Whether your family movie night is a weekly or monthly tradition, there’s really nothing better than everyone gathering together to watch a film.
That, and delicious snacks, of course!
In this post, we share 18 of the best movie night snack ideas to try during your next movie marathon. We added a mix of sweet, savory, and salty options so there’s something for everyone. Go check ‘em out:
Savory Movie Night Snacks
1. Popcorn with Movie Theater Butter
Salty, buttery popcorn is THE signature movie snack. Who can’t resist the intoxicating scent of freshly popped popcorn in the movie theater?
If you’ve been trying to replicate the taste of movie theater popcorn at home with no luck, you gotta get your hands on our Movie Night Bundle. It comes with everything you need to make theater-quality popcorn — pre-measured Oh Sooo Buttery Popcorn and a Popper of your choice.
2. Jalapeño Lime Popcorn
Give this popcorn a chance if you’re looking for something with a bit of heat. It’s spicy, tangy, and so easy to make. You can go for jalapeño lime seasoning and simply sprinkle it over your popcorn. Or you can squeeze fresh lime juice on top of your popcorn and then throw chopped jalapeños into the mix.
Whatever version you go for will make a great movie night snack.
3. Trail Mix
You’ll have loads of fun eating trail mix popcorn. You can customize it anyway you want, playing with crispy, crunchy, and chewy textures for an interesting snack.
You can use nuts like pecans, walnuts, or cashews for crunch. For chewy, raisins or dried cranberries. Then, you can top it all off with toasted pumpkin, sunflower seeds, or M&M’s.
4. Finger Food
Finger food is another option for your movie night snack since you can just munch on it while you lean back on the couch. Some of our favorites include bite-sized chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, and sliders.
5. Potato Chips
Another go-to for many folks, it doesn’t get easier than potato chips. You’ve got all sorts of flavors to choose from, like BBQ, classic sour cream and onion, or kettle-cooked sea salt. You definitely won’t get tired of eating this snack.
6. Nachos
Nachos can be messy but they’re worth the chaos. Pile on the toppings or keep it simple — it’s up to you. We love our nachos with queso, sour cream, jalapeños, and salsa. Heaping amounts of it.
7. Savory Snack Mix
Just like trail mix, a popcorn snack mix is super customizable. You can turn it into a whole DIY affair your next movie night by preparing savory ingredients like Chex, Cheez-Its, pretzels, nuts, and popcorn and letting your family pick what to put in their bowls.
8. Buffalo Popcorn
Buffalo popcorn is a fun take on classic movie theater popcorn. You can use actual buffalo wing sauce and drizzle it over your popcorn, but buffalo seasoning will also do the trick. This popcorn is best served with a side of ranch for dipping.
9. Veggie Sticks
If you want a healthier snack while you binge-watch a new series on Netflix, munch on veggie sticks. Cut your favorite veggies into strips and serve them chilled. Carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, and celery work particularly well. You don’t have to eat them plain — you can use good old ranch or season the veggie sticks with lime juice and chili powder.
Sweet Movie Night Snacks
1. Chocolate Chip Cookies
Warm chocolate chip cookies pair wonderfully with your favorite comfort movie. You can buy pre-made cookies and heat them in the microwave to make the chocolate nice and gooey, or if you have the time to bake a fresh batch, even better. Don’t forget to pair the cookies with milk (or a dairy-free alternative)!
2. Caramel Popcorn
Caramel is another popular popcorn flavor, so you won’t have trouble finding the ready-to-eat kind. But one of these days, try making a batch at home. You’ll need brown sugar, vanilla, and butter for the caramel, while the popcorn will taste best if you make it the stovetop way.
3. Gummy Fruit Snacks
Gummy fruit snacks are a unique way to switch up your movie night. They’re much chewier than a lot of snacks on this list which you’ll enjoy as you watch intense action scenes.
While this snack is on the sweet side, there are healthier versions you can go for if you’re interested. Just look for low-sugar fruit snacks or those made with 100% pure fruit juice. You can also always stick to classic gummy candies like Swedish Fish or Sour Patch Kids.
4. Marshmallow Popcorn Balls
If you want to take your popcorn to the next level, try this twist on rice krispies. It’s fun and really simple. Pop your popcorn, melt marshmallows and butter together in a bowl, then combine with your kernels and shape into balls. So yummy!
5. Peanut Butter Cups
Peanut butter cups may just be our top candy for movie night. The contrast of salty, savory peanut butter with chocolate never gets old.
While Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are the most popular type, there are other tasty brands you can go for. You can even make your own for a truly gourmet candy experience.
6. Ice Cream Bars
For summer nights when you want to chill and watch movies in your backyard, ice cream bars are the ultimate refreshment. Personally, we’re fans of M&M cookie sandwiches, Snickers ice cream bars, and bite-sized Dibs.
7. Puppy Chow
Whether you call it puppy chow or muddy buddies, there’s something about the combo of Chex cereal, powdered sugar, and chocolate that just hits the spot. It’s the right amount of sweet and savory and we like that it has a similar crunch to popcorn. And like the other snacks on this list, it’s incredibly quick to whip up.
8. Chocolate Covered Pretzels
This is another great savory and sweet snack you can make yourself or buy in the groceries. Salty, crunchy pretzels are amazing with any kind of chocolate, and you can also combine them with popcorn.
9. Junior Mints
Junior Mints aren’t quite in the same league as popcorn, chips, or M&M’s in the movie-watching department, but they’re still a classic candy you can’t get enough of. You won’t regret buying a big box of its powerful, refreshing mintiness.
Create the Perfect Movie Night Snack Board
Charcuterie boards have become super popular over the past few years. They have a little bit of everything in them.
While charcuterie boards usually have cured meats, cheeses, and crackers, you can make your own using your favorite snacks (like the ones we mentioned above). Keep it balanced by adding savory, sweet, and crunchy elements. You also want to make sure everything on the board goes well together.
This will really be the star of your movie night.
Find Your New Favorite Movie Night Snack & Get Inspiration with Popsmith
Keep your family movie night interesting and exciting by trying some — or all — of these yummy snack ideas. There’s something for everyone, so the only problem you’ll have is finding a movie everyone wants to watch.
Do you have other movie snack ideas you want to share? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below! You can also check out our blog for more snacking inspiration and all things popcorn.
