Excluding the actual hardware for your media (screen, speakers, amps, receivers, etc.) what is your favorite thing that enhances your movie watching experience?

The PreShow Experience addon for Kodi. It's the #1 "wow factor" when someone sees it in action for the first time -- trivia, intros, trailers, Philips Hue lighting control. It creates a very unique home theater experience.

There's only 1 thing in my theater that I haven't thought about replacing, so I think that has to win by default. My favorite thing is my popcorn machine.

Yes that's good also, though I've moved mine out of the theater and one floor above.

On 2/24/2025 at 7:17 AM, MidnightWatcher said:

The PreShow Experience addon for Kodi. It's the #1 "wow factor" when someone sees it in action for the first time -- trivia, intros, trailers, Philips Hue lighting control. It creates a very unique home theater experience.

Or, if you have a sequence like me that seems to go on forever they'll go "really? another trailer?" I tested my friends patience and made one that started with a theater intro, an audio bumper, a no smoking PSA, a commercial for the snack bar, a no cell phones PSA, 5 minutes of trivia, 3 minutes of movie facts, a gumby cartoon which I think are around 5 minutes, a no crying babies PSA, another snack bar commercial, 4 trailers, a 2nd audio bumper just because, and a THX countdown bumper before the feature started for good measure. Oh and before the trivia I played a curtains opening avi somebody on AVS made. I'm not sure why it's so long, but it's 20 seconds and doesn't start opening until 15 seconds. I also had a Hue light dimming script that took an obnoxiously long time.

When it started they were pretty impressed, and were into it until about the 8 minute mark when they got restless and asked when the damn movie was starting. It went on for like another 15 minutes lol. Not surprisingly, they didn't want to come back for movie night unless I promised to just play the movie.

Also played it for a female friend who ended up falling asleep before the movie had even started lol. People really dig PSE when I run a reasonable sequence that doesn't take 20-30 minutes. Most of the older people haven't seen Gumby in decades and they get excited when they see it.

But to answer the question, I like my mini movie theater popcorn machine. It can make a lot more than a pot on the stove, so if there are 4-5 people I can make enough in 1 batch. I also love the auto dimming script for the Hue lights, now all I need are smart blinds so I can have them close automatically when I fire up PSE. Oh and my Ninji Thristi if anyone wants something bubbly to drink.

Edited April 3Apr 3 by Quebert