How to play Christmas movie bingo
Christmas movie bingo works like regular bingo, but the movie does the calling. Each player gets a different 5x5 card of holiday movie tropes with a FREE square in the middle. When one of your tropes happens on screen, mark it. The first player with five marked squares in a row, across, down or corner to corner, calls "Bingo!" and wins.
- 1Pick a movie the group agrees on. A cozy holiday romance and a family Christmas comedy both work.
- 2Give each player a card and a pen. Everyone marks the FREE square in the center.
- 3Choose a judge, usually whoever holds the remote. The judge settles every "Does that count?" debate.
- 4When a trope happens on screen, mark it. A quick point at the TV is enough, so nobody talks over the movie.
- 5When you get five in a row, call "Bingo!" quietly, or wait for the next pause, and read your row back.
- 6If the room agrees that every square happened, you win the round. Keep watching and play on for second place.
Small prizes make it better: first pick of the snacks, the remote for the next movie or the last cookie on the plate.
What's on the cards
The cards draw from 60 tropes that turn up in holiday movies again and again. There are love-story classics (Fake Relationship, Slow Dance, Childhood Sweetheart, Boring Fiancé), small-town settings (Small-Town Bakery, Inn About to Close, Town Tree Lighting, Christmas Tree Farm), plot twists (Snowed In, Power Goes Out, Body Swap, Corporate Buyout) and a little magic (Santa Might Be Real, Magic Snow Globe, Wish Comes True).
There are no movie titles, character names or brands, so the cards work with any holiday movie, old or new, on TV or streaming. Each card picks 24 of the 60 tropes and mixes them in a random order, so no two cards in your set are the same. No single movie hits all 60, and that is the fun part: one card fills up during the romance, and another catches up during the comedy.
Add your own title, such as "Garcia Family Movie Night" or "Dorm Holiday Movie Marathon", and it prints on every card. Choose 1 big card per page, which is easier to read with the lights down, or 2 smaller cards per page to save paper. Both print on US Letter or A4 paper.
Ways to play, from one movie to a double feature
One movie usually gives you a five-in-a-row winner before the credits. For a longer night, change what counts as a win.
Five in a row
The classic: across, down or corner to corner. Most holiday movies get someone there before the final scene.
Double feature blackout
Keep the same card for two movies back to back and mark every trope you can. A full card wins outright. If nobody gets there, the most squares marked when the second movie ends wins.
Four corners
Mark the four corner squares to win. It suits a short holiday special or the last half hour of a movie.
Prediction round
Before you press play, each player circles three squares they are sure will happen. Each one that does is worth a bonus point.
Trope draft
Check "Add caller slips" and every trope prints as a slip. Before the movie, each player draws three. Score a point every time one of your tropes happens on screen.
Team cards
Pair up and share one card. It works for a big group on one couch, and it gets people arguing about what counts.
Between movies, keep the party going with a game on one phone, like Christmas Would You Rather, Christmas Most Likely To or Christmas trivia. There is no app and no sign-up. See all our Christmas games for more.
Tips for movie night
- Use pens or markers instead of candy or beans. In a dark room on a soft couch, small markers end up in the cushions.
- Clip each card to a clipboard, a hardcover book or a piece of cardboard, so it stays flat on a lap.
- Laminate the cards, or slide them into sheet protectors, and use dry-erase markers. Wipe them clean for the next movie.
- Leave a lamp on low, and choose 1 card per page for big squares you can read in a dim room.
- Agree on house rules before you press play. Does a flashback count? Does a dream count? Decide once, then let the judge rule.
- Print a few extra cards for a second movie or for guests who show up late. To print later or at a print shop, download the PDF.
Who Christmas movie bingo is for
Christmas movie bingo is made for a group that loves holiday movies, or loves to tease them. Friends at a cozy movie night, roommates on a December weekend, teens at a sleepover and families on the couch after dinner can all play. Everyone keeps watching, and the cards give the whole room something to laugh about together. The tropes are clean and family-friendly, so younger kids can join on a team card with someone who reads the squares to them.
It also works for a class party or an office party with a holiday movie on the big screen, with up to 60 different cards for the whole group. For more ideas, see our family game night guide and our office holiday party games. For the rest of the party, print Christmas bingo cards, Christmas trivia cards or Christmas charades cards.
Questions
Is this Christmas movie bingo free?
Yes. You can make and print up to 60 cards at a time for free, or download them as a PDF. There is no sign-up.
Is every card different?
Yes. Each card picks 24 of the 60 tropes and mixes them in a random order, with a FREE square in the center. No two cards in your set are the same.
Which movies does it work with?
Any Christmas movie you like. The cards list tropes, not titles, so they fit a cozy holiday romance, a family comedy or an old favorite. Romances tend to fill the love-story squares, and comedies fill squares like Power Goes Out and Mall Santa.
Does Christmas movie bingo need a caller?
No. The movie does the calling, and players mark tropes as they happen. If you want slips anyway, check "Add caller slips" and use them for the trope draft.
Is it family-friendly?
Yes. The tropes are clean: snowed-in cabins, cookie bake-offs, slow dances and Christmas miracles. Teens and adults get the most laughs out of it, and kids can play on a team card.
How long does a game take?
One movie usually gives you a five-in-a-row winner before the ending. For a blackout, keep your card for a double feature. If nobody fills the card, the most squares marked wins.
Can I print 2 cards on one page?
Yes. Choose 2 per page to save paper, or 1 per page for bigger squares that are easier to read in a dim room. Both print on US Letter or A4 paper.
Can I put our own title on the cards?
Yes. Type a title such as "Friday Movie Night" and it prints on every card. Leave it blank to use "Christmas Movie Bingo".