Epic Family Movie Night!

With nights in the new norm, you may be struggling to keep the kids entertained. It may seem like you’ve tried almost everything, with most of your ideas resulting in cries of “This is boooring” or “Can we do something else?”

If you’re after an idea that’s sure to be a hit with the kids, why not plan an epic movie night at home? Unlike a regular movie night, the one we’re suggesting takes things to the next level.

If this sounds like a lot of work, rest assured that it isn’t nearly as hard to put together as it sounds. In fact, with a couple of tips up your sleeve, it will prove to be a quick, easy, and unforgettable night in with the kids.

Ready to learn more? Keep reading to discover our top tips below.

1. Have the Right Equipment on Hand

To ensure your movie night is one to remember, you’ll need to have the right equipment on hand. Two essential items we recommend are a projector and projector screen. Unlike watching a movie on your regular TV (no matter how big it is), a project and projector screen will give the feeling of watching a movie at the cinemas—your own private one at that!

As you’ll see on our website, there are plenty of options on the market. Not only can you narrow down your search for the perfect projector and projector screen by brand, but you can also choose between different features and price points.

Ultra short throw projectors are a great choice for family movie nights because they require less space than a traditional projector while still giving you an epic image on your screen.

While we’re on the topic of equipment, it’s also important to think of practical considerations, too. For example, it will be worth using a well-made surge protector to plug your projector and any other electronics into to prevent a power surge.

2. Set a Fun Atmosphere

Simply switching off the light and hitting ‘play’ isn’t going to cut it if you want your movie night to be epic. You’ll need to put in a bit of effort to set the perfect atmosphere. The beauty of staging an at-home movie night is that you can set it precisely to you and your family’s liking.

Every element is up to you, so the possibilities are endless. One great idea is to put a few things in place that fit the movie you’re watching. For example, if you’re watching Frozen, you can buy a few items at the dollar store, like fairy lights and fake snow, to create a winter wonderland atmosphere.

3. Prep Some Delicious Snacks

Needless to say, no movie night would be complete without delicious snacks. So what should be on the menu? Well, whatever you and your family fancy!

If you want to keep with the theme of your movie night, think about buying or making some on-theme snacks. For example, if you’re watching Finding Nemo, you could make some under the sea themed snacks.

You also can’t go wrong with some standard movie snacks. Yes – that of course means plenty of popcorn! Instead of buying store bought popcorn, why not try popping your own popcorn with a popcorn machine? Not only will you know precisely what you’re eating (unlike store-bought popcorn, which tends to have some rather unsavory ingredients), but you’ll also be able to customize it to your tastes.

4. Dress Up

Think back to the last time you staged a movie night. Everyone was either wearing their comfiest clothes or PJs, right?

While that’s a perfectly fine getup for typical movie nights, remember that you’re trying to plan an epic movie night here! So why not shake things up by getting everyone to dress up? “If you’re looking for a way to up the ante at your movie nights, you can’t go wrong with dressing the part,” says Angela Stringfellow from Home Life Digest.

“Depending on how much time you have as well as your budget, you can either go all-out and dress as the characters from the movie, or just pick a simple theme, like a color that everyone should wear.”

5. Choose the Right Movie

Last but not least, you’ll need to choose the right movie. As you may already know from personal experience, picking the right movie for a movie night is half the battle. Sometimes, you end up spending half the night choosing between options, and end up settling on a movie that no one’s really happy with. The key to picking the right movie—and not spending all night doing so—is doing a bit of prep beforehand.

For example, you can consult expert guides for kid-friendly movie recommendations to narrow down your list of possible contenders. If you have more than one kid, having some type of system in place for selecting a movie from this shortlist will be a must. For example, you can take it in turns to pick a movie or draw ideas randomly from a hat.

And That's How You Have An Epic Family Movie Night With The Kids

Nights in with the kids don’t need to be a bore. If you’re looking for an idea that will be sure to impress even the fussiest of kids, you can’t go wrong with an epic movie night, even if you don't have the ultimate home theater in your home. Preparing for it doesn’t need to chore, either. As our guide above shows, it can actually be part of the fun. Even if it does take a bit of work to put together, you’ll see that it’s well worth it once you see the look of joy on your kid’s face.