One night · three screenings
Halloween movie night
A playbill you can print and pin to the door — with the timings that keep a mixed-age room in their seats.
The warm-up double
- A stop-motion favourite
- A friendly ghost comedy
Two short films, lights low but not off, cushions on the floor. End by 19:45 so the youngest guests leave before the sugar crash.
The main feature
- A 1980s effects classic
- A modern folk-horror
Pick one, not both. Dim the lights fully, put the snacks at the back so people move during the credits rather than the scares.
The late show
- A black-and-white original
- A slasher with a sense of humour
The room has thinned out by now. One film, one pot of coffee, and a hard stop at midnight.
Running order is a suggestion, not a rule. Swap the second feature if the room is younger than you expected.
Six things to fix before the first frame
- Blackout one window, not all of them: an emergency exit should stay visible.
- Projector at eye level for the back row; test the focus with the lights on.
- Two speakers, front left and front right — a single speaker at the back makes dialogue muddy.
- Snacks at the back, drinks at the side, bins by the door.
- A five-minute interval between films with the lights up.
- One person owns the remote. Rotating control causes arguments.
Snacks that survive a dark room
Popcorn in paper bags, pretzels, and a bowl of wrapped candy. Anything with a wet sauce ends up on the sofa. Keep drinks in lidded cups and put a bin within reach of every row — the cleanup is the part nobody plans for.
Blankets and hoodies on the spreadsheet →
Frequently asked questions
What time should a Halloween movie night start?
Six o'clock if children are coming, eight if not. The 6 pm start lets a family screening finish before 8 and leaves the room free for a second, older audience.
How many films is too many?
Two for a mixed-age night, one for a proper feature. Three films in a row is a marathon, not a party.
Still deciding? Browse current listings on the spreadsheet →
Last updated: · Independent & unofficial