets
Once you have the movie picked out the movie, you can print your own custom movie tickets! Get our free printables for movie night tickets here!
3. Theme what you eat for dinner
Since you’re at home, why not theme your menu to go along with the movie! We have a full list of fun movie night dinner ideas, as well as, 27 movies that pair perfectly with pizza if you’re in a hurry!
A theme is easier than you think too! You could do Clemenza’s spaghetti for a Godfather movie night or there are dozens of Disney themed dinners to go along with your movie!
You could also set up your own concession stand with drive-in classics like:
- Hot dogs and hamburgers
- Chili dogs and fries
- Build your own nachos
- Build your own pizza
You’ll also want to have some fun drinks like lemonade or soda!
You could also serve milkshakes, banana splits, or offer ice cream as dessert!
4. Have great movie night snacks
Even with dinner, you’ll want to have your classic movie night snacks! We recommend preparing a snack bar with your guests’ favorite sweet and salty snacks!
One way we upgrade basic popcorn, is by offering each guest a brown paper bag of popcorn and then letting them top it with butter or fun seasonings!
We also like to have the $1 movie-style candy boxes for people to enjoy!
5. Use a Projector for a Big Screen
A movie projector is a great way to see your favorite movies on a big screen! It’s easier and more affordable than ever to get a bluetooth movie projector and outdoor movie screen too!
6. Invest in Surround Sound
A good sound system can upgrade any living room into your own home theater! Vizio offers a full sound system at a great price too!
7. Decorate to create a comfy environment
Whether you’re inside or out, it can be a lot of fun to decorate for movie night!
Here are a few tips for creating a cozy atmosphere:
- Extra blankets and pillows
- Comfortable seats with room to stretch out
- Hang lights to create an aisle or just set the mood
- Choose themed decor for your movie or movie night like a “Now Playing” sign
Check out our Movie Night Checklist for more essentials to creating a great atmosphere!
8. Take your movie outside
Turning your backyard into your own private theater is a must-do and takes the experience to a whole new level!
When you’re planning your outdoor movie night ideas, make sure to look at the weather ahead of time. You don’t want it to be too hot or too cold. In the Fall, you could always use a fire pit, heaters, and lots of blankets to keep warm though!
We have a list of the 47 best outdoor movie night ideas you might like as well!
Along with decorations, you’ll also want to have:
- lawn chairs
- movie projector
- comfortable seating
- bug spray
- possibly heaters or fans depending on the weather
An outdoor movie night would be a great first date idea as well! You could also do a pool movie night!
9. Offer an intermission
Depending on the length of the movie, you may want to offer an intermission for your guests to go to the bathroom and restock on candy and popcorn!
What do you need for a movie night at home?
To recap, you’ll want to have the following items for your movie night at home:
- printable movie tickets
- lots of cozy blankets
- supportive pillows
- comfortable seating
- a themed movie dinner
- fun movie night snacks
- popcorn buckets or paper bags for guests candy
- surround sound
- movie projector
- cozy slippers and pajamas never hurt either!
Our Movie Night Checklist includes all of the essentials!
Is watching a movie at home a good first date?
Typically, we would say stay away from watching a movie as a first date. It’s hard to get to know someone if you’re watching a movie. With that said, a watching a movie at home would allow you to chat over dinner and possibly through the movie. Just make sure you set the expectations for the date early!
Date Night Movies on Netflix
Some of these movies may not be currently on Netflix – as they are always changing their offerings. However, we hope this list inspires you!
- To All the Boys I Loved Before
- Holidate
- The Perfect Date
- Always Be My Maybe
- Jerry McGuire
- The Holiday
- When Harry Met Sally
- To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
- She’s All That
- The Age of Adaline
- The Notebook
- Ghost
- How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
- The Lake House
- Serendipity
- Meet the Parents
We also have a list of 25 Best Romantic Movie Date Night at Home Ideas for Couples to help you brainstorm your movie night date!
You may also like:
- movie night ideas for family
- movie night ideas for couples
- sleepover movie night with friends
- movie night snack ideas
- list of horror movies for tweens
With these ideas, movie night doesn’t have to be boring! Let us know what your favorite movie is to watch on Instagram @movienightsathome.
