7 tips to enhance your movie-watching experience

Whether you’re a die-hard movie fan or an occasional viewer of the latest Hollywood blockbusters, you surely want to make the most of your film-viewing experience. It’s true that nothing can compare to the feeling you get when you watch a movie at the cinema on a large screen with your friends – or by yourself, preferences vary. But sometimes all you want to do is enjoy the peace and comfort of your home, snuggle up on the couch and put a great movie on.

You invite a few friends over, make some popcorn, choose the movie you want to see and expect it to be a great night. However, when you’re all set and ready to play the movie you might get the awkward feeling that something is missing. If you’ve ever been in this situation and you’re wondering what you can do to make your movie nights memorable, here are a few tips that will help you turn your place into the perfect cinema setting.

Choose the right spot

Let’s start with where you’re going to watch the movies. Most people settle for the traditional TV setup in their living rooms. While that’s the most common space to place your TV, when it comes to creating a cinematic ambiance it might not be the best idea. If you have a spare room, you can set up your own home theater. It doesn’t have to be anything complicated. You can use the basement, the attic, a storage room or simply choose a corner in a larger room as a dedicated space for watching movies, bring in all the equipment you have and you’re good to go. This way you won’t have to worry about arranging the place every time you want to enjoy a fun movie night.

Never rely on the internet

Streaming services are all the rage right now. Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go or Amazon Prime Video are just some of the most popular streaming services that offer a wide range of movies from all genres. If you are subscribed to one of these online streaming services you probably plan to just stream the movie you want to watch and sit back. Well, your internet connection could ruin your plans. You never know when you internet providers might experience a technical problem or decide to run some maintenance work and get in the way of your movie-viewing dreams. A much safer option is to download the movie and have it ready for whenever you want to watch it.

Invite the right people

Maybe you think it’s rude not to invite everyone if you plan to have a movie night with your friends, but think about it for a moment. Not everyone has the same tastes, expectations or attention span, so it makes sense to only invite the people you know will enjoy the experience. Otherwise, you can turn a fun evening into an awkward and uncomfortable one. If you want to watch a horror movie, you won’t ask a friend who gets scared easily to come and watch it with you. And if you don’t feel like having company, you can just watch the movie by yourself.

Pick the right movie

Watching a great movie is the whole point after all, but it might not be that easy. If you decide to have a solo movie viewing, you can choose whatever movie you fancy – good or bad, it doesn’t really matter because you’re the only one who will suffer the consequences. But when there are other audience members to consider, things get a little trickier. First of all, make sure to select a film that is age-appropriate for all viewers. Then think about a movie genre everyone will like and approve of. Comedy or family movies are the safest bet if you’re not sure what to pick.

Get in the right mood

Netflix definitely got it right with their Netflix and Chill tagline (before it became a euphemism for more than chilling). Movies and relaxation go hand in hand, but sometimes you have to be chill before you start watching a movie to really enjoy it and not wait for the movie to relax you. If you can’t put anxious thoughts aside, it’s going to be hard to focus on what you see. So try to find a way to loosen up and leave worries behind for a while. A cup of tea, some music in the background or the smell of your favorite essential oil filling the air should do the trick. Some people rely on alternative relaxation methods like using CBD and choose to buy CBD flower to help them unwind and get in the right mood before they hit play. Another thing that might help is putting your smartphone and any other gadgets away.

Bring in the snacks

The smell of fresh-popped popcorn has become synonymous with movie watching for some reason or another. If you want to bring the cinema feel to your home, you must include some popcorn in the equation, even if it’s only for that heady smell. But you don’t have to stop there. You should also include drinks and prepare other snacks that you and your guests enjoy. The more options you have, the better. Set up a mini snack bar in your private movie theater, so you don’t have to run to the kitchen in the middle of the action.

Schedule an intermission

…or more – if you’re watching the whole Lord of the Rings trilogy, one won’t suffice. As entertaining as a movie might be, you can’t expect everyone – including you – to sit still from the beginning until the credits roll at the end. Someone will inevitably need to go to the bathroom or remember they have to make a quick phone call etc. It’s best to consult with everyone and schedule a movie intermission, so you don’t have to deal with constant interruptions and have people moving around all the time.

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay