Embrace your inner couch potato and pass it off as a sociable event of classy cult classics by hosting a movie marathon.
We all love the occasional dormant weekend a la Ed the Sofa Bear, whose top-notch binge viewing has landed him a role as the face of Virgin Media’s Big Kahuna Movies Bundle.
He can’t get enough of all the TV box sets and films at his finger tips – so much so that he’s settled down and has no plans of getting up again anytime soon.
But why keep it a lone affair? Brush off those crumbs and take that shower you’ve been delaying and invite a few friends over for a movie marathon. Follow these guidelines for a seamless night of blockbuster fun.
Choose wisely
The films you choose are the fundamental backbone of a successful movie marathon. Think carefully about whose coming and decide on some films that will appeal to the crowd. Going for a trilogy is a safe and clear choice, but themes can also be fun; 90s rom coms, vampire thrillers or a particular director perhaps. You could also make your selection based around one actor for a nice variety (unless that actor is Hugh Grant).
The perfect order
Unless you’ve opted for a franchise, which obviously has a predetermined order (you won’t be popular if you whack on Back to the Future Part II to start), you’ll have to decide on the order of viewing of your chosen films. You don’t want to end the evening as emotional wrecks, sobbing your hearts out after a tear-jerker, for example, so sandwich that between some action and a comedy.
Set the mood
Go all out and turn your lounge into a comfort haven. Keep the lights dimmed for that cinema atmosphere, litter the room with cushions and blankets and have marathon worthy snacks at the ready. If your marathon is going to last beyond 6 hours or so, you might want to think about serving some substantial food to avoid rumbling stomachs interrupting your movie watching, but at the very least stock up on some popcorn.
Plan some breaks
Even the most dedicated sofa bears like Ed need a little break once in a while, so pencil in some time for leg-stretching and fresh air.
Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to a movie marathon to remember.