Movie Night Shopping List

Use this shopping list to prepare the food, drinks, serving items and equipment for your movie night. Plan snacks for the full film rather than only the start: about 100–150 g of popcorn and snacks per person is a useful baseline. For drinks, allow two to three servings per person during the first hour, then adjust for the film’s length. Check cables, adapters and power supplies before shopping day so a missing connection does not delay the screening.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Chairsqty 55
Tablesqty 6
Buffet tablesqty 2

Equipment

Projector
Projection screen
Laptop
HDMI cableqty 2
HDMI adapterqty 2
Speakersqty 2
Audio cableqty 2
Power stripsqty 4
Extension cordsqty 4

Lighting

Standing lampsqty 2

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 70
Platesqty 70
Cutlery setsqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 30
Serving bowlsqty 10
Pouring jugsqty 4

Kitchen

Kettlesqty 2
Coffee maker
Thermos flasksqty 3
Coolersqty 3
Ice cube traysqty 2

Decorations

Movie direction signsqty 4
Tableclothsqty 6
Movie postersqty 3

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Broomqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Mopqty 2
Bucketsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Popcorn kernels - 4 kilograms
- Popcorn oil - 2 bottles
- Popcorn salt - 2 tubs
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salsa - 4 jars
- Salted peanuts - 3 bags
- Wine gums - 3 bags
- M&M's - 3 bags
- Chocolate cookies - 5 packs
- Mini waffles - 4 packs
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 5 bottles
- Ice tea - 5 bottles
- Sparkling water - 6 bottles
- Still water - 8 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 5 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Mints - 1 box
- Lemon juice - 2 bottles
- Stir sticks - 1 pack
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Napkins - 150 pieces
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dishwasher tablets - 1 pack
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 1 pack
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 2 bottles

Tips

Buy 100–150 g of popcorn and other snacks per guest, then portion them into serving bowls before people arrive. This prevents one large bowl from disappearing during the opening scenes.
Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, plus extra water. Chill drinks in advance and prepare coolers and ice so the refrigerator is not opened throughout the film.
Count reusable cups, plates and cutlery against confirmed registrations, then add about 10% extra. For 40 guests, that means preparing at least 44 of each item you plan to use.
Check the projector, laptop, HDMI cable, HDMI adapter, speakers and audio cable together at least 24 hours before the event. A cable that fits the laptop but not the projector is a common late discovery.
Plan coffee and tea for the end of the film: one coffee cup per guest, enough hot-water capacity for at least two rounds, and thermos flasks to keep drinks available while people leave.

Frequently asked questions

How much popcorn do I need for a movie night?: Plan 100–150 g of popcorn and other snacks per person for one film. For 30 guests, buy roughly 3–4.5 kg in total, depending on how much other food you serve.
How many drinks should I buy for movie night?: Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add one drink for each additional hour. For a two-hour film with 30 guests, plan around 90–120 drinks, including water.
How many cups, plates and cutlery sets do I need?: Use the confirmed guest count and add 10% extra for spills, misplaced items and second servings. For 30 guests, prepare at least 33 cups, plates and cutlery sets.
When should I test the movie night equipment?: Test the complete setup at least 24 hours before the screening, including the film, projector, HDMI connection, adapter, speakers and power strips. Test it again after setup because moving equipment can loosen a connection.

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