Do you have family movie night? I grew up looking forward to movie night. Every Friday meant homemade pizza, pajamas, and a fun movie. I have carried on the same tradition with my kids to try and create lasting memories and a way for everyone to unwind from the hectic week. However, by the time Friday rolls around we are all usually too tired to cook or be able to stay awake long enough to watch an entire movie, so family movie night happens sometime during the weekend.

This month I was thinking of ways to spice up family movie night. My teen daughter is reaching that age (18) where spending time with her family isn’t as appealing as going out with her friends, meaning I have to make it even more enticing for her to want to participate. Netflix had an imaginative idea to help get the whole family in the mood for movie night by transforming the family room into a cozy blanket fort. The simple project would be a great way for my teen to get more involved and create a whimsical atmosphere with the twinky lights, blankets, sheets, and pillows for movie night. She could even invite a few of her friends to join in the fun family room makeover.

Along with the cool DIY blanket fort idea, the Netflix team also came up with a yummy twist on the two all-time favorite treats of pizza and nachos. The delicious treat combines the two in an easy to make snack piled high with favorite toppings and cheese. I tried the Pizza Nachos recipe and it came out fantastic! It is extremely simple to make. Ditch the pain in the tush homemade pizza dough and use the nachos as a base to hold your desired toppings. Kids will love helping to prepare this satisfying snack, which will get them even more excited about movie night as well as build kitchen skills. A fun suggestion is to try and recreate your favorite pizza flavor using different sauces, cheese and various toppings, such as Hawaiian Pizza or Buffalo Chicken Pizza.

Looking for your next movie to feature on family night? Check out September’s recommended list of titles to stream on Netflix, which the whole family will enjoy. New this month to the Stream Team titles is a section geared toward teens! Movie faves like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Clueless will definitely be huge hit with your teen and are ready to be streamed for your “Pizza and Movie” themed night!

Netflix Titles for Family Movie or TV Night

For your little kids:

For your big kids:

For teens (and you!):

Before you sit down to watch one of these titles – or your own family favorite – check out these tips from Common Sense Media on how to make family movie or TV night a success.