How to Plan a Successful Movie Marathon

It doesn't matter what genre of movie you prefer; eventually, you will reach a point when the idea of having a movie marathon becomes a great idea. But how to plan for this movie marathon? There are definitely some things you need to plan for. Read on for a simple guide for thoughts on how to plan a successful movie marathon.

1. The Setting. You need to pick a setting for your marathon, and it helps if it already has the staples for the event, so you have to worry about providing less. What are the staples of a movie marathon? First, you need a movie player and a screen. These days, DVD is the easiest and probably cheapest way to go. That means you need a DVD player and a screen big enough for your guests (the size of screen should depend on the number of guests). There should also be a bathroom nearby and some comfortable seating.

2. The movies/guests. These two are put together because your guests should determine the movies (or visa versa, if you have a large social network). If the group likes romance, you'll need a collection of chick flicks; if they're sci-fi nerds, look for things Star Wars or Trek. Make sure you have enough movies to last the entire time, but when you're counting, also make allowances for breaks. People may need to stretch their legs, use the restroom, etc. You don't want the marathon to be a trap!

3. Invitations. The important thing for invitations is that you be very clear it's a marathon, wherein the goal is to stay the entire time. You can make this point mandatory, but it's probably better to say, you hope they will stay. Include the number of hours aimed for, the setting, and the movie genre, and send them out in advance, to make sure the guests can clear up their schedule. Movie marathons can be very time-demanding.

4. Food. Movies and food go together about as well as, well, movies and food. People get hungry and a movie marathon should also include something to snack on while watching. Because it's going to last a number of hours, you probably don't want all the sustenance to be sugary snacks and popcorn. Look for finger food, like tiny sandwiches and vegetables with dip, so that eating can be fun without being overly distracting. One way to go with the extra mile with your movie marathon is to create food that matches the theme (for example, while watching Horton Hears a Who, serve green eggs and ham). Oh, and don't forget the drinks!

5. Keep the fun alive during your marathon with movie contests. Set up a card with a couple of trivia questions for each movie and then pass out answers to the person who answers the most right. Or, you could try having a dress up contest and then vote on the winner. The prize of either contest could be the option to pick the next movie, sit on the 'good seat', etc. You can use your imagination with prizes here. Throwing extra contests help people loosen up because, as fun as movie-watching is, it can start to cause tension if it lasts too long.

Hosting a movie marathon takes some planning to do right. You can't just called everyone over and assume the event will go over without a hitch. However, using the tips above can help create a great movie marathon. Your guests will be looking forward soon, and wanting you to set it up.