Family Movie Night Ideas

While going out to the movie theater can be super fun, it can also be expensive and hard to fit into a busy family schedule. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some quality time together with the fam at home watching movies! To help make the most of family movie night, I’ve come up with some family movie night ideas that are budget-friendly and perfect for whatever schedule works for you. Check them out!

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Movie Premier Themed

Go big and stay home with this extravagant movie night idea! Pull out the red carpet (i.e. towels, sheets, butcher paper, or whatever you have on hand) and make movie posters or cut outs to do a mini photoshoot with. Have popcorn ready, enjoy the show together, and wrap it up with your own reviews of the movie afterward. Have a 5-star movie night with prop options from Amazon here.

Movie Night in the Pool

As Arizona people, we spend a lot of time in our pool during the summer. This year, we decided to buy a reasonably priced movie projector set to use for movie watching in the pool! It’s been really fun for us to just relax in the water on our floaties and enjoy the “big screen.” This idea is best for the evenings or nighttime. Don’t forget to stay safe with life vests and keep an eye on the kiddos even during the movie. Adult supervision is key to drowning prevention. Check out some affordable poolside movie night options from Amazon here.

Driveway Drive-In

Bring the drive-in experience to your home with this family movie night idea! Pick a nice time of year where it’s not too cold or hot and you can enjoy being in the car with the windows down. For this one, you’ll need a projector to watch the movie on your garage door OR you can watch a movie inside of the car on a laptop or tablet. Most Wi-Fi will still work right in front of your home. Stock up on your favorite candy and soda from the dollar store, get comfortable, and enjoy a unique movie watching experience with the family (and maybe some neighbors)!

Cozy Couch Movie Night

For this classic cozy movie night, get your favorite fuzzy socks, soft blankets, fluffy pillows and cuddle up on the couch or bed together. I love this idea for the cooler season or late summer nights! Don’t forget the hot chocolate and sweet treats. Check out my The Ultimate Christmas Movie List for some movies perfect for the chilly season.

Fort Movie Night

This is another creative movie night idea. Help the kids (or don’t) build a magical fort using blankets, pillows, cushions, or some DIY Building Blocks for Rainy Day Play if you’re up to it! Snuggle up inside in front of the TV or use a laptop/tablet and watch a funny classic. For even more whimsy add some string lights or nightlights from my Movie Night Amazon List to soften the space.

Movie Night Under the Stars

Take it back outside for movie night on a cooler evening with this idea. Set up some patio chairs in the backyard or a big picnic blanket, pop some popcorn and watch a good one on the “big screen” projector. Don’t forget warm clothes and maybe eat some s’mores by the firepit.

Costumes or Movie Night PJs

Make it a themed family movie night and dress up in costumes or PJs from the movie. This idea does require some planning, but if you want some quick costume options check them out on Amazon here. We have the super hero masks/capes for a Marvel or DC themed night and the general princess dress set for a Disney princess themed night. They are super cute and make the event more fun for the whole family!

All Day Movie Marathon

Last but not least, make your movie night and all day affair with a movie marathon! We’ve done this with the Harry Potter series and even had HP themed snacks throughout the day to make it more special. Some other ideas for a family friendly movie series are superhero, classic Disney, Toy Story, Ice Age, holiday themed, etc. I like this idea the most for summer when you need a relaxed day or during the holiday break season.

Our Favorite Family Movies

Hope this gave you some inspo for your next family movie night. Making memories at home is one of the best ways to bond, so take advantage while you can! Enjoy and check out more ideas from some friends below:

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