MAIN Arts & Culture Movies Oscars Movie Night Party Ideas

Tack up the movie posters -- and lay out the red carpet -- for friends and loved ones this year with some of the best ideas for Oscar Night movie parties this side of Hollywood - including themes and decorations, party food and drink recipes, party games, and your own printable Oscar party pool sheet

This year, get your island mojo on with a party scene right out of "The Descendants". Check out these cool Hawaiian luau party ideas for the big night as party guests celebrate the movie that asks the question: 'Will George Clooney FINALLY get his Oscar?"

Otherwise, invite your A-list over to honor a sentimental 2012 favorite, "The Help" with an authentic southern fried chicken dinner complete with buttermilk biscuits, and corn on the cob.

If you're a Meryl Streep fan, applaud her 2012 best actress nomination for another uncanny portrayal -- "The Iron Lady" -- British PM Margaret Thatcher with servings of fish and chips, English cheeses, roast beef, and cold cuts a la English pub grub. Be sure to include plenty of beer, ale and traditional English hard cider.

Enraptured by "The Artist" for Best Movie? Make the dress code black-tie-and-tails and invite friends over to party like it's 1929 with favorite Prohibition drinks, canapes, and cavier.

Whatever YOUR excuse for a memorable movie themed party, be sure to make it fun for guests - and easy on you! - with these helpful tips for celebrating all things Hollywood:

• Make sure the food is plentiful, but keep it simple with make ahead dishes or snackable meals that guests can easily munch on in comfortable easy chairs, or on the couch in front of the TV.
  
  
• Not enough seating for everybody? Get guests comfortable by clearing out the coffee table and leaving plenty of room for chairs, beanbags, or oversized pillows for your front row audience.
  
  
• Use TV commercial breaks for mingling and party activities - such as movie trivia, movie quotes, or a mini-marathon of Name That Movie Tune.
  
  
• When the night is over, send guests home happy with goodie bags filled with popcorn, boxes of movie candy, and plastic sunglasses.
  
  

More movie & Oscar Night party ideas around the Web:

Around the Web, check out more planning advice and decorating tips, including all-out Oscar party costume ideas, invitation how to's, and lots more...

That's the SPIRIT! - Oscar Party Ideas, Drinks & Recipes - The winner and still champ for great decoration ideas, food suggestions, Oscar-themed drink recipes, a printable Oscar Party Pool Sheet and fun activities for a very memorable Hollywood night celebration.

Oscars, Academy Award Party Ideas from Evite - One-stop browsing for sending online invitations plus lots of great ideas for party food, drinks, music, costumes & attire.

tbs.com - Dinner & a Movie Recipes - From the popular cable TV show featuring all their movie theme recipes, i.e., Blues Brothers Funky Chicken, Sharon Stone Crab Cakes, Spaghetti Western and more. Tool around the entire archive within an easily navigable A-Z list.

Throw the Perfect Oscar Party - Check out expert advice, hosting tips, what to wear, menu ideas, and more with help from Isaac Mizrahi's Perfect Oscar Party.

And the winner is...host an Oscar party - A variety of ideas for invitations, decorations and munchies for the big night.

How to Throw an Oscar Party - Simple ideas for a casual get-together with ideas for entertaining, party games and activities.

More Oscar party recipes from around the Web: