You’re tired of throwing dinner parties and BBQs, and just want to try something new. Or you’re not up for an entire night of chat, but still want to hang with your pals.
Whatever the reason, you’re probably here because you’re keen to host an epic movie night. You want to invite all your mates over, load them up with snacks and drinks, and then settle in with them for a cosy evening.
But how do you actually go about it? What do you need to provide, snack-wise? Drink-wise? And how will you even play the film? While there are no right answers here, there are some tips to follow and things to consider for the night to help it run a lot more seamlessly and we’ve got all that advice here.
Pick the right movie
The movie is the feature of the night, so you’ll want to choose wisely. The best way to pick is to really consider your audience. If kids will be there, you’ll obviously need to opt for one without sex scenes and adult language. Girls’ night? Go for a rom-com, romance or any other genre that’s not too heavy. If you’re considering a theme for the night (more on that in the next tip), consider a classic. Whatever you pick, be sure to let everyone know before the night — just in case, they’re vehemently opposed to your choice, for whatever reason, and can get the chance to back out . . . or persuade you to change it.
Consider a theme
As mentioned, you might want to think about adopting a theme for the night. This is definitely one way to make it a night people won’t soon forget. The theme can either tie in with the movie – for instance, you might ask people to dress as a character from it – or it could even be as simple as asking everyone to rock up in their PJs.
Set the scene
You’ve picked the film and weighed up whether or not you want to give the night a theme — next, you’ll want to set up the space. You’ll likely be hosting people in your lounge room, so it’s best to ensure there are enough spots on sofas or, if you have more people than can fit, that the ground is comfy. Drag in a rug from another room if you don’t have one there already and grab some pillows and blankets. To replicate a movie theatre experience — meaning everyone in the room feels fully immersed in it — look no further than Samsung’s The Freestyle Portable Projector, bring up to 100-inches of large screen viewing with 360-degree sound to complete your set-up. To ensure crystal clear viewing The Freestyle will autofocus onto different surfaces that can act as your screen – a blank wall, fence in the backyard or even the ceiling. It also comes with a Smart TV built-in, so all your favourite streaming services are right there and waiting for you to hit play.
Provide food
When it comes to food for a movie night, it’s important to let your guests know what to expect. If you’re providing them with a substantial meal, make that known. Just snacks? They’ll need to know to eat a light dinner beforehand. If you are planning on giving them a full feed, guests probably won’t be expecting anything fancy — remember, the movie experience will be the highlight of the night. Think about ordering pizzas or heating frozen ones up. Nachos also don’t require much effort.
If it’s only snacks you’re organising, popcorn is an obvious choice. For movie theatre-style popcorn, add clarified butter, also called ghee. A cheese board or a platter of sweet and savoury snacks like pretzels and M&Ms are other great options.
Don’t forget drinks
If you’re providing a substantial dinner, don’t feel bad asking your guests to BYO drinks. If you do want to supply drinks for guests, think about jugs of easy-to-make punches (just consider the potential for carpet stains), soft drinks, or cups of tea or hot chocolate.
Plan some post-movie activities
And finally, should your guests still want to hang around after the film ends, you’ll want to have some post-movie activities up your sleeve. You could prepare some thought-provoking questions to ask about the film. Or, if you don’t want to make it movie-related, you could play a game of cards or break out a board game. There’s a good chance, though, that after a couple of hours of staring at a screen and snacking, your guests will be zonked out and ready to head out as soon as the credits roll. No doubt, they’ll be leaving incredibly appreciative of the special night you’ve just treated them to — one they’re likely never to forget.