The Ultimate List of Movie Night Essentials

Some evenings are just made for staying in. The kind where the outside world feels grey, noisy, or overwhelming, and all you want to do is pull on something comfortable, put the kettle on, and whack on a comfort film.

One of my favourite activities when it’s cold and wet outside is hosting a movie night at home.

I just love the feeling of being warm and cosy inside when you can hear the rain pounding on the window outside.

With that in mind, here’s my ultimate list of movie night essentials, in collaboration with Kleenex. 

A selection of films

First things first, you’re going to need a healthy collection of films. Yes, films (plural) when it’s film night at my house.

Whether you stream them or dig out some old DVDs, plan ahead so you don’t find yourself disappointed on the night. 

You could even choose a theme for your movie night, such as Disney, horror or Hugh Grant. 

Ask your friends for their film suggestions, then make sure you’ve got access to a couple of the options.

Many a movie night has been ruined by a hasty last-minute download attempt, so don’t wait until everyone’s arrived to see whether you can or not. 

To avoid any squabbles over which films to choose, you could write all the film options down on small pieces of paper, fold them up and chuck them in a bowl.

Then get one person to pick out the film you’re going to watch.

Some of my favourite movie night choices include: Bridget Jones Diary, Harry Potter (all eight if you’re feeling adventurous!), Pretty Woman, Mean Girls and Tangled.

Lots of friends

Not pictured, but I swear I have some.

Like at least one. 

Jokes aside, no cosy movie night is complete without a loved one or a great bunch of friends.

Invite your gal pals over so you have someone to hold when the tears start rolling down your cheeks and someone else to blame when the ice cream tub is empty. Again.

Be selective, though, or you’ll end up constantly shushing everyone in order to hear the film.

You might end up missing the moment Mark confesses to Bridget he likes her “just the way you are“.

Oops, spoilers. 

Boxes of tissues

Speaking of tears, it’s best to have a large box of Kleenex to hand when hosting a movie night.

I will always find something to cry about it, no matter what the genre is. Comedy, romance, drama… action.

So make sure there’s always a box of tissues in reach. 

There’s no point trying to subtly wipe away your tears by adjusting your glasses or, worse, wiping them on your blanket.

You know everyone else is tearing up too, so just grab the nearest box of tissues for yourself – you know you’re going to need it. 

Pyjamas and cosy knits

You’re not doing movie night right if you’re not dressed in your comfiest clothes!

Pull out your favourite pair of pyjamas and a chunky knit for optimal snugness in front of the film.

Dressing gowns and slippers are advised if you really want to make yourself at home. 

Fairy lights

You’ll want the lights down low to recreate the feeling of being in the cinema, but you’ll also need a little light so you can always locate the popcorn bowl.

Personally, I wouldn’t opt for candles, as having a couple of small open flames amongst lots of throws and blankets is just a recipe for disaster.

Instead, string up a couple of fairy lights to make you feel like you’ve been transported to the kingdom of cosy and forget that you’re actually just on your living room floor.  

Blankets, throws and pillows

Who said you’re too old for a blanket fort? Gather up all your duvets, blankets, throws and pillows to create the ultimate snuggle fort in front of your television.

If you don’t have enough, get your friends to bring their own.

You’ll be needing a pillow each for that moment in the romcom, you panic that you’re going to be alone forever and never find that movie romance. 

If a blanket fort isn’t for you, then a cosy bed or sofa is a must!

I’d highly recommend getting a double sofa bed for your living room (preferably directly in front of the TV), which is what I’ve done in my home.

A bed in your living room is the dream!

Popcorn and snacks

No movie night is complete without a large supply of popcorn and snacks!

You may as well grab a bag of every flavour to avoid another argument about salt vs sweet popcorn.

An argument that can be avoided by opting for my personal favourite, sweet and salty. 

Other obvious snack options include chocolate pieces, sweets or ice cream.

Just beware of pieces of chocolate getting lost in your blanket fort and ice cream ending up down your front as you stare agog at Hugh Grant’s perfectly formed face.

My personal fave is to add little bits of chocolate to your popcorn so they get a little melty from the heat of the popcorn.

That’s a trick I learned from First Daughter starring Katie Holmes!

Those tissues will come in handy again here for hastily wiping something up or for any sticky chocolate fingers. 

Hot drinks, wine or cocktails

Whether you opt for large mugs of hot chocolate or tall glasses of gin and tonic, you’ll also need an ambient selection of drinks for everyone.

Make sure you have plenty of mugs and glasses to go around and enough extras like whipped cream, marshmallows or ice cubes, depending on what you’re going for!

Again, prepare for the accidental spills that will inevitably occur.

Doubly likely if you’ve chosen a horror movie marathon, as you will just be bringing that glass of wine to your lips as Chucky pops up on screen, leaving you doused in wine.

May or may not be speaking from experience…

On second thought, red wine should be banned from movie night. 

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So there you have 8 of my film night essentials to help you plan the perfect movie night.

As long as you’ve got a good selection of films and friends, though, it’ll be a great evening.

What are your movie night essentials? Leave a comment below letting me know! 

*This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Kleenex. As always, all opinions are 100% my own. 

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