Family movie night is an honored family tradition each week at our house! It’s something that we have done with the kids since they were really little. It actually started out as a way to have some frugal fun when Mr. Crunchy was unemployed a few years back, but it’s turned out to be something that all of us love to do even now that the kids are getting older.
Want to know the keys to having a successful family movie night? Then make sure to read the Crunchy family’s 3 tips to the perfect family movie night! I asked the kids to write down some of their favorite things about family movie night and share them with you so you can have an awesome time too. I really thought I knew what they were going to say, and I did get one right, but my kids really surprised me with the other two tips!
1. Bring on the munchies: Each week make a great munchie to share as a family. The Crunchy kids love cooking as a family, so before we start our family movie night we decide what we are going to make for the treat that week!
One of their favorites is the popcorn bar! What’s a popcorn bar? Well, it’s where you air pop some popcorn and then set up some great toppings so each person can make their own popcorn their own way! Our kids all have very different tastes, so it’s the best way to be able to get them to all enjoy the same snack! Check out some of their favorite toppings:
- Shredded Parmesan
- Chocolate Chips
- Sprinkles
- Herbed butter
- Cinnamon and sugar
- Raisins
- Garlic powder
2. Get comfy: In our house this means bring on the jammies and the blankies. All three of my kids got footed jammies for the holidays, and EVERY family movie night they don their favorite pair and grab their favorite blanket to snuggle up on the couch. You think they would grow out of it as they have gotten older, but they haven’t. I think they like it even more. Ok, I confess I like the jammies and blankies too!
3. Make picking a movie fun: After reading up about your movies choices on sites like, Find Your Inner Critic by Rotten Tomatoes, make picking movies fun. Having five family members means we have five different opinions on what we should watch. Rather than having a feud, we make it fun! Don’t be afraid to get creative either. Here are some suggestions from the Crunchy kids.
- Pick from a hat
- Put movies on floor and have your pet pick by which one they walk toward
- Arm wrestle for your favorite title
- Play rock, scissors, paper and winner gets to pick
Our family was really stoked to find out about Find Your Inner Critic. We are such avid movie lovers that after a while you have to search high and low for new movies. For a while that meant wading through some really mediocre movies! Thanks to Find Your Inner Critic, we don’t have to do that. We can spend 15 minutes or so before movie night scanning for movies that we will love. This new site is already one of my favorites!
Next time you are planning a family movie night, I would make sure to use Find Your Inner Critic by Rotten Tomatoes so you won’t get stuck watching a yucky movie! That’s the worst! Who said that family movie night had to be the same boring thing over and over again, right!? If you check out Find Your Inner Critic and follow the Crunchy family’s tips, each and every movie night is sure to be a blast! We’ve been doing it for years, and haven’t had a week yet that wasn’t as great as the last!
Pam says
Those are great tips to make a successful movie night. Love the munchies ideas!
Ashley Sears says
Of course you have to have munchies! My favorite are our dessert nights. We do a sundae bar as well!
Sandy a la Mode says
i cant wait to do movie night with my kids!! that popcorn bar looks so fab!!
Ashley Sears says
Thanks, it makes it a lot of fun. We make sure to change up the toppings every time we do it!
Tiffany says
I cannot wait either! Looks amazing!
lena says
Yeah baby, I would really love me some quite family time with no electronic games (TV is perfectly fine)
Ashley Sears says
Yeah, we have lots of time that we don’t have TV on or other electronics, that’s why we enjoy our family movie nights. It makes it more of a treat.
Jeannette says
I love the idea of a popcorn bar! That way everyone can have exactly what they want. After all, it isn’t movie night without popcorn!
Ashley Sears says
Right! Hubby can’t go to the movies without popcorn, so even if we are having a different treat we always have popcorn!
Krista says
I really love that idea for popcorn! We have family movie nights regularly and with spring break starting today this would be amazing to do this week! Thank you!
Ashley Sears says
Yeah for Spring Break! Get creative with your toppings. We have found some odds ones that ended up being fabulous on the popcorn. Can’t wait to hear about your family movie night!
Amber Edwards says
I love that popcorn bar! I never thought much about doing that, but that is super cool! We have a movie night weekly in our house too! Usually we visit the grandparents’ house for it though because they have a big screen projector we all watch on. Very cool. But sometimes we just do it at home too. Popcorn is always around for these movie nights.
Ashley Sears says
That would be awesome! Our house isn’t big enough for a projector, but I have always wanted to get one of those outdoor projector systems. That sounds really cool to do 🙂
JADE OF Diva Fabulosa says
I love movie nights especially because of the munchies 😛
Ashley Sears says
Who doesn’t like munchies right 🙂
Sheila says
Oh we love our movie nights. Looks like you have fun too.
Michelle says
I especially love your tips for picking a movie. We never seem to be able to pick and this sounds like such a fun remedy!
Jenn @comebackmomma says
Great tips. I love using Rotten Tomatoes for reviews. I often find their reviews to be in line with my thoughts.
Cinny says
Wow…own popcorn bar? How creative!
Dawn says
A popcorn bar sounds awesome! What fun!
Dawn
Jenna Wood says
I’d never thought to have a topping bar for my popcorn, yum!
mel says
A popcorn and movie night is always so awesome!!!
Sheila Bell says
Love this idea and the things your kids like is interesting. I did the ‘Find your Critic’ and it surprised me in that the movies it says I should like, I would never have picked 😉
Still Blonde after all these YEARS says
Love your tips especially the Popcorn seasonings!
Ruth Hill says
I never thought about all those toppings for popcorn. I may have to think about that tomorrow night. We are watching movies!
Getta says
Loved the article. Im going to try the popcorn bar
Heather Pfingsten says
😉
Mary says
I just love this, ive never thought about putting out seasonings for pop corn! I will deff give this a wirl!
Ashley Sears says
Mary, Let me know what you think. It’s fun to let the whole family pick out the toppings and you can change it up each time!
Kathy Eischen says
Great Ideas!
Ashley Sears says
Thanks, Kathy! Hope you enjoy them at your next movie night!
beverly holst says
This is a great idea. I have watched my son do this with his family. Great way to have family time. I really must try it. Even with just 2 of us it would be fun.
Ashley Sears says
Thanks, Beverly! Movie nights are always a favorite in our household! I think even when the kids move out hubby and I will be doing it still!
sara says
we do movie night with the kids about twice a month. we pop some popcorn and turn off all the lights. It’s tons of fun!
Yvonne McElroy says
thats a awesome idea with the popcorn toppings we have different tastes in our house
Donna Robinson says
I love movie night with my family 🙂
Sandy says
I love the popcorn bar idea!
natalee says
Sounds like fun! Yummy toppings….csnt wait to try it.
Linda says
What is a movie with out pop corn?
conni says
Great idea for when the grand kids come! I am sure they would love a popcorn bar with their movie.
Christine says
Love movie night….popcorn idea is great
Kathy Bergeron says
SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA!
susie rouse says
great tips plan to use some
Jr says
Great ideas especially the toppings!
Carey says
…like the popcorn bar idea.
Carey says
Love the popcorn bar idea.
Linda Meranda says
we’re empty nesters, but since nice idea
Donna says
It sounds good.
kim says
What a great idea! I will definitly do this!!!
sherry warlick says
great ideas!
nicki says
love!
Dana says
Love this idea!! Going to do tonight!!
Sandra Blanton says
Great ideas! Can’t wait to try them out with the kiddos.. 🙂
Jme B says
Great ideas! We have TV show nights every week.
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