6 tips to create the best family movie night

With school in session and hectic schedules, finding time to do things together is among the toughest challenges families face. One of the simplest ways to relax and unwind is to share an evening and have a family movie night.

Having a service like CenturyLink movies makes finding a great movie simple.

Here are some other tips for making movie night an event to enjoy and remember.

The right show

“Your movie night is going to live or die on the strength of your cinematic selection,” explains blogger Ali at gimmesomeoven.com. Consider whether it is a girls night, family time or children’s choice. Instead of opting for obvious selections, go for a twist. Choose something based on history or a movie that incorporates moral values you can discuss as a family afterward.

Great treats

You can always go with traditional boxed movie snacks like you buy at the theater, but if you want to make your movie event a little more unique, consider custom treats that match the theme of the show. You can find ideas for everything from Disney princess cakes, to lightsaber pretzels to monkey cupcakes for jungle-themed films.

Best popcorn ever

Popcorn deserves its own category because it is the quintessential movie treat. Nothing says movie like freshly popped corn. If you want to make it taste like theater popcorn, use a heavy pan on your stove. Pop with coconut oil and add gourmet popcorn salt to the oil. Make sure you choose a premium brand of popping corn. If you want a topping, use real melted butter.

If you prefer a healthier version, Greatist has provided a list to inspire some ideas such as Spicy Cilantro Lime, Lemony Kale and Vegan Cheese Popcorn.

Celebrate the season

One fun option for movie night is to choose a flick that complements the season: Christmas, Easter, summertime — you get the idea.

For Halloween, Reader’s Digest recommends these scary titles for adults:

• Sleepy Hollow
• The original “Halloween”
• Pet Sematary
• Evil Dead (2013 version)
• Panic Room
• Poltergeist

For children, parenting.com suggests:

• Nightmare Before Christmas
• Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie
• The Harry Potter series
• Hocus Pocus
• Casper
• Corpse Bride
• Bedknobs and Broomsticks

Double feature

Most families have multiple televisions. Instead of having a single movie night, do two movies at once. You can set the kids up in one room while the grownups watch a separate movie in a different room. Or make one room a chick flick and one an action movie for the guys. You could also go the traditional route and do two movies in a row together. Let younger children select the early show and older children or mom and dad choose the late showing.

Take it outside

With cooler fall weather, evenings are the perfect time to enjoy a movie on the outdoor patio. A wireless set-top box means you don’t need cables — just an electrical outlet — to watch a movie next to the pool or the barbecue. Check this link for tips on staging a great outdoor movie event.

Whether you choose an outdoor adventure or a cozy night in, you’ll have plenty of choices for the perfect movie night with CenturyLink Prism TV.