What to Buy for a Movie Night

A movie night needs more than films and a screen. Plan snacks and drinks for the full audience, then add the serving items people often forget, such as popcorn cups, snack bowls, bottle openers, and coffee cups. Check dietary requirements before shopping, and chill drinks early enough to serve them cold. Keep cables, adapters, extension cords, and power strips on the list so the projector and sound system can be tested before guests arrive.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Chairsqty 55
Tablesqty 8
Buffet tablesqty 3
Coat racksqty 2

Equipment

Projector
Projection screen
Speakersqty 2
Audio mixer
HDMI cablesqty 2
HDMI adaptersqty 2
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Cable reelsqty 2
Laptop
Microphone
Popcorn machine
Coolersqty 3

Lighting

Mood lightingqty 4
LED lightsqty 6

Tableware

Glassesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 30
Platesqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 60
Serving plattersqty 10
Serving spoonsqty 6

Kitchen

Popcorn cupsqty 60
Snack bowlsqty 12
Pizza serving boardsqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 4
Bottle openersqty 3
Ice packsqty 12

Decorations

Movie night postersqty 6
Tableclothsqty 8
Clapperboard

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Cleaning clothsqty 10
Bucketsqty 2
Broomqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Mopqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Popcorn kernels - 4 kilograms
- Popcorn oil - 2 liters
- Popcorn salt - 500 grams
- Butter - 500 grams
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Tortilla chips - 5 bags
- Salsa - 4 jars
- Salty pretzels - 4 bags
- Cocktail nuts - 4 bags
- Wine gums - 3 bags
- Chocolate - 3 bars
- Licorice - 3 bags
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Mini pizzas - 60 pieces
- Vegetarian mini pizzas - 15 pieces
- Gluten-free mini pizzas - 6 pieces
- Vegan mini pizzas - 6 pieces
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Ice tea - 4 bottles
- Spa Blue - 5 crates
- Sparkling mineral water - 2 crates
- Alcohol-free beer - 3 cases
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Mints - 1 box
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 1 jar
- Paper napkins - 6 packs
- Paper snack bags - 100 pieces
- Paper cups - 100 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 3 packs
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Disinfecting wipes - 3 packs

Tips

Plan around 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then add at least 1 drink per person for each following hour. Include water as well as soft drinks and any other planned beverages.
Allow about 50–75 g of popcorn per person, plus 2–3 additional snack portions each. Buy a little extra if the film starts around dinner time, when guests are more likely to expect pizza or other substantial food.
Match serving supplies to the guest count, not just the number of tables: provide one plate, cup, and set of cutlery per person, plus roughly 10% extra for replacements.
Check the equipment connections before shopping is finished. Count the HDMI cables and adapters you need, then add enough extension cords, power strips, or cable reels to reach the projector, laptop, speakers, and audio mixer safely.
Do not leave drinks, ice, and chilled storage until the last hour. Put drinks in coolers several hours before guests arrive, and keep bottle openers, serving spoons, popcorn cups, and pizza serving boards at the buffet.

Frequently asked questions

How much popcorn do I need for a movie night?: Plan 50–75 g of popcorn per person for a typical movie night. For a crowd of 20, that is about 1–1.5 kg, plus 10% extra if popcorn is the main snack.
How many drinks should I buy for movie night?: Use 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour and 1 more per person for every additional hour. For 20 guests watching a three-hour programme, plan around 80–100 drinks, including water.
What serving items are easy to forget for a movie night?: Popcorn cups, snack bowls, serving spoons, bottle openers, coffee cups, plates, and cutlery are commonly missed. Buy or pack about 10% more tableware than the guest count.
When should I chill drinks for a movie night?: Move drinks into coolers at least 3–4 hours before guests arrive. If the drinks are at room temperature or the coolers are heavily packed, allow 6 hours and add ice shortly before serving.

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