645

Listen, if you still have a friend who somehow hasn’t seen Practical Magic yet, this is your sign to fix that.

And I’m not saying throw an elaborate themed party, decorate your entire apartment, or spend ALL day whipping up a bunch of themed foods and desserts. But I am saying … maybe you just need an itty bitty bribe, a convincing argument, and one free night to really sell your argument on why they should watch Practical Magic with you. Because if they don’t see the FIRST movie, how can they watch the SEQUEL!

So here’s how to get them over, get them fed, and finally get them to press play!

How To Plan a Practical Magic Movie Night at Home

First, Bribe Them With Midnight Margaritas

Yup! The first thing you’re gonna do is bribe them!

Start with what they’re getting out of this little shindig. And for a Practical Magic movie night at home, obviously that means starting with margaritas. I’ve got a few recipe cards for the following margaritas throughout this article for you to save and keep handy:

• Pineapple Margarita
• Spicy Margarita
• Marigold Margarita

Just pick the one you like the best, mix it all up, skip the coconuts, and pour it into a cup. Each recipe card makes one serving, so make sure you adjust it to create a few refills for everyone attending.

Don’t drink booze? No worries. You can totally make a mocktail instead!

And if you don’t want to cook, who cares!

Keep it simple, for you, and do whatever will make you have the most fun! You can make tacos, nachos, quesadillas, or whatever feels right, to pair with your margaritas. OR you can just order tacos from your favorite spot, grab chips and guac, and keep it moving.

Your invitation should basically say:

Come over. I’m making midnight margaritas. There will be tacos. All you have to do is show up.

Next, Hit Them With The Guilt Trip

If the food and tequila don’t immediately get you a yes, you should probably start reconsidering this friendship. Just kidding. If that doesn’t work, then it’s time to remind them WHY they should actually come over. The more dramatic, the better.

If you need to head to the bathroom first and splash some water on your face so it looks like you’re crying, do it! Need to text them a ton of crying GIFs because you’re feeling very “neglected”? DO IT!

Something along the lines of:

• I haven’t seen you in forever.
• I miss you sooooo much.
• I really want to watch this, but I don’t have ANYONE to watch it with.
• You NEVER come over anymore; do you HATE me?

You’re not begging. You’re simply reminding your friend that friendship requires occasional participation in your tomfoolery and you need them in attendance.

And if THAT doesn’t work either, throw in a quick …

Before You Say No, Hear Me Out…

Maybe they’re exhausted from adulting. Maybe they hate you. Maybe it’s Maybelline. Who knows. But if they STILL haven’t given in to your demands, you’ll have to actually convince them that Practical Magic is worth watching. So this is where we hit ’em with our best shot!

Tell them:

• what the movie is about
• what kind of vibe they’re getting
• what makes it fun
• why you think they would enjoy it
• why watching it together will make it even better

Don’t send them a formal synopsis you found on Google, babes! This is where you passionately explain the movie like you wrote the script yourself and you’re trying to get this to SELL.

Feel free to steal this, or come up with your own:

So Practical Magic is about two sisters from a family of witches who IGNORE their magical abilities after finding out someone put a CURSE on their family. They try to live a very boring, mundane life, only to end up making questionable romantic decisions, as white women usually do. And then there’s the scene where they end up in the kitchen dancing and singing about putting limes in coconuts, while making margaritas at midnight, AFTER THEY JUST BURIED A DEAD BODY. And baby! It’s intense. But there’s romance, sisterhood, magic, murder, margaritas and a house full of 3 generations of women who have to figure things out.

Lastly, Set The Movie Night Date

At this point, they’ve heard the margarita pitch, the emotional manipulation, and the movie sell. They should be folding, like an NYC slice of pizza.

So now you get to do the fun stuff! Pick a date. Pick someone’s house. Figure out what time you’ll be starting. No, midnight is not an acceptable time if you’re in your 30s or older. Please, let’s be serious!

And put it on everyone’s calendar so they can’t forget!

Once they’ve agreed to come, you can start adding the cute stuff.

But remember: we are not doing the most. Do not scare away your movie night guests with a big whoop-de-doo! There is no time for madness.

You could:

• wear matching pajamas (these cocktail pajamas and witch hat pajamas are super cute)
• get everyone to wear a Practical Magic t-shirt (or this “god forbid women have hobbies” tee)
• do a quick craft before the movie
• make friendship bracelets
• serve your drinks in this margarita tumbler with a lid, these colorful plastic margarita glasses, or these super cute pink vacuum-sealed margarita glasses they can take home
• light some candles
• run to Five Below and let everybody pick a movie-night snack
• read the book series afterwards and turn it into a mini book club

But don’t do them ALL. Just pick one or two things that you know your friends will enjoy, and have fun!

Then Press Play

And yeah, that’s it. You bribed them. You guilt-tripped them. You forced them to listen to your very convincing presentation. You made a margarita. (Or three.)

Now you get to sit down and enjoy the movie.

If this works, leave a comment below and let me know how your Practical Magic movie night at home goes. If it doesn’t? Block that h*e and make some new friends. Just kidding.

But seriously … I’d be side-eyeing that friend right now because do they even love you?

Just something to think about tonight while you sleep … ahem.

Oh! And if this turns out great, here are 17 (Not-So-Scary) Black Halloween Movies You Should Have Already Seen by Now to do this all again!