If you find your at-home movie nights to be a bit underwhelming compared to the experience you get at the cinema, you’re not alone. Something about seeing your favorite movie on a big screen just hits different, and there are many good reasons why it’s so.
Of course, this doesn’t mean there aren’t any ways to improve and intensify your movie-watching experience at home. With the right setup, you might even start preferring the at-home version!
Here are the best ways to go about it.
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Recognize the advantages of watching movies at home
While this isn’t a practical tip to improve the way you enjoy movies from the comfort of your home, putting things into perspective might allow you to value your at-home cinema evenings a bit more.
First of all, when you’re watching a movie in your bedroom, there will be no interruptions/noise from other people. There’s nothing more frustrating than paying $15 for cinema tickets only to be met with a bunch of preteens making corny (and loud!) jokes the entire 2 hours of the movie. And that one couple next to you that ends up going waaay overboard with the PDA? Or that one person that just won’t stop typing, thus temporarily blinding everyone around them? Yeah, no thank you.
Besides that, being able to rewind and pause the movie whenever you feel like it is such a blessing! It certainly makes us value our at-home movie nights a bit more, and how about you?
Invest in a quality TV screen
While watching movies on your phone or computer is perfectly fine, it doesn’t really feel very cinematic, now, does it?
In order to replicate the atmosphere, you get at the cinema, the first step is to invest in a quality TV screen. You don’t have to spend a fortune on it either – there are many quality budget options you can choose from.
Whatever you do, make sure you pick your supplier carefully. Not all TV manufacturers are worth your time and money, so keep on reading those online reviews and ratings until you’ve found something that can satisfy your movie-watching needs perfectly!
Don’t forget about sound
A good pair of speakers can make a huge difference between an enjoyable movie-watching experience and a complete flop. Audio is such a big part of the film, so don’t ever neglect it!
Besides just purchasing a quality audio setup, you’ll also need to position it as carefully as possible. Sound is a wave, after all, so you don’t want to place your speakers in the wrong spot. Experiment with the location as much as you can, and you’ll quickly notice some positive changes, even when it comes to those super-old speakers of yours.
Try out different gadgets for a more immersive experience
Modern devices such as haptic vests and straps can completely change the way you experience film. These can help you go beyond making your at-home movie-watching a bit more cinematic, especially if you’re an audiophile like ourselves.
Now, of course, these types of gadgets aren’t for everyone – it all boils down to your expectations and preferences. If you’re not sure whether they’re worth the try or not, we suggest you watch a couple of reviews online. For example, here’s a video that describes the experience of wearing haptic vests quite accurately:
Only watch movies available in high resolution
While downloading a torrented version of a movie you’ve been wanting to watch for a while may be tempting, there’s no enjoyment in watching a poor-quality cinema recording just for the sake of seeing it. Waiting until it is available on one of your favorite streaming platforms instead is not only the legal way to do it, it also allows for a higher-quality experience down the line.
You can’t replicate a cinema experience when you’re watching a poor-quality video recording. It’s simply not worth the trouble, so make sure you only watch your movies in high resolution.
Prepare your favorite snacks!
Is talking about the cinema without mentioning all of those delicious movie snacks even possible? We don’t think so!
One of the best ways to improve your movie-watching at home is by preparing tons of snacks you’d usually have at the cinema. You won’t have to spend a fortune on it, and it will make your night so much more enjoyable.
In fact, you can purchase snack packages of all sorts and flavors nowadays, so make sure you stack up before you invite your loved ones to your impromptu movie night!
Adjust the lights
Bright lights and movie nights simply don’t go hand in hand – make sure you keep your room as dark as possible. For an even fuller experience, you could invest in a set of dimmable LED lights you’ll place around your room. You’d be surprised at the effect these can have on setting the right „mood“ for the movie you’ll be watching.
Invite your loved ones
While sometimes you’ll just want to relax and enjoy some alone time with your favorite piece of media, bringing the entire family together for a cozy movie night can feel even more enjoyable. It also allows you to feel like you’re actually in the cinema, as you’re not experiencing the film alone. You’ll be able to share your thoughts and feelings about it afterward, which can be even more enjoyable than the movie itself.
The bottom line
All in all, there are many ways you can make your at-home movie-watching experience a tad bit more enjoyable. There’s no need for you to spend your money every time an interesting title premiers at your local cinema – with the right setup, you can have it all at your home instead.
With that being said, we truly hope you’ve found our article to be useful and we wish you loads of fun with the next movie you decide to see!
