How to start a film club with friends

A film club is a simple way to keep watching and talking about films together. You choose a film, give everyone time to watch it, then compare what you thought. You can meet on a sofa, watch on the same night online, or watch separately and catch up afterwards.

You don't need a huge group or an expert on cinema. Start with a few friends who want a reason to try films they might otherwise skip, and agree a routine that fits your lives.

1. Agree how you'll watch

Decide whether this is a regular movie night or a club where everyone watches in their own time. A fortnightly film may be easier to keep up with than a weekly one. Pick a pace together, and leave room for holidays and busy weeks.

If friends live in different cities or countries, watching separately can make the club easier to run. You can still arrange a call afterwards. CINECLUB helps organise the picks, deadlines and reviews; it doesn't stream the film or synchronise playback.

2. Make a shared shortlist

Ask everyone to add a few films. A mixed list gives the club more to explore and gives each person a say. Include the title and release year when different films share a name.

Check where people can watch before agreeing a pick. Streaming catalogues differ between countries, and a film available to one member may need renting for another. In a CINECLUB club, each person can choose their region and streaming services so the club can use availability filters.

If you've already saved films elsewhere, import your watchlist instead of typing it again. The Letterboxd guide and IMDb guide explain how to bring over a watchlist or another film collection. In a club, open Films, Add a film, then Import films.

3. Decide who chooses

Taking turns spreads the choice across the group. If everyone likes the shortlist but can't settle on one film, a random picker can do the deciding. Agree whether rewatches are welcome, and how you'll handle a film someone can't watch.

For a single evening, try the free random movie picker. Enter your own titles and spin without an account. For an ongoing club, CINECLUB keeps the shared film list and turn order together.

4. Set a realistic watch-by date

A deadline gives the club a shared rhythm. Make it long enough for people to fit the film in, then agree when you'll talk. If someone can't join a round, let them say so without making the whole club stop.

CINECLUB rounds close at their deadline, or earlier when everyone has watched and rated or passed. Your club can choose to keep a round open until the deadline even if everyone finishes early.

5. Compare your honest reactions

A rating is a starting point for the conversation. Ask what worked, what didn't, and whether you'd recommend the film. People can disagree without needing to defend a score.

In CINECLUB, reviews stay sealed while a round is open and reveal together when it closes. That gives everyone time to form their own opinion before reading the group's reactions. Finished films stay in the club's history, with stats and achievements as the list grows.

If you're unsure what to ask afterwards, try these 25 film club discussion questions. Choose a few prompts about the characters, scenes or ending and compare your reactions.

Start your CINECLUB

CINECLUB is currently free to use. You can start with a name as a guest, create a club, and share its invite code. A club member approves each request to join. Add a sign-in when you want to keep access across devices.

Start a film club with friends

Read the film club FAQ for the details, or learn about CINECLUB.