A good film gets even better with a drink in hand and a set of rules. Movie and TV drinking games turn a rewatch into an event: you drink on the catchphrases, the cliches and the moments you already know are coming. Here are the best ones we have full rules for, with a quick reason each show works and a link to its rule list.
Movie and TV drinking games at a glance
| Show or film | Players | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| The Office | 1+ | Endlessly quotable, drink on every ‘that’s what she said’ and cringe. |
| Friends | 1+ | Comfort-watch gold, the catchphrases come thick and fast. |
| New Girl | 1+ | True American aside, the show itself is a drinking game waiting to happen. |
| Stranger Things | 1+ | Drink on every Eleven nosebleed and Demogorgon jump. |
| Game of Thrones | 1+ | A drink for every death is a dangerous but iconic rule. |
| Anchorman | 1+ | So quotable it plays itself, glass case of emotion included. |
| Star Wars | 1+ | Drink on the Force, the lightsabers and every ‘I have a bad feeling’. |
| Pirates of the Caribbean | 1+ | Every ‘savvy’ and rum reference keeps the drinks flowing. |
| Deadpool | 1+ | Fourth-wall breaks and one-liners make for a fast game. |
| Mean Girls | 1+ | So fetch, drink on every burn and pink Wednesday. |
| Top Gun | 1+ | Aviators, callsigns and volleyball, the triggers write themselves. |
| Family Guy | 1+ | Cutaway gags mean near-constant sipping, so go light. |
| Rick and Morty | 1+ | A drink for every burp and ‘wubba lubba dub dub’. |
| Shrek | 1+ | A surprise all-timer, drink on every ogre and onion line. |
| Elf | 1+ | The festive favourite, drink every time Buddy spreads cheer. |
| Hocus Pocus | 1+ | The Halloween rewatch staple with a witch on every scene. |
| Lord of the Rings | 1+ | Extended editions make this a marathon, so pace yourself. |
| Love Island | 1+ | Drink on every recoupling, graft and ‘my type on paper’. |
| Twilight | 1+ | Brooding stares and sparkle count, a cult rewatch classic. |
| Harry Potter | 1+ | Eight films of spells and house points, a proper marathon game. |
| Anime | 1+ | Flexible rules that fit almost any series you are bingeing. |
| Pokemon | 1+ | Gotta drink ’em all, one for every ‘Pikachu’ and battle. |
| Minecraft | 1+ | Not a film but a stream night staple, drink on every creeper. |
How movie drinking games work
The idea is always the same: agree a list of triggers before you press play, then drink when they happen on screen. Every guide above has its own tailored rule list, so you drink on the things that actually define that film or show.
Get the box set
Streaming is fine, but a box set means no buffering, no missing episode and no ads cutting off a trigger. Here are the sets behind some of the best games on this list, plus the cups to drink from.
Pro tips
- Agree the rules before you press play. Nobody wants to argue over what counts once the film is rolling.
- Go easy on the frequent triggers. If a catchphrase lands every two minutes, make it a sip, not a shot.
- Pick the right film. The more predictable the movie, the better the game.
Pros and cons
- Turns a rewatch you have seen a dozen times into an event
- Works with just one person or a full sofa
- No kit beyond the film and a drink
- Endless choice, almost any show can carry a rule set
- Fast-trigger films can floor you if pours are big
- You need to actually know the film for it to land
- Not much drinking downtime, so pace yourself
Frequently asked questions
How do you play a movie drinking game?
You agree a list of on-screen triggers before the film starts, then everyone drinks when one happens. Each movie has its own set of rules built around its catchphrases and running jokes.
What is the best movie for a drinking game?
Anything predictable and quotable works best. Comfort comedies like The Office, cult films like Anchorman, and holiday classics like Elf all make great drinking games because you know the beats already.
