Pick a Flick

• 1). Choose a movie to base the night around. Make sure you consider the audience; if you are showing a movie for your family, friends and their children, pick up a family-oriented movie -- Disney and Pixar films entertain adults as well as children. Popular films from successful franchises, such as "Toy Story," "Spy Kids" and "Ice Age" provide action, comedy and good ethics.
  
  
• 2). Pick a solid action movie or a well-written comedy if you're hosting a movie night for the guys. A comedy like "Ghostbusters" or "Zombieland" really lightens the mood, while action-dramas like "Full Metal Jacket" and "Straw Dogs" splendidly entertain even the pickiest movie buffs.
  
  
• 3). Select a romantic comedy or even a straight-laced romantic movie for girls' night, as these genres do more than just stimulate conversation. Romantic comedies like "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Bridget Jones' Diary" allow your audience a few laughs. Consider films like "Six Days and Seven Nights" and "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" for a mix of romance and action.
  
  

Entertaining

• 1). Stock up for a kids' movie night with pizza, soda, popcorn, snack mixes and baked goods -- you will find that these also please adults. Take the present season into account when planning a children's movie party or a family movie night, as this will save money and effort when decorating. If the fall season is upon you, decorate early for Halloween and show "The Nightmare Before Christmas," while providing Halloween candy as a snack. Show Christmas movies during the holiday season and make Christmas cookies for treats.
  
  
• 2). Forget to decorate for a guys' movie night, because most dudes are almost as easily pleased as children. If all the men are coming over, gather a large cooler, lots of beer and sufficient ice to keep said beer cold. Purchase quality cigars if catering to the smoking crowd. Men won't be terribly choosy when it comes to snacks, so buy something simple like chips, pretzels or even pizza.
  
  
• 3). Plan your ladies' movie night by baking assorted goods like brownies and cookies. Snacks like sweet or spicy nuts will satisfy the need for salt and sweet. Popular drinks for ladies include sangria, mimosas, Bellinis and daiquiris, while margaritas, cosmopolitans and appletinis will provide more of a kick.