19 Ways to Make Your At Home Movie Nights More Exciting
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Fun ideas for selecting movies and bringing excitement to your date nights at home.
As much as I love going out, I’m also very much a homebody. And one of my go-to activities at home is having a movie date night, girls’ movie night in, or cozy movie night by myself. But a movie night at home doesn’t need to feel mundane. I’ve come up with 19 ways to make your at home movie nights more enjoyable, whether you’re with your significant other, your friends, or watching solo.
As I’m sure you’ve experienced at one point or another, one of the most challenging things about having a movie night is deciding which movie to watch! That’s why many of the items in this list will give you fun ideas for choosing a movie to watch that you might not have thought of before. It can feel frustrating to scroll endlessly on your streaming app and end up watching something you’re less than excited about, so by trying these new ideas you can add excitement to your movie selections.
Movie nights at home are perfect for any occasion, including a romantic date night with your partner, a movie night when you’re visiting your parents, a chill evening with roommates, or a fun-filled girls’ night with your best friends. Even solo movie nights give you a chance to relax and indulge in your favorite snacks.
This list will inspire you with fun and creative ideas to make your at home movie night exciting and memorable.
How to Make Your Movie Nights at Home Feel Exciting
Switching things up with new themes, snacks, or genres can bring fresh excitement to your movie nights and keep them from feeling mundane. Try some of these ideas for your next movie night:
1. Have an outdoor movie night
When weather permits, set up a screen (or sheet) and projector in your backyard, on your deck, or on your balcony. Add cozy touches like string lights, comfy seating, pillows, and blankets. It’s magical to watch a movie under the stars.
2. Watch all of this year’s Academy Award-nominated films and see if you agree with the selected winners
Challenge yourself to watch all of this year’s Academy Award-nominated films and decide if you would have given out Oscars to the winners, or if you have other favorites. This will give you something to watch for numerous at home movie nights!
3. Watch every movie that a favorite actor has been in
If you enjoy a particular actor, look them up on IMDB to see a full list of movies they’ve been in. Maybe you’ll discover some new favorites!
4. Work your way through a list of the best movies of all time
This has been on my list of things to do for years. I’m planning to follow the American Film Institute’s list: AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies. This list has enough movies to fill almost two years of weekly at home movie date nights!
5. Make gourmet movie snacks to enjoy while you watch
Elevate your movie snack game by making a cheeseboard, gourmet popcorn flavors, loaded nachos, crostini with toppings, or a candy charcuterie board.
6. Watch an Academy Award-winning film from the year you were born
Throw it back to the year you were born and check out this full List of Academy Award–winning films to help make your selection.
If you’re enjoying these at home movie night ideas, check out: 50 Awesome Outdoor Date Ideas for Summer
7. Compare an original and a remake
Watch the original version of a movie that has since been remade, and then watch the remake, to see which version you like best. Here’s a good place to start for ideas: Ultimate Movie Remakes List. You can also check out this huge two-part list: List of film remakes (A–M) and List of film remakes (N–Z).
8. Look up the director of a favorite movie of yours and watch another movie they’ve directed that you haven’t seen before
When I find a movie that I love, I like to check out other films by the same director. It’s interesting to see how their style carries across different movies, and sometimes you discover a new favorite that you never would’ve watched otherwise.
9. Watch a top movie in a genre you don’t usually watch
Many people stick to watching the same movie genres, but stepping outside your comfort zone can be surprisingly fun. You might discover a new genre you enjoy, and see from a different perspective. One place you can start is by checking out this list of AFI’s 10 Top 10, which shares the ten greatest American films in ten film genres: animation, courtroom drama, epic, fantasy, gangster, mystery, romantic comedy, science fiction, sports, and western.
10. Watch a movie based in the location of an upcoming trip, or a place you’d like to go to in the future
Find a movie based on a location you’ll be traveling to or where you want to visit one day. For example, if you’re traveling to Greece you could watch Mamma Mia!, if you’re going to Hawaii you could watch Forgetting Sarah Marshall, if you’re taking a trip to Thailand you could watch The Beach.
11. Create themed movie cocktails or mocktails to drink while you watch
I love adding a little extra fun to movie night with cocktails that match the theme. A piña colada or other tropical drink for a beachy romantic comedy, an old fashioned for a gritty crime drama, and of course a white Russian if you’re watching The Big Lebowski. Alternatively, you can create themed mocktails! It makes the whole night feel a little more special.
12. Watch a movie title that starts with every letter of the alphabet
Challenge yourself to watch a movie for every letter of the alphabet, from A to Z. This challenge will obviously require numerous at home movie nights, so you’ll be set for a while!
13. Watch a movie from every decade, starting from the present and working your way back as far as you can go
Watching movies from different decades is a fun way to see how storytelling, fashion, and culture have evolved over time, and a way to branch out from your usual movie selections. This is another idea that will take you across many at home movie nights.
14. Have a themed dinner and a movie night
One of my favorite ways to make an at home movie night feel special is by planning a dinner that matches the film. Think pasta, meatballs, and garlic bread for an Italian romantic comedy or watching The Godfather; burgers and milkshakes if you’re watching something American from the 1950s or 1960s; or sushi or seafood if you’re watching a beach-themed or ocean-themed movie, like Jaws or Pirates of the Caribbean. Bringing a bit of the movie theme to the table turns an ordinary night into something memorable without leaving home.
15. Build a cozy blanket fort for movie-watching
Building a blanket fort is a simple way to turn your living room into something that feels magical. Draping cozy blankets, making piles of pillows, and adding some fairy lights adds an extra layer of coziness, completely transforming your movie-watching space.
16. Choose a movie theme based on the season or an upcoming holiday
Choosing themed movies for a season or holiday brings fun to the everyday as well as the possibility to start a new tradition. There are plenty of Halloween and Christmas movies to choose from, but you can also find movies for any major holiday like Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, or New Years. If there aren’t any holidays coming up, you can select a movie based on the season — winter, spring, summer, or fall — like Wet Hot American Summer for summer, or October Sky for fall.
17. Watch foreign films and see how many countries you can check off
Expand your horizons by watching as many foreign films from different countries as possible. It’s an enjoyable way to experience new cultures, stories, and perspectives without leaving your couch.
18. Watch a movie that a parent or grandparent enjoyed when they were younger
Ask a relative what some of their favorite movies were when they were younger, and give one a watch. You can either invite your relative to watch it together, or watch it yourself if you don’t live close by, and then let them know if you enjoyed it.
19. Think of a random word, or use a random word generator to select one, and then watch a movie you’ve never seen before containing that word in the title
Definitely the most “random” idea in this list, but while using the search feature to find specific movies in streaming apps I’m always surprised by how many other movies pop up that have the same word in the title. It would be an interesting way to choose a movie when you’re having trouble deciding what to watch, and as a way to possibly discover a hidden gem you wouldn’t have known about otherwise! For example, if I choose the word “sand,” I could watch House of Sand and Fog, The Sandlot, or Sand Castles.
If you’re enjoying these at home movie night ideas, check out: 52 Exciting Things to Do in Winter for Adults
The Best Things About Having a Movie Night at Home
- Cost-effectiveness: Watching movies at home is generally more budget-friendly than going to the movie theater, especially when you factor in movie ticket prices, overpriced theater snacks, and transportation costs. You can have a low- or no-cost movie night at home if you already have a movie streaming service.
- Comfort: There’s nothing like a cozy movie night at home, where you’re able to stretch out on the couch among pillows and blankets while wearing comfy loungewear or pajamas, and fully relax and recharge.
- Creativity: Hosting an at home movie night means you get to control the movie selection, the snacks, and the ambiance. You have the ability to put your creativity to use with a fun movie-themed meal, snacks, drinks, and decor.
- Flexibility: When you watch a movie at home, you have complete control over the viewing experience, letting you pause whenever someone needs a refill or a bathroom break, without missing any of the action. You can also pause to discuss what’s happening without disturbing others around you.
Save These At Home Movie Night Ideas for Later
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19 Ways to Make Your At Home Movie Nights More Exciting
It’s enjoyable to watch movies because they entertain us, make us feel something, tell great stories, bring us together, and often reflect the culture around us. And the best part is, you can enjoy all of that from the comfort of your own home.
You easily can turn what you might think of as a “boring” movie night at home into an enjoyable and memorable experience by taking some ideas from this list to elevate your movie-watching experience. These ideas can even be combined — there’s nothing stopping you from watching a movie from your A to Z movie list (idea #12) while having a movie-themed dinner (idea #14) and themed drinks (idea #11)!
Staying in to watch a movie is convenient, budget-friendly, and completely customizable — you control everything from the lighting to the snacks. It also offers a more intimate experience, where you can pause, rewind, or chat without worrying about disturbing anyone. Movie nights can easily be customized as a date night, an evening with your parents, a movie night by yourself, or a fun evening with friends. Best of all, it’s a chance to relax, unwind, and make memories with the people you love most.
Which of these at home movie night ideas has sparked your interest? Do you have any other ideas for an at home movie night? Share your thoughts in the comments.
