How to Host a Magical Aladdin Movie Family Fun Night

Aladdin’s DVD release was September 10th, and if you haven’t gotten the chance to see the movie, now is your chance! If you are planning a fun family night with your kids, or you are looking for a fun way to watch the Aladdin Movie, then hosting a magical Aladdin movie night can do just the trick! While we can’t promise any Genie’s granting three wishes, we can guarantee a movie night your kids won’t soon forget! Here is how to host a magical Aladdin movie night!

Take your guests to a whole new world

Whether it’s just a family movie night, or you are hosting guests, you can transform your living room into a whole new world! Move the couch and have everyone sit on fun, colorful pillows, or even a magic carpet. Instead of just laying out your movie snacks on the table, why not incorporate a fun burgundy or purple tablecloth! This will immerse your guests into the movie, even when they’re not looking at the screen.

Some other great decor ideas could include hanging fairy lights, covering your couch in a piece of silk fabric for the night, or even transforming your living room into an Agrabah market! The Dollar Store has a ton of great cold decor you can use to add the finishing touch to your living room and give your kids some fun props to play with after the movie.

Try some Agrabah inspired foods!

If you want to try something a little more adventurous for your movie night, consider whipping up some Middle East inspired dishes! Agrabah is said to take place in Morocco, specifically on the Silk Road. There are a ton of great dishes you could prepare that will give everyone a chance to try a new recipe and feel like they are buying from the market right there in Agrabah! If you are dealing with picky eaters, you can always get creative with the labels and make some Aladdin-inspired snacks instead.

If you are planning an at-home movie night, or your kids are big Aladdin fans, you can’t go wrong with a homemade treat! There are so many fun drinks, desserts, and even main dishes that you can make for the new Aladdin movie! These recipes are perfect for hosting an Aladdin movie night, but they don’t have to be paired with the movie! Your kids will love the fun Genie and Magic Carpet treats, and there’s even a cocktail for adults too! If you are looking for some fun Agrabah inspired treats, here are 15 Agrabah inspired food items for Disney’s Aladdin.

Aladdin Movie Family Fun Night Treats:

The real secret is in the presentation! Have a feast fit for a princess by creating a buffet-style table with lots of different food options! If you want to add an extra special touch, add some gold coin chocolates to your table.

Have some fun activities for the kids

There are a ton of great activities you can do with your kids to celebrate the new movie! While the food is cooking, have your kids decorate their own “magic carpets” using old towels. They can play with them while they are waiting for the movie to start, and even sit on their magic carpets during the movie. If you are looking for something a little more simple, consider just printing off a word search or activity for restless kids to do during the movie.

Print it off here: Aladdin Word Search and here is the answer key: Aladdin Word Search Answer Key

Learn about different cultures with the Aladdin Movie

While you may not be able to travel the world with your children to teach them about other cultures, there are many cultures that they can experience through movies! Movies can be a horrible misrepresentation of another culture, but they can also be pretty accurate. In the new Aladdin movie, you can teach your children about various cultures they may never get to experience in a fun new way. Here is how you can learn about new cultures through movies.

You can show your kids how different accents sound.

In the live-action version of Aladdin, you have the unique opportunity to see Moroccan culture in the film. Compared to the animated version, the voices are one of the most notable differences. In the live-action version, you can hear accents from different characters. These are meant to be a portrayal of the culture surrounding Agrabah which is roughly set in Morocco.

The costumes show a unique interpretation of Arabic culture

One noticeable difference in the live-action version of Aladdin is the darker skin tones that are vastly different from the original movie. However, what stands out most of all in the characters are their costumes. The costume designer did an outstanding job of designing costumes that were a celebration of the Arabic culture and more accurate than the animated version. This fictional city is set on the Silk Road, so there are hints of Africa, Turkey, and Pakistan influence as well.

Aladdin shares unique cultural differences

If you stole something in America, you might find yourself in a police station. You would never see a shopkeeper holding down a woman’s hand with the intent to cut it off! All women schools are also a rarity in America, though they do exist. These are two noticeable cultural differences that can be found in Aladdin. Marketplaces are also more common in European and Asian countries than in America, and the live-action remake allows us to see the unique experience of walking through a Moroccan market.

Arranged marriages in the Middle East

The Middle East does still have arranged marriages. While you will rarely see this happen in America, it is quite common in other cultures. Aladdin allows us to see what an arranged marriage situation might be like, and how it could be freedom that we take for granted. This is also a great example of how many royal families came to be. Many did not marry for love but rather married for status or peace by marrying into a neighboring kingdom.

Strange pets in other countries

It might be illegal to own a pet tiger, and you likely won’t see many people walking around with their exotic birds in America. However, a known problem in other parts of the world is the detainment and “pet” tiger culture. In Aladdin, Jasmine’s tiger walks around the palace without a second thought from anyone who meets Raja. If someone did that in America, people would undoubtedly stop and gaze for at least a little while.

While this will never replace the experience of speaking to someone from another culture or even going there yourself, this is the next best thing! This is a great way to teach your kids about diversity while they are young, in a fun way.

Consider dressing up

If your little ones have Jasmine costumes, why not have them dress up! You can each make a fun headdress to wear during the movie, or just put on your best harem pants and vest for the night.

You don’t need the powers of a Genie to have a great Aladdin movie night! These tips will help you host a fantastic movie night that your viewers will never forget.