• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Games and Gatherings
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Subscribe
  • Notes on a Party
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Subscribe
    • Notes on a Party
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Parties

    Fun and Unique Movie Night Party Ideas

    Published: Jun 19, 2023 by Amy & Gabe · This post may contain affiliate links.

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Email

    Recreate the magic of a night at the cinema at your own home or party venue with a movie night party! Whether you’re looking to uplevel your usual movie night or host the perfect movie birthday party, these movie night party ideas will inspire you to plan a fun night of celebrating your favorite movies.

    A chalkboard that says "movie night" with striped movie-themed straws and cups with popcorn. this Post

    Disclosure: We may recommend products we like through affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you (see our full disclaimer). Thank you for your support!

    Table of Contents
    • Movie ideas
    • Movie Night Invitations
    • Theme Ideas
    • Movie Night set up
    • Movie Party Decorations
    • Food & Drinks
    • Movie Themed Games
    • Improv Games
    • For Adults

    Movie ideas

    Some movies are better for a movie party than others. If you have a favorite you’ve always wanted to host a watch party for, go with that. But if you need some inspiration, here are our ideas for what to watch at your movie night party:

    For kids:

    • Disney and Pixar classics
    • Shrek
    • Wallace & Gromit movies
    • Tim Burton movies
    • Kung Fu Panda

    For adults: 

    • The Room: This is a great film for a night of laughter and silly games
    • Live-action Scooby Doo movies
    • Knives Out and/or Glass Onion
    • Clue (1985)
    • Rocky Horror Picture Show
    • Forrest Gump
    Friends with popcorn at a movie party.

    Movie Night Invitations

    Design your movie invitations to look like movie posters or admission tickets. You can find templates or design your own tickets with Canva.

    From Lia Griffith

    Or, if you plan to choose a specific genre or film for your movie night party theme, use that to inspire your invitation design.

    Theme Ideas

    Fun theme ideas include:

    • Classic Horror Movies
    • Early 2000s Rom-Coms like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, 13 Going on 30, Love Actually, and Bridget Jones’s Diary
    • Comic Book Movies (like Marvel or DC)
    • Murder Mysteries
    • Cult Classics

    Movie Night set up

    You don’t need an in-home movie theater or even white walls to host the perfect movie party. A projector and a screen or white bedsheet will do.

    To have an outdoor movie night, all you need are an outdoor movie projector, a white sheet, a spacious seating area with plenty of lawn chairs or picnic blankets, and plenty of blankets to keep guests warm.

    Two kids on pillows outside watching a movie.

    Kids can also bring their own sleeping bags for indoor or outdoor movie nights.  If you don’t have a yard or living room large enough for a party, you can rent out a movie theater or outdoor movie space. Peerspace is a great place to find movie party venues.

    Movie Party Decorations

    95pcs Movie Night Decorations, Hollywood Theme Party Decorations, Movie Theater Decorations Supplies, Backdrop, Balloons Arch,Popcorn Camera Film Reel Cutouts Hollywood Clapboard foil balloons for Movie Night Birthday Party Decorations

    When giving your favorite movies the big-screen treatment, you’ll want your theater space to look the part. Put up a marquee sign made of poster board, lay down a red carpet entrance with red velvet rope dividers, and include a photo booth to set the scene and make every party guest feel like a movie star.

    Your movie party supplies may also include disposable cameras, photo props, Oscar statues, and lots of cardboard stars. 

    EZLucky Red Carpet Runner for Party, 2.6X15ft, 130GSM Felt Non-Woven Fabric, Hollywood Red Carpet for Event, Aisle Runner for Wedding Ceremony, Movie Theme Party Decorations, Red Runway Rug for Prom
    100 PCS Glitter Gold Five Star Cutouts Double Printed Paper Star Decorations Star Confetti Cutouts Cardboard Stars for Bulletin Board Stars Accents Classroom Wall Party Decoration

    As with the invitations, your party decorations can change depending on the specific movie party theme. If you’re showing rom-com, you can decorate with flowers and wedding decor.

    For a horror movie night, use Halloween and haunted house decorations. You can find a lot of movie-specific decorations at party stores, especially for animated films.

    Food & Drinks

    A bowl of movie popcorn with movie theater popcorn bags behind it.

    Sometimes snacks are the best part of going to the movie theaters, so you’ll need to make sure your party snack game is strong. For the perfect movie night party, stock your snack bar with all of the delights you’d find at the theater.

    Be sure to offer classic candies like Red Vines, Nerds, Snowcaps, and M&M’s. You can find movie theater box candy like these at Dollar Tree.

    Easter Basket Candy Ultimate Movie Night Candy Bundle All time favorites included

    On the savory side, hot dogs, soft pretzels, and nachos are the perfect movie snacks.

    12oz Plastic Nacho Trays (100 Pack) Small Disposable Tray for Nachos & Cheese Dip, Concession Stand Supplies, Movie Night Snacks for Kids, Carnival Party Decorations, Food Boats, Snack Containers…

    Of course, it’s not movie night without popcorn, so fire up your popcorn maker or rent a popcorn machine, grab some cute popcorn bags, and set up a popcorn bar with a variety of seasonings for guests to choose from.

    For beverages, serve homemade Italian cream soda, pink lemonade, gourmet bottled sodas, or root beer floats.

    Bottles of pink lemonade and movie-themed straws and cups holding popcorn.

    Dessert popcorn makes an extra special treat that will fit right in on your movie party dessert table.

    From Party Food Favorites

    Movie Themed Games

    The movie will be the main event, but every party should include some fun games.

    Trivia

    Of course, movie trivia is a great party game for movie night. To host movie trivia, divide guests into trivia teams, or have everyone participate individually. Narrow the trivia game down to a specific theme, production company, genre, or decade.

    Movies Trivia Game - Party Game - Family Game - Travel Game - Fun and Easy to Play - 1200 Trivia Questions - for 2 or More Players - Ages 12+

    You can find trivia questions to use online. For prizes, offer specialty candy, movie posters, and Oscars with the guests’ names on them.

    Improv Games

    A group of friends laughing at a movie party game.

    Charades and various improv games work for party guests of all ages. Here are some of our favorite improv games:

    • The Dating Game
    • Press Conference 
    • What are You Doing?
    • Party Quirks
    • Lines from a Hat
    • Prop Bag
    • Questions Only
    • Sit, Stand, and Lie Down

    Party Charades Game – Contains 550 charades – Great Family Game for 2 or More Players Ages 10 and up by Outset Media

    For Adults

    For adult movie parties, search Google for movie-specific drinking games, or make up your own.

    You can also draw inspiration from Rocky Horror-style audience participation games.

    Now you're ready to grab the popcorn and candy and invite your friends to a night of cozy nostalgia! You'll host the perfect movie night for any occasion and age group with these movie party ideas. 

    More Parties

    • Paris party decorations on a table.
      Paris Themed Party Ideas
    • Two women cheers-ing with champagne glasses at a Great Gatsby party.
      Great Gatsby Party Ideas on a Budget
    • A woman in a 1920s costume with a feather boa and pearls.
      What to Wear to a 1920s Party
    • A couple at a pirate themed house party.
      How to Throw the Best Pirate Party for Adults
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    We'd love to hear from you Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Give us your rating to motivate us to keep creating free content!




    Primary Sidebar

    A profile picture of Amy and Gabe outside

    Hi, we're Amy and Gabe, two mystery-lovers and make believers. We love hosting perfect parties and providing an insider's perspective and "notes" on various events.

    Whether you're looking for ideas to entertain your kids at home or you need to plan the perfect mystery party for adults, we've got you covered! More about us →

    • Find us on Pinterest

    What's New

    • A tablescape for a ceramics painting party.
      Ceramics Painting Party at Home
    • A couple in Dolly Parton costumes.
      Dolly Parton Themed Party Ideas: A Night of Country Glamour
    • A ballerina at a pink ballet party with balloons and party decorations.
      Dance and Ballet Party Ideas for your little Ballerina
    • A group of party guest around a bonfire with crazy outfits and costumes.
      Creative Burning Man Themed Party Ideas
    • A table with printed bakery dramatic play pages including play money, desserts, and an open sign plus some cupcake liners and a measuring spoon
      Free Bakery Dramatic Play Printables for Kids
    • 3 printable Christmas Unicorn coloring pages on a gold background with some crayons.
      Free Christmas Unicorn Coloring Pages
    • Three Printable Christmas Coloring Pages on a red background with some crayons
      Free Cute Christmas Coloring Pages (easy to print!)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Resources

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Updates

    • Subscribe for emails
    • Find us on Pinterest

    About

    • About Us
    • Contact
    • FAQ

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2024 Games and Gatherings of Amycakes LLC, all rights reserved.