It costs a family of four an average of nearly $35 to go to the movies, and that’s not including the cost of refreshments. One of the best ways to save yourself some money and still have some family fun is to simply host your own movie night at home. If you and the kids don’t mind waiting for the newest films to hit your streaming service, curling up together to watch a flick in the comfort of your living room is a great way to bond and have fun.
If you don’t know where to get started, here are some fun family movie night ideas you and the kids will love.
Print Tickets and Create a Marquee
Your kids will get a kick out of having to hand over a ticket as admission to the movie night. Print them up using a template and your computer. Create a marquee of the featured flicks by purchasing a light-up letterboard to advertise the evening’s showings.
And when it comes to choosing one or two movies, don’t be afraid to go with some older classics your kids may not have seen before, such as anything starring the Little Rascals (check out what they look like all grown up) or older Disney animations like Snow White. There’s a reason why some movies remain timeless.
Set Up a Popcorn Bar
Let the kids customize their bowl of popcorn for the big night by setting up a popcorn bar on the dining room table. Pop up a lot of plain popcorn (bonus points if you have an old school air popper that can do the task for you) and set out paper popcorn cartons, buckets, or bowls and melted butter. Then go to town with a selection of toppings and flavored sprinkles that will satisfy everyone’s tastebuds, whether they run sweet or savory.
You can either make your own toppings such as parmesan garlic or coconut curry seasoning or splurge on pre-made sprinkles. No flavor is off-limits here; you’ll find everything from dill pickle to Mexican chocolate popcorn sprinkles online.
And don’t forget to include other movie theater treats such as soda and candy. If you like, you can give each family member a caddy they can use to hold their beverage, popcorn, and other movie food.
Make a Movie-Themed Meal
If you really want to go all out on the refreshments, you can prepare a meal inspired by one of your family’s favorite movies. Think coconut shrimp and other seafood delights if you’re watching Finding Nemo or The Little Mermaid or barbecue staples such as ribs and cornbread for Western movie nights. Encouraging the kids to dress up as characters from the feature film only add to the fun.
Get Cozy
You don’t have to sit on the sofa or chairs to watch a flick. Pull out the oversized pillows, beanbags, and blankets and let everyone get comfy in their own way.
Or how about setting up a blanket fort in the living room? Cozy up to the screen in PJs if you want—this is family night.
Try Out These Fun Family Movie Night Ideas
You and your loved ones may not even miss the theater with these fun family movie night ideas. Give them a try the next time you’re looking for a family activity to enjoy together at home.
And for the latest Hollywood news and to learn about new family films, don’t miss our Movies section.