Grab the Snacks and Fairy Lights: Here’s How to Plan a Movie Night Your Teen Will Love

Teens typically don't want to spend a lot of time with their parents. Even when they're at home, it may feel like they aren't actually there because they're in their room texting friends, scrolling social media, or playing video games. One way to get your teen to spend some quality time with you is to plan a fun, low-key night doing a low-pressure activity.

Rather than bombarding them with questions about their feelings, consider popping some popcorn and putting on a movie. You may be surprised by the spontaneous things teens might talk about with you when the pressure is off to share. We've put together tips from parents on planning movie night with your teen that feels special, not forced.

Keep It Low Pressure or Teens Will Avoid It

You may be thinking about what a great bonding experience movie night will be, but try not to emphasize this point to your kids. According to one parent responding to a Reddit post in r/parenting, “I feel like the moment it turns into ‘mandatory bonding time,' teens can smell it from a mile away lol. Snacks, comfy seats, low pressure, and letting them half watch/half scroll honestly feels more realistic.”

An additional tip from parents is not to let movie night turn into an obvious educational opportunity. Another parent on Reddit noted, “Weekly movie night only works if it's low stakes. Good snacks, comfy setup, no lectures. Also accept they might scroll their phone half the time and that's ok.”

And finally, many parents suggest offering a regular movie night each week and inviting teens to join you. The key here is not to make it mandatory. If they turn you down, that's okay, keep the standing ritual on the same day each week, and you may find it becomes a family routine. Here's another tip — you may have better luck planning movie night on a weekday or Sunday night rather than competing with your teen's Friday and Saturday night social plans.

Create a Cozy Ritual Instead of a Big Event

There are small ways you can make movie night feel special without it feeling forced. You don't have to make elaborate preparations. Here are a few ideas to create a cozy vibe in a low-pressure atmosphere.

Snacks

A successful movie night starts with snacks. Pop some popcorn or offer your teen's favorite chips and candy. One low-cost idea is to buy theater box candy at your local dollar store. Some parents suggest taking kids to the store to shop for treats before the movie.

Cozy Vibe

You don't have to go all out to make your living room feel cozy. A few changes will do the trick. Try bringing out comfy blankets and big, soft pillows. Dim the lights. Consider adding dimmed lamps or string lights. One parent commented, “We turn the lights off and we turn on a string of fairy lights near the kitchen and another little battery-operated light for the hallway. We also bring out the comfy couch blankets. It makes it much more of a vibe and not just a random night of TV watching.”

Let Your Teen Choose the Movie

Take turns letting different family members choose their movie on movie night. Letting your teen have a say in what you watch helps to get their buy-in for the evening. Also, showing interest in what your teenager is interested in is a great way to open up the lines of communication.

Don’t Worry if It Starts Small

Don't worry if your teen says no to movie night at first. And don't worry if they have been participating, but don't feel up to it one week. The goal is to connect with them more over time, and not to have the perfect night. Even if they seem uninterested, they will likely appreciate the consistency.

Parents recommend keeping the stakes low for your movie night ritual. One parent suggests, “Just make it available and see if it catches on. Pick movies they don’t hate, have snacks, and don’t make it an excuse to talk to your kid about things they don’t want to talk about. Just make it a break from real life for everyone.”

Kids Aren't Interested in Movies? Try Game Night Instead

What if your teens don't like to sit and watch movies? In that case, don't try to force a movie night. Some families enjoy having the same cozy rituals with snacks and comfy seating, but with games instead of movies. Again, let your teen lead the way by choosing the games. Like with movies, you can take turns choosing which games to play. Consider mixing video games and board games to help keep everyone interested.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Yuganov Konstantin/Shutterstock.com