New ways to enjoy family movie nights this winter

(NC) The days may be slowly getting longer, but winter nights are still cold, dark and long—perfect for huddling up at home. Movie nights are a classic family activity, especially during this time of year. There are some simple ways to make the experience new while still keeping things affordable. Here are some things you can try:

Up your movie snack game.
Variety is the spice of life—shake things up from night to night. Even a simple snack like popcorn has a lot of variety:

• The classic, with a twist: There’s nothing wrong with the classic butter n’ salt popcorn, but you can also try substituting seasoned salt for extra flavour.
• Caramel corn: Melt a little caramel in a saucepan or in the microwave and toss your popcorn in it a couple hours before you begin.
• Chicago mix: If you do half a batch of caramel corn, and toss the other half with a powdered cheese (like one that ready-made macaroni and cheese uses).

Feeling fancy? You can combine any cold meats, cheeses and pickled veggies you’ve got on hand to make a charcuterie board.

Make movie selection part of the fun.
One simple way to add a fun flair to movie night is by having a theme. It doesn’t have to be complicated: retro night, comedy night, animated classics or greatest car chases—there are plenty of themes to choose from. One way to find inspiration for your theme is to look at the curated channels on a streaming service, such as Pluto TV. It’s free to access and enjoy, so you can pick the perfect theme without impacting your entertainment budget.

Get creative with your space.
Another fun way to keep things interesting is to try different ways of setting up your watch area. Rearranging things and making them special is a no-cost way to make the night a special event. One thing you can try is setting up a blanket fort by standing couch cushions up on both sides of the watching area, stretching a blanket between them as a “roof” and laying out plenty of pillows to relax on for watching.

The key to a perfect movie night is to make it a fun way for you and your family to connect. When you keep that as the priority, you’ll find the other elements of your night falling into place. Families looking for free movies and shows can explore options available at pluto.tv.