Halloween Movie Night
What’re your plans this Halloween? Perhaps you’ll spend the night trick-or-treating with your kids or celebrate by going all-out at a costume party – or, maybe you’re looking to spend the evening doing something a little more lowkey.
If you like the idea of getting into the spooky season spirit without having to leave home, that’s exactly where a Halloween movie night comes in. A movie marathon filled with your favorite festive flicks is a great way to lean into the holiday’s vibes all from the comfort of your couch. If that sounds like just the right way to celebrate Halloween this year, read on for some tips for having a successful on-theme movie night. Get ready to pass the popcorn!
Set the (Spooky) Scene
With Fall in full swing, you’ve likely already cozied up for a few movie marathons this season. So, to set your Halloween movie night apart and make it feel extra special, you’ll want to be sure that your space looks the part.
Set your living room or den up with some festive Halloween décor, like those cute mini pumpkins you can grab at the grocery store and some ambient string lights shaped like pumpkins or ghosts so you can get the lighting just right for movie time. Next, make sure you have some fall-scented candles on the coffee table, and all of your comfiest throw blankets and throw pillows ready to go.
With some spooky Halloween décor up and all of your comfiest blankets and pillows piled onto the couch, your space will feel as festive as it does cozy – perfect for enjoying those flicks that might just keep you up a little past your bedtime (or leave you sleeping with a light on, we won’t tell anyone!).
Pick the Perfect Flicks
Do you like scary movies? For the true horror movie buffs out there, you’ll recognize that line from Drew Barrymore’s iconic opening scene in the very first Scream movie. You know the one – she’s rocking that immediately recognizable blonde bob and donning a perfectly 90’s cable knit women's sweater when she makes the mistake of answering the phone.
If all of this is ringing a bell, then you’d probably answer “yes” to that question about scary movies. And maybe slasher movies are totally your thing, or maybe you prefer those classic old-school zombie movies that are perfect for the Halloween vibe without being too scary. Or maybe you’ve been waiting for the perfect opportunity to finally watch Hocus Pocus 2, since the original Hocus Pocus has been a Halloween go-to for you for as long as you can remember.
Of course, if you have kiddos, you’ll want to save the slasher or zombie flicks for another night. For a family-friendly movie list, be sure to add Nightmare Before Christmas, Halloween Town, and Halloweentown II: Kalabar's Revenge to the list. A Halloween movie night doesn’t necessarily have to mean you watch something scary – there’s something out there for everyone.
Stay On-Theme With Snacks
Wait… did you hear that? What is out there? Oh, phew, it’s just the person delivering your pizza! No movie marathon is complete without the perfect snacks and libations, and this is especially true for Halloween.
Ordering pizza is always a perfect go-to for a movie marathon, but you’ll want to be sure that you’ve got tasty treats to enjoy throughout the night. Having some Halloween candy on-hand is a great bet since you might also have some trick-or-treaters stop by during the evening. Or, if you want to go all-out and make some homemade treats, prepare some festive goodies like graveyard pudding cups, ghost-shaped sugar cookies, or witch-hat cupcakes.
In addition to all of the tasty on-theme treats you’ll have, you can make the evening even more fun with some spooky libations, like a Halloween-themed cocktail or mocktail, or cups of hot cocoa with mini ghost marshmallows. And, no matter what you do, do not forget the popcorn (and do not answer the phone, Drew!).
Get Ready to Lounge
Now that your space is set up just right, the movies are all queued up, and you’ve got all of your snacks and goodies on hand, you can get cozy and enjoy the evening in your favorite women’s loungewear.
Whether it’s some cozy sweats and a hoodie or your favorite fleece women's pajama set, add some festive cat ears or a Halloween headband to your look and keep your slippers nearby – you’ll want to be ready to go when trick-or-treaters stop by or when it’s time to snap a quick horror movie marathon selfie by your jack-o-lanterns.
For family-friendly fun, this could also be the perfect time to bust out your Halloween-themed matching pajamas to really get into the spirit (and get extra cozy while you’re at it!).
By following these easy steps, you’ll be set to have a memorable Halloween – all without having to leave the comfort of your living room. There’s really no better way to wrap up the spooky season!