Christmas movie bingo

Christmas movie bingo tips

• Know which squares come early and which come late. A city girl returning home and a car stalled in the snow usually show up in the first act, while the dramatic airport dash and the last-minute kiss wait for the final minutes, so a close game often comes down to the last scene.
• Settle the ugly holiday sweater rule before the movie starts. A sweater that is merely festive is a judgment call, so let the group vote once on what counts instead of arguing in every scene.
• Serve the snacks the movies keep showing: hot cocoa, gingerbread cookies and candy canes. They cost little, echo the hot cocoa mug and candy cane squares, and give everyone something to do with their hands during the slow middle.
• Watch the background as well as the couple. Carolers at the door, a Christmas tree lot and a small-town parade often appear for only a few seconds behind a conversation, so sharp-eyed players can win on scenery alone. If someone marks a square nobody else saw, rewind ten seconds and check together.
• Let the winner pick the next movie in the marathon, or claim the last gingerbread cookie. Reading the marked squares aloud at the end doubles as a plot recap for anyone who dozed off by the fireplace.

Best for

Ages

Teens and adults who know the genre

Group size

3 to 10 friends on the couch

Duration

About 90 minutes per movie, longer for a marathon