Have a Family Movie Night
Plan and host a family movie night: choose a film, create tickets and snacks, arrange cozy seating, and discuss favorite scenes together.
Step-by-step guide to have a family movie night
How Can Kids Help Plan Family Movie Night? | The Time Management Pro
Step 1
Ask each family member to name one movie they want to watch.
Step 2
Count the votes and choose the movie with the most votes.
Step 3
Cut paper into ticket shapes for everyone.
Step 4
Decorate the tickets using your colouring materials.
Step 5
Write the movie title and showtime on each ticket.
Step 6
Hand out the tickets to invite your family to the show.
Step 7
Ask an adult to help you prepare the snacks and put them into bowls.
Step 8
Arrange blankets and pillows on the floor to make a cozy seating area.
Step 9
Set up fairy lights or a flashlight to make the room feel like a movie theater.
Step 10
Ask everyone to show their tickets and take their seats.
Step 11
Ask someone to press play and start the movie.
Step 12
After the movie, take turns sharing your favorite scene and why you liked it.
Step 13
Share your family movie night on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can we use if we don't have coloured paper, markers, or fairy lights?
Cut plain printer paper or recycled cardboard into ticket shapes and decorate with crayons or stickers, and replace fairy lights with phone flashlights or a string of LED Christmas lights to set the theater mood.
What if we tie when counting votes or the movie won't start when someone presses play?
Resolve a tied vote with a quick run-off or coin toss after you count the votes, and if the movie won't start check the device input and cables or cast the movie from a phone so the person asked to press play can try a different device.
How can I adapt this activity for younger kids or older children?
For preschoolers, have an adult cut the paper into ticket shapes, write the movie title and showtime, and help decorate and prepare snacks, while older kids can run the vote, arrange blankets and pillows, set up the lighting, and hand out tickets themselves.
How can we make Family Movie Night more special or personalized?
Add seat numbers to the tickets, make a snack menu next to the bowls, decorate the viewing area with a handmade poster or extra fairy lights, and share photos of the finished setup and favorite scenes on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to have a family movie night
How Do I Plan A Family Movie Night? - The Family Getaway Guide
3 Videos
How Do I Plan A Family Movie Night? - The Family Getaway Guide
How Can I Make Movie Night At Home Special? - The Family Getaway Guide
How Do You Make Family Movie Night Fun For All Ages? - Better Family Relationships
Facts about family bonding activities
🎟️ Paper movie tickets were common for decades, but many theaters and families now use electronic or homemade tickets for special nights.
🍿 Popcorn became a movie-theater staple during the Great Depression and theaters now sell popcorn by the billions worldwide.
💬 Sharing favorite scenes after the film helps people connect, remember details, and enjoy the story even more.
🛋️ Simple touches like dim lighting, blankets, and pillows can turn your living room into a cozy home cinema in minutes.
🎬 The Lumière brothers gave one of the first public film screenings in 1895 — a big step toward movie nights!
How do I plan and host a family movie night where the child is in charge?
What materials are needed to host a child-led family movie night?
What ages is planning and hosting a family movie night suitable for?
What are the benefits of letting a child plan and host a family movie night?
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