If you’re looking to spice up your fifth movie night in a row, why not pair the film with a fitting and entertaining snack? Here’s a list of my favorite movies across ten genres and my suggestions for snacks that can be easily made at home or bought on a WinCo run. Every movie on this list can be found on Netflix.
Action/Adventure
“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984): rotisserie chicken salad
While we may not have gently roasted vanahira like Indiana Jones and his friends, we can munch on our own version of the guardian of tradition dinner. Hopefully there’s no coiled wrigglies or primate parfait on your side of the screen.
Science Fiction
“Inception” (2010): seven-layer dip
Dive through seven layers of dip while Cobb dives through seven layers of dreams. The pun here was too convenient. Don’t forget your favorite chips!
Crime
“Blade Runner” (1982): ramen
Sit down at the noodle bar with Rick Deckard and add some flair to your ramen. Even if you’re using a pack of instant noodles, adding an egg, slices of meat and fresh vegetables can go a long way. The best part — it’s entirely customizable.
Superhero
“Avengers: Infinity War” (2018): triple chocolate cake
There’s no reference here, but if you intend to sit through this two-and-a-half-hour beast of a film, you might need some cake. Maybe the chocolate will even out the saltiness of the inevitable tears.
Documentary
“Knock Down the House” (2019): popcorn
Okay, so I wanted to put the more stressful movies in the first half of this list, so I’m ending this section with one of my favorite documentaries on Netflix. In my humble opinion, documentaries are best served with the traditional movie snack: popcorn, plain and simple.
Fantasy
“Mary and the Witch’s Flower” (2017): ham and greens sandwich
Take a break from the stress of life with Mary and her cat by recreating her boxed lunch. Studio Ponoc, founded by a former lead film producer from the famed Studio Ghibli, continues the Ghibli tradition of tempting audiences with mouthwatering food at every turn in this light-hearted animated feature. This sandwich seemed like one of the easiest meals to replicate.
Romance
“Hitch” (2005): baked salmon with lemon
In order to avoid Hitch’s allergy predicament, let’s stay away from the shellfish offered in the cooking class scene and opt for the salmon Max was preparing instead. Add slices of lemon and an assortment of your favorite herbs, then bake at 450 degrees until cooked through (about 12-15 minutes).
Comedy
“Monty Python and the Holy Grail” (1975): killer bunny cupcakes
Regardless of your cake decorating skills, this snack should be quite the treat, because ravenous man-eating bunnies shouldn’t look neat anyway. Fill the cupcakes with jelly if you want to take the gag further and freak out your roommates.
Animated
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018): bagel with cream cheese
Take a note out of Peter B. Parker’s book and snag a bagel before starting this movie. Preferably don’t steal it from the lair of an evil scientist, though. That only leads to trouble.
Bonus: Relaxation
“Moving Art” (2014-19): a cup of your favorite tea
This isn’t a movie, but it’s so relaxing I had to include it. Whenever I get too stressed, I’ll turn this on and sit down with a cup of tea, and I always end up feeling a little better. Hopefully it can help you get through a rough day, too.
Lex Miller can be reached at arg-life@uidaho.edu