December fills up fast. Work party, family dinner, gift exchange and the thing your neighbour invited you to that you already said yes to.
Somewhere in there, you want to see your people. Just them, no agenda. The plan usually becomes "come over and we'll watch something." Which quickly turns into a room full of people facing the same direction, not saying much for two hours.
A Home Alone night is a new way to re-watch a holiday classic. Nobody needs to follow the plot. You can talk over it, shout at the screen and point out that Kevin's family is a lot. The movie ends up in the background and the night is about the people in the room.
Add some food from the film, a game that runs alongside it, a ridiculous photo booth and you've got something people will actually remember.
The menu: Kevin's dinner, upgraded
The fun of this menu is that Kevin already picked it. He's eight, he's alone, and he eats exactly what he wants. You're just giving it a grown-up twist.
A Lovely Cheese Pizza
Start with cheese because that's the one Kevin orders just for himself. Then add a couple of other flavours for everyone else. Pepperoni can be a safe bet. Something with a bit more going on can be exciting but keep it simple and delicious.
Order it and let the delivery be part of the theme. Bonus points if you can get the delivery driver to dress up in a Little Nero’s uniform.
A Mac and Cheese Bar
People hover around it, compare bowls and argue about whether Sriracha belongs on pasta or how much ketchup is too much. It gets guests talking before the movie even starts.
Make one big pot of plain mac and cheese, then set out toppings so people can build their own:
crispy bacon
caramalized onions
sautéed mushrooms
jalapeños
toasted breadcrumbs
chives or green onions
sriracha sauce
shredded rotisserie chicken
ketchup
A Sundae Bar
Kevin's giant ice cream sundae is peak "nobody can stop me." Every guest deserves that feeling once a year.
Set out two or three ice cream flavours and as many candy toppings as you can find:
Crushed chocolate bars
Gummy bears
Mini marshmallows
Sprinkles
Crushed candy canes
Chocolate and caramel sauce
Whipped cream
Maraschino cherries
Save it for the end of the movie, or for intermission. It gives the night a natural second act.
Play a little Home Alone bingo
Want to give everyone something to watch for? I made a free set of eight Home Alone movie bingo cards you can use for your night.
Hand them out before the movie starts and let people mark a square whenever they spot something on their card. There’s no need to pause the film or appoint someone to settle bingo disputes. The fun is hearing someone suddenly announce, “I’ve got one!” from the other end of the couch.
Play for a small prize if your group likes a little competition. The winner can choose dessert, the next movie, or the right to be briefly insufferable about their victory.
Pin the gold tooth on Harry
This one's best saved for a break in the movie, when people want to stretch their legs.
Draw or print a big, toothy burglar grin and stick it on the wall. Cut gold teeth out of card or foil, add tape, and grab a scarf for a blindfold.
Then the usual rules. Spin, stumble, stick.
It's silly, and silly helps people relax. But being blindfolded in front of a room isn't everyone's idea of fun. You might play it in pairs, with one person wearing the blindfold and the other giving directions. The guest who'd rather not be the one stumbling around gets to be the bossiest navigator in the room instead.
A Wet Bandits photo booth
Every party needs a corner where people can drift in and out, and a photo booth is perfect for that.
A mugshot wall is the easiest version. Tape height lines onto a plain wall or a sheet, add a sign that says WET BANDITS, and you're most of the way there.
Then add props:
Knitted beanies
A fake gold tooth
An empty paint can
A plastic spider
A feather boa (Marv knows why)
A cardboard sign with a fake booking number
Set a phone on a stand with a timer, and let people go at their own pace. Some will make it a full production. Some will pop in for one quick photo. Both are great.
By the end of the night, you'll have a camera roll full of very convincing criminals.
One way the night could run
There's no right order, so here is one way to map out the evening:
Arrive and eat. Pizza and the mac and cheese bar while people settle in.
Start the movie. Hand out bingo cards as people sit down.
Intermission. Pause somewhere in the middle for pin the gold tooth and refills.
Finish the movie. The second half is where the traps happen, so this is when bingo gets competitive.
Sundaes. Bring out the sundae bar as the credits roll.
The photo booth runs all night in the background.
Making it fit your group
Every group is different, so it's worth thinking about who's coming.
If kids are joining, everything here works as is.
If it's adults only, you can add a few cheekier bingo squares and lean into the mac and cheese toppings.
If not everyone drinks, a hot chocolate bar fits the theme and works for everyone. Put a bottle of Baileys on the side for anyone who wants it.
If the group is small, skip the pin game and keep the bingo. It works just as well with four people as with fourteen.
Ready for movie night?
Order the pizza, set out the sundae toppings and give your guests something to play from the couch. Grab the free set of eight Home Alone bingo cards before you press play.
