What to buy for a movie night

A movie night needs more than a film and somewhere to sit. Plan snacks and drinks for the full audience, then add the cups, plates, serving items and cooling space needed to keep everything moving during the screening. Check dietary requirements before shopping, and test the projector, sound system, cables and power supplies before guests arrive. This list also covers the easy-to-miss items, such as batteries, bottle openers, waste bins and spare storage.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Chairsqty 45
Tablesqty 6
Coat racksqty 2

Equipment

Projector
Projection screen
Speakersqty 2
Audio mixer
Media player
HDMI cablesqty 2
Power stripsqty 4
Extension cordsqty 4
Batteriesqty 12

Lighting

Atmosphere lightsqty 6
LED lightsqty 4

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 60
Platesqty 50
Cutlery setsqty 50
Serving plattersqty 10
Serving spoonsqty 10

Kitchen

Coolersqty 3
Carafesqty 6
Corkscrewsqty 2
Bottle openersqty 2
Cutting boardsqty 2
Kitchen knivesqty 2
Storage binsqty 6

Decorations

Projection screen decorationqty 2
Tableclothsqty 6
Menusqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Bucketsqty 2
Mopsqty 2
Broom and dustpanqty 2
Cleaning glovesqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Popcorn kernels - 2 kilogram
- Microwave popcorn - 10 bags
- Salted pretzels - 3 bags
- Snack nuts - 3 bags
- Mini cheese straws - 3 packs
- Olives - 3 jars
- Cucumber - 4 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Salsa sauce - 4 jars
- Guacamole - 4 tubs
- Sour cream - 4 tubs
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Mini rolls - 60 pieces
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Back ham - 1 kilogram
- Chicken breast slices - 1 kilogram
- Cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Butter - 500 grams
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Ice tea - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 6 bottles
- Spa Red - 4 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces

Tips

Plan around 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then add one drink per person for each additional hour. Chill drinks in coolers or carafes before guests arrive so you are not using the kitchen during the film.
Buy at least 2 snack portions per person for a short screening, or 3–4 portions for an evening with a feature film. Include separate options for every dietary requirement collected during registration.
Count one reusable cup and one plate per guest, plus 10% extra. For 30 guests, that means 33 cups and plates; serving platters and serving spoons should be ready before snacks are put out.
Pack the technical supplies with the equipment: HDMI cables, power strips, extension cords, batteries and the media player. Test the picture and sound at least 24 hours beforehand, not when the audience is seated.
Add practical cleanup supplies to the shopping run. Place waste bins near the snack table and entry, and keep storage bins, cutting boards, kitchen knives and bottle openers together so setup does not stall.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a movie night?: Allow 2–3 snack portions per person for a shorter screening and 3–4 portions for a full evening. For 20 guests, that is 40–60 portions before adding any meal-sized food.
How many drinks should I buy for movie night?: Plan 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then one additional drink per person for every hour after that. For a two-hour film and 20 guests, prepare about 60–80 drinks, depending on the audience and serving size.
How many cups and plates do I need for movie night?: Buy one cup and one plate per guest, plus 10% spare. For 30 guests, prepare at least 33 cups and 33 plates so replacements are available during the evening.
When should I test the movie night equipment?: Test the projector, screen, speakers, media player, HDMI cables and power connections at least 24 hours before the event. Run the complete film setup again when you arrive at the venue, preferably 60–90 minutes before guests enter.

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