Hosting a party, whether it’s a barn-burner or just a handful of friends over for a few, is all about mastering the atmosphere. Music is key, obviously, but what about that big, black wasted rectangle of space reflecting back at your guests? Don’t drape that dolphin-patterned sarong you got in the Bahamas over it, put a movie on in the background instead.

The ideal pick is a mix of visually stunning, instantly recognizable, and one you don’t have to pay attention to. Think cool cinematography, deep nostalgia, or movies with scenes or visuals so iconic that they’re instant conversation starters.

From sci-fi masterpieces to goofy comedies, put on one of these seven movies (we’ll tell you where you can stream or rent them, too), turn the sound off, and let the atmosphere do the rest.

1

National Lampoon’s Vacation

Griswold-family chaos for peak laughs and nostalgia

This is actually the movie that sparked the idea for this article in the first place. It started as just something fun to throw on in the background while some friends and I listened to music, had a few beverages, and played Jenga, but National Lampoon’s Vacation‘s pure classic Americana nostalgia and total Griswold chaos gave us so much conversation fuel. From Beverly D’Angelo’s golden, feathery locks and Clark (Chevy Chase) tying the dog to the bumper, to Christy Brinkley in a Ferrari and the family’s pea-green 1979 Ford Truckster station wagon barreling across the desert to Wally World, it’s the film that defined the family road trip in the ’80s. No sound necessary, you know this movie, even if you don’t.

2

2001: A Space Odyssey

Just what do you think you’re doing, Dave?

Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey, is arguably the ideal movie to put on in the background at a party (maybe better for more lively gatherings, though). It’s already light on dialogue, but its two-and-a-half-hour runtime is chock-full of slow, symmetrical, and ultra-clean cinematography and eye candy that guests will either be mesmerized or find it something amusing to talk about. 2001‘s journey across human evolution, spanning from prehistoric time to the then-future 2001, is a trip, and the psychedelic, 10-minute Star Gate sequence alone could provide a light show on a dance floor. For fun, you could even put on the subtitles for the conversations between the Jupiter astronauts and the red, glowing ball that is the supercomputer, HAL.

3

Blade Runner

2019 or 2049, it’s dystopian cool and ambient backdrops

Depending on the crowd or vibe you’re after, you could go for either the 1982 Ridley Scott sci-fi classic Blade Runner, which will surely get people talking about how young and cool Harrison Ford is or how hot Sean Young was (and what the heck she’s been up to since), or you could just as easily opt for the slicker, more modern Denis Villeneuve sequel, Blade Runner 2049, to encourage some Ryan Gosling and Ana de Armas chatter. Either way, we’re talking hazy futuristic city skylines, sepia-toned atmospheres, and neon-glowing cyberpunk backdrops, as the replicant cyber saga of the future plays out.

4

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Flying warriors, lush bamboo forests, and elegant martial arts

When Ang Lee’s groundbreaking wuxia (“martial hero”) film, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, hit theaters 26 years ago, it blew people’s minds with its gravity-defying wire-work stunts, elegant ballet-like martial arts sequences, and mesmerizing swordplay. Its story revolves around a stolen sword (the legendary Green Destiny), a forbidden love, and a young noblewoman with a deadly secret life, all set against China’s stunning bamboo forests, clay-tiled palace rooftops, and sweeping landscapes. The epic film won four Oscars and made familiar faces of its stars, Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, and Zhang Ziyi.

5

Airplane!

Surely this spoof classic will spark conversation

The beauty of Airplane! as an excellent background movie is, first, its relentless commitment to sight gags that you do not need dialogue to get, and second, it’s such a classic spoof movie, with so many familiar faces, that you can half-follow along and still know what’s happening if you want. From the inflatable autopilot and Ted Striker (Robert Hayes) pouring drinks all over himself (he has a drinking problem), to the Saturday Night Fever dance sequence and the legendary Leslie Nielsen’s famous one-liners (put on the subtitles for these, if it’s not too distracting), Airplane! is guaranteed to make the mood in the room lighter.

6

Baraka

Sweeping visuals of humanity and nature around the world

1992’s Baraka is essentially pure visual storytelling—it has no dialogue, no narration, just stunning, and sometimes intense, imagery from more than 24 countries around the world. Shot in sweeping 70mm, if any film was literally made to be played in the background, it’s Ron Fricke’s documentary, which is full of slow-panning aerial shots of dense cityscapes and wide-open landscapes, mesmerizing time-lapses of humans and creatures alike, natural wonders, and ancient civilizations performing their rituals. Baraka is genuinely the most ambient film on this list, and every frame could be a work of art (if you own a projector, even better). Beware, though, some scenes are a little intense and pretty out there, and your guests may stop talking mid-sentence to marvel at it.

Baraka

Release Date

September 15, 1992

Runtime

97 minutes

Director

Ron Fricke

Writers

Constantine Nicholas

• 

  Patrick Disanto

  Journeyman (uncredited)

7

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Wes Anderson’s stop-motion fox trot is beautiful

Wes Anderson has such a fascinatingly aesthetic cinematic style in both his animated and live-action movies that I think you could put on any one of his 12 feature films at a party to add some charm and atmosphere. His 2009 stop-motion adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic Fantastic Mr. Fox, however, is one of my favorites and most visually inventive. Sure, George Clooney’s voicing of the titular fox is excellent, but even with the sound off, its tale of a clever fox who takes on three horrible farmers is clear as day. It’s nostalgic for adults, family-friendly, and full of neat textures and colors that will add a cozy and creative feel to your party without anyone having to pay attention. With that being said, you could just as easily opt for Anderson’s Rushmore or even The Royal Tenenbaums.

Any of the above seven movies will more than earn their screen time at your next party or get-together. Turn the volume down, crank up the tunes, and choose a film that suits the vibe of the room you’re going for—whether it’s light, nostalgic comedy vibes or a pure visual conversation starter.

Brand

LG

Display Size

65-inch

Operating System

webOS

Display Type

OLED

Display Resolution

4K

LG’s signature OLED technology creates an incredible watching experience and stellar picture quality. With 8 million self-lit pixels, great audio, and several game modes.