There’s no place like home
You don’t want to spend a lot of money on going to the cinema again, but you feel like watching a new movie or movie classic with your friends or partner? Don’t worry, the perfect movie night can take place at home with a little preparation. Whether you’re planning a fun night out with friends, the whole family or just a romantic evening for two, we’ve put together 10 tips and tricks that will definitely ensure a successful movie night.
Tip 1: The right movie
Which genre suits your movie night?
First, of course, you should think about the movie you want to see. It’s best to discuss with your guests which genre you all like the most. Would you like to watch a cheesy love classic with your best friend and share the excitement? Or are you more in the mood for a bit of suspense and action?
A small selection
It’s also good to have a small selection of movies ready. If you don’t like the first movie, you can always surprise your guests with an alternative and save the evening. We therefore recommend at least three different movies for a cozy movie night. If you have a Netflix or Amazon Prime account, this isn’t difficult at all. These platforms now offer you a huge selection of movies in a wide variety of genres. There’s bound to be something for everyone!
Show me your favorite movie
If you’re planning a movie night with good friends, you could also ask them if they can each bring their favorite movie. This way you can add a personal touch to your movie night. For example, everyone can say a few words about their chosen film and explain why it’s their favorite. That way, you’ll learn even more about your favorite people. If you don’t feel like a very long movie marathon, you can also draw lots to see who introduces their favorite movie first and simply continue your movie night when you have a chance.
Tip 2: Make sure you have good sound and picture quality
The necessary technology
Of course, the necessary technology is also crucial for a successful movie night. Who wants to sit around a small laptop with five people? That doesn’t mean you necessarily need the latest and greatest TV for a great evening. However, you should make sure that everyone has enough space and a good view of the TV.
Your movie on the big screen
If you do fancy a cheap XXL screen in your living room, a projector could be a good option for you. You can either rent one or buy one online or in a specialized store. In the meantime, there are also good beamers in low price categories and different variations (e.g. mini beamers).
Your own home cinema
With a home cinema system, you can enjoy a movie experience just like in the cinema. Overall, the purchase of a home theater system is of course not cheap. But if you plan to have a movie night on a regular basis, then the investment can definitely be worth it! Not only does a home theater provide great picture quality and spatial sound, it also makes you feel like you’re right in the middle of the movie. With exciting action movies or scary horror stories, your home theater provides even more thrills.
Tip 3: The cozier, the better!
As you already mentioned, you should of course make sure you have enough space in your living room. A cozy couch is a must during a long movie night. To make your guests feel really comfortable, you can of course add some blankets and lots of pillows for even more comfort. After all, who doesn’t like it really cozy?
Tip 4: Fireplace for even more atmosphere
If you like it really romantic, you can surprise your date with a fireplace and create an even cozier mood. However, if you don’t have a fireplace available or simply don’t like to sweat in the summer, you can also light a fireplace with or on your laptop. On Youtube, for example, there are enough free videos that bring the cozy fireplace feeling directly into your living room.
Tip 5: The optimal lighting atmosphere!
Fairy lights and candles
For the cozy movie night mood, of course, the right light is crucial. Dimmed light immediately creates a more relaxed and cozy atmosphere. You can also adjust the light well to the movie genre. For a romantic love movie, the laptop campfire and a few candles or a string of lights are probably enough to create the right mood.
Optimal lighting control with smart home
For tech-savvy movie buffs, smart home systems are also an ideal way to automatically adjust the optimal lighting for each movie night. For example, a number of smart home solutions now offer you entertainment packages that ensure perfectly coordinated sound and lighting effects. This will make your movie night better than any cinema experience.
Tip 6: The ideal decoration for your movie night
The right decoration can also create even more atmosphere! Planning a Harry Potter movie marathon? Then get out some candles, artificial spider webs and your Hogwarts flag. You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money on this, because you can find a lot of free DIY ideas for your decorations on the internet. Overall, though, you should definitely make sure that your decorations match the movie genre. Even old movie posters on the wall can bring the right atmosphere into your living room and make an impression.
Tip 7: A movie drinking game for fun movie nights
The perfect rescue
If you’re planning a movie night in convivial company with a few friends, a movie drinking game could also provide some laughs. If the movie doesn’t go over so well with your guests after all, or if most of them have already seen the movie, a game can still make the evening a special and funny experience. Of course, the games also work with non-alcoholic drinks – just less fun.
The classic
You can find a lot of different drinking games on the Internet. The classic, of course, is to drink a shot when a certain word is mentioned in the movie. For example, if you’re watching Pirates of the Caribbean, everyone might take a sip when someone talks about the Black Pearl in the movie.
The team duel
Another option is to split up into teams. For example, if you form two teams, each team picks a character from the movie. As soon as the character appears in the movie or says something specific, the respective team has to take a drink.
Tip 8: Schedule knock breaks
Scheduling knock breaks – sounds banal? But it can be very helpful. Especially if you want to watch an exciting action movie attentively in a large group, it can be annoying if someone keeps getting up. If you schedule a break together, you can enjoy the movie in a much more relaxed way and catch every important detail.
Tip 9: Delicious snacks for your movie night
Popcorn for more cinema atmosphere
Popcorn is of course a must for a perfect movie night. You can easily prepare it in a popcorn machine, for example. This brings even more cinema atmosphere into your living room. Moreover, popcorn is not only available in sweet form, but also as a salty variant. So there is also something for the salty tastes. In addition, you can of course offer pretzels, chips, gummy bears or nachos with different dips. With a small selection of sweet and savory snacks, there’s sure to be something for everyone!
Snacks in small bowls
So that the snacks don’t have to be passed around all the time and no arguments break out over the one chip bag, it’s worth transferring them into small bowls beforehand and distributing them well on the coffee table. In addition, you save the loud rustling of the bags – because that, as you know, can be quite annoying while watching a movie!
Tip 10: The right drinks should not be missing!
Hot or cold?
Just as important as the snacks are of course the drinks. You should not forget them in any case. Often the classics, such as water, cola or juice, are enough. In the cold season, hot drinks such as cocoa, tea or mulled wine are also suitable for a cozy movie night at home. If you’re planning a drinking game at the movie, you should of course also think of the right drinks for it.
The perfect drink for the movie
If you like it a bit more elaborate and want to surprise your guests, then you can also create the perfect drink for the movie yourself. How about a poison green juice for Grinch or a horror movie? You can also simply offer drinks that also appear in the film. So watching Harry Potter with a Butterbeer or watching James Bond with a shaken Martini is much more fun!
Our conclusion
So for a cozy movie night with your loved ones, you really don’t need much: a good movie, some snacks and drinks are often enough. But if you want to make more of an impression, there are plenty of inexpensive ways to turn your movie night into a special experience. For example, fairy lights or decorations that match the movie can create a great atmosphere. If you want to invest a little more and bring a real cinema atmosphere into your home, it is also worth setting up a good home cinema system.
