Want to have a productive date with your significant other? Want to strengthen your current dating relationship or dating life? Why not see a movie in a theater and make a whole night out of it? You don't even have to go on a group double date. Just invite the significant other! But make sure you plan where you're going beforehand, what you want to do when you get there, how much money is going toward concessions and tickets, who drives, etc. -Give yourself plenty of time before the film starts if either one of you has an issue with punctuality. -Make sure that there are no uncomfortable silences during the movie by planning some dates first. -Don't forget about candy & drinks at the concession stand! -And, most importantly: talk about the movie when it's over and see what you both thought of it. Research has shown that watching movies with relationship themes and talking about them can be as effective as premarital counseling. The secret? Couples must be intentional about the conversation they have after the movie. "To get dating couples to connect on some level," says Dave Thompson, a dating and relationship coach and author of , "we need to give them shared experiences they can laugh together about, cry together with or discuss in depth." "The best part is your date will be familiar with the plot, characters and dialogue," Boykin explains. This makes it easier for small talk before, during and after the film. -Keep an eye out for family friendly, relationship movies to watch that also won't cost you a fortune. These can be found streaming on Netflix or Redbox. -And make sure you keep the conversation going even after the credits start rolling! Ask each other specific questions about what you both thought of certain parts of the film and open up a dialogue about it. So, even if he didn't like that female lead as much as she did or vice versa, at least now you'll know where your dating partner stands on film portrayals of women! When dating couples plan outings together, they're forced to communicate with each other before their date starts. This is especially true when choosing a movie because there are so many decisions involved. So, not only are dating couples forced to communicate with each other about the details of their date (such as who will be driving, meeting at 7 or 8 pm, what movie to watch), but they'll also begin dating conversations long before the couple even meets up. "Know your dating partner's dating style and plan accordingly," Boykin says. "After all, if you're dating someone who needs a lot of time to process his emotions, getting him to talk about a serious relationship movie after it ends may not be something he immediately wants to do." "On the other hand," she adds, "if it's been a hard week for your significant other and he uses watching movies as a way to escape from life's stressors, then you may want to keep that in mind. If he's not ready to talk after the movie, perhaps plan another time to discuss what you both watched." Before getting dating partners together for a movie night, prepare for success by letting your dating partner know how important it is to have conversations about what they are watching. "Make sure dating partners are on the same page before viewing relationship movies," Boykin says. "One discussion topic is having dating partners watch movies with thematic content related to their faith and discussing what they thought of those themes." "Also, knowing each other's dating deal breakers beforehand can save dating partners from making assumptions about why they didn't enjoy the film as much as their date did." So now you know how to make dating movie nights a dating success. So, sit back and enjoy the show (and don't forget about the popcorn)! -At times when dating partners need alone time, try watching movies by yourself or with friends instead of with your dating partner(s). Even if you didn't like the film that much, it's good to learn what types of films and genres you prefer during "me time." But, this doesn't mean dating couples shouldn't watch relationship movies together either! Title: [topic] watch [genre] [with/by] [this person you're dating]. Keywords to include: -watch action movie date night date ideas date activities -"Watching a movie at home is a nice, low-key way to spend time with your dating partner," Boykin says. "And you can choose a movie appropriate for what type of mood dating partners are in." "If dating partners want to laugh and relax, pick a funny or lighthearted film," she adds. Alternatively, if they're feeling more serious and introspective, dating partners may prefer watching an independent drama or art house film." "Virtually any topic can be turned into a relationship movie night," she says. "Pick do[removed]entaries about topics that will get dating partners talking such as relationships in the animal kingdom or science-related dating movies like 'The Big Bang Theory.'" You'll definitely score bonus points with your if you think outside the box and plan a quirky dating movie night. Try watching an old, black and white dating movie on TCM or one bad dating movie from the 1980s on [streaming service]. "But, if your date is more of a fan of action movies than relationship movies, there's nothing wrong with that either." Boykin says. "The key to dating success is dating partners having fun together so do what works best for you both!" -Be thoughtful about which dating partner likes what type of film before making plans because it could be embarrassing if they suggest something you don't like or vice versa! Also, it's important dating partners communicate before seeing relationship movies. This will allow them to feel comfortable during the whole movie experience. Finally, pick dating movie nights that dating partners can enjoy together. 1. Replace the [keywords to include] with your dating topic and relationship preferences. 2. Identify which dating partner prefers what genre of film or mood he/she is in and plan a dating night accordingly if you want them to enjoy the experience too. 3. Try reading it aloud so you can get a better feel for how it flows! 4. Be sure to proofread before submission because journalists often read over articles several times looking for errors! Again, thanks for using our service! We wish dating movie nights were every day instead of just one night!! Cheers! -- Bloggers'