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My daughter is just getting old enough to enjoy movie nights so I’m looking forward to showing her classic films I watched growing up! We’ve all been home a lot this year and at-home family movie night has become the new norm. Who doesn’t love a movie night, but does anyone reallllly miss getting dressed and driving to the theater to spend a premium on snacks? Also, ugh, keeping the kids in their seats for the full length of the movie? I’ve always preferred movie night at home because in our house movie night is so much more than screen time. It brings us together for dedicated family time and we make it extra special with a fun setup!
With the right essentials movie night at home is even more enjoyable than a trip to the theater. From gourmet popcorn to incorporating games – I hope these ideas take your family movie night to the next level, without leaving the comfort of home!
10 Steps For the Best Family Movie Night
Pick a movie
The first thing we do on movie night is search for a flick we can all agree on! Streaming services like Cox On Demand make it easy because they offer a great variety of movies, including classics, new releases, documentaries and more. I tend to encourage documentaries or educational films ; ) so sometimes we each choose one then randomly select a winner to watch!
TV or a Big Screen Projector
If you have movie night often, splurging on a projector is such a fun investment (we love ours!) Set it up in any room to get the big screen movie theater experience. When watching on our projector I use the Cox Contour app for easy wireless streaming. The app is downloaded to my phone and computer so I can stream from any room and easily cast on the projector! We also have the Cox Contour TV which includes a voice remote. I like that I’m able use the voice command to pull up our favorites, search Cox On Demand to discover new releases, use the streaming app for Netflix, or watch DVR recordings we previously saved.
Enjoy gourmet popcorn
Friends don’t let friends eat plain popcorn. That’s why I highly recommend making gourmet popcorn for your next movie night! It’s easy and delicious. Get a variety of mix-ins, like chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, caramel, Parmesan cheese, everything but the bagel seasoning, or anything you fancy (or find in your pantry)! Each family member can make their own creation. Then share during the movie and choose which you like best!
Popcorn maker and holders
We have a small popcorn maker for three reasons. It’s inexpensive to make popcorn at home (more affordable than microwave packs!), much healthier then prepackaged popcorn, and perfect for movie nights. I also bought reusable, customizable popcorn holders because they are too cute and make movie night even more special. One side is blank to write names or a personalized message. Fun for kids and adults!
Make your own concession snacks
You can’t have a movie night without snacks. Sometimes I’ll make an assortment of healthy-ish homemade snacks like avocado hummus and crackers, cucumber cream cheese sandwiches, mini English muffin pizzas, dried fruit and cheese skewers, chocolate chip and nut mix, sweet potato fries, no-bake peanut butter balls, and my favorite apple nachos. I also like making a plant-based charcuterie board with dips, cheeses, fruits, veggies, nuts and more. Sometimes I surprise Olive with cute food creations, too!
Make a movie night inspired meal
Why not add a themed meal to your movie night? This is a great alternative to snacks, especially if it’s dinner time. Movie themed possibilities are endless and cooking with the kids adds a fun element to family night. If you’re watching a Christmas movie make peppermint hot chocolate or try recipes inspired by favorite Disney movies. We recently watched “Coco” and made tacos for dinner. You can even have the kids help design some movie themed dinner menus. Serve dinner boxed style to really get the movie theater experience.
Create a cozy lounge area
Want to know a great perk of at-home movie nights? You can be cozy while you watch! The couch is great, but I prefer to use cushy floor pillows and blankets to create a comfy lounge area on the floor. These floor pillows are ideal for lounging (and they come in six gorgeous colors to match any space). During the summer they’re perfect for an outdoor movie night, too!
Set the cinema tone
First we connect to our Cox Homelife smart devices and dim the lights, then turn on battery-operated string lights! Kids love them, plus they create a golden, cozy vibe. This is not a necessary step but I also love putting flameless candles on the floor around the lounge area to give a nice ambiance once the lights are dimmed and the movie begins.
Wear watching pajamas
Matching family pajamas because why not? What could be better for family night. Even better, everyone’s ready for bed when the movie ends. I never thought I’d be that mom that buys matching pajamas, but how could I not when there are so many cute options? You can get movie themed PJ sets, holiday sets, or plenty of others at Macys and Target.
Play dress up or games
Whether you’re watching a Christmas classic or Disney favorite, kids love dressing up like characters. You can help them get creative and put together a costume, or throw on an old halloween costume before the movie begins. My daughter wore her Minnie Mouse costume when we watched Disney and Christmas Pjs during a holiday movie! To balance out screen time we add in educational games. Teach the kids something about each animal in the film or encourage real-life activities their favorite characters did. Eg; Watch “The Little Mermaid” and go to the beach to search for mermaids in the rock pools; “Moana” and go kayaking as a family; “Coco” and play musical instruments.
Elaborate movie nights bring the family together, make staying home fun, and can become a loved family tradition.
Elaborate movie nights bring the family together, make staying home fun, and can become a loved family tradition. All-in-all it’s a fun way to spend an evening together and way more affordable than the theater! Whether you’re with family at home or hosting a virtual watch party, I hope you found an idea to add to your family movie night. Now let’s go make some snacks, dim the lights, get cozy, and let the movie night begin!
What’s better than cozying up on a cold winter night with a movie, hot cocoa and Christmas tree lights flickering nearby? Cox Contour can help you stay close to your loved ones this holiday season.
