So here are 10 things we'd recommend to make your 97th Academy Awards watch party a winner.
We've tested all the products selected here, going for models that performed well in our tests and are reasonably priced where possible.
How to watch the Oscars 2025 in the UK
You can watch it for free on ITV1. The programme starts on Sunday 2 March at 10.30pm, with the actual Oscar Ceremony beginning at midnight.
Make sure you've had a good rest in the day, as you'll need to make it to 3am to see the show through to the end.
1. Popcorn maker
Popcorn is the quintessential cinema snack and a must-have for any Oscar night (or indeed movie night).
But why buy it when it's more fun to make your own? Plus it gives you free rein over oils, flavours and quantity.
Our pick: Giles & Posner EK0493 Popcorn Maker
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If you're making popcorn at home, you want full control over what you add to it. Some makers still need you to use oil, but this one doesn't, leaving it up to you if you want a lighter snack or an indulgent treat.
You'll need a big serving bowl to place at the opening of the machine for the popped corn to spill into.
As with all popcorn makers that use hot air to pop the kernels, some can fly out of the opening before they've popped – so keep your distance until the pops have stopped.
2. SodaStream or water sparkler
To complete your Oscar night, you'll need some fizz to go with your popcorn. So add some bubbles to your drinks with a home sparkling water maker or SodaStream.
As well as adding fizz to your water, you can use all manner of syrups to recreate the true cinema taste, including Pepsi, 7Up, Ginger Ale and Diet Tonic.
Our pick: SodaStream Terra
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SodaStream's entry-level sparkling water maker lets you make carbonated drinks at home without breaking the bank.
Its slim design also means it won’t take up much space on your kitchen countertop.
undefinedSee our full review and top-rated3. Home projector
Recreate that cinema feel by buying a home cinema projector.
Our testing found that cheap-as-chips projectors have poor picture and sound quality.
You'll have to pay more to get a good projector, but good 60-inch TVs typically start from £1,000 or more. With a home projector, you can get a screen that big for nearly half the price.
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This has a 2.5-hour built-in battery, so you can easily use it on the go and take it outside for an outdoor cinema experience.
If you have a Google account, you can log into it directly through the projector to access a range of streaming services. If you don't, it has an HDMI port so you can connect it to a laptop.
In normal lighting it's not quite bright enough, but as you'll more than likely be wanting to dim the lights for a true cinema experience, this may not be such an issue.
4. Board games
The Oscar ceremony doesn’t start until midnight UK time. So if you plan to watch with friends and family, you’ll need a warm-up act first.
Keep things lively with a board game that's fun, fast and suitable for all.
Our pick: Telestrations
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Telestrations is a spin on the classic game Pictionary. You draw a picture to encapsulate the word on your card, then the next person guesses what the word was from your picture and draws a picture based on their guess.
So by the time your pad comes back to you, the final guess can be miles off where you started.
It's easy to understand and guaranteed to get people laughing.
See the for family and friends, plus our full verdict on Telestrations5. Ice cream maker
Sure, you could just go and buy a tub or two – but it’s much more fun to make ice cream from scratch.
Plus, it will make your Oscar party or movie night a talking point until the 98th Academy Awards in 2026.
Our pick: Lakeland Mini Digital Ice Cream Maker
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This is what's called a 'freeze-first' ice cream maker. This means you first have to freeze the bowl that comes with the maker for about eight to 12 hours.
But if you don't mind prepping the day before, this machine makes around the same amount of ice cream as a tub of Ben & Jerry's. The bowl's compact size means it doesn't take over your freezer.
It's simple to operate, with just an on/off switch, and it's a bargain compared with some ice cream makers, which cost hundreds.
View the full review and uncover the crème de la crème of6. Electric cool box
Everyone has their favourite tipple or soft drink, and your fridge might be bursting at the seams.
The last thing you want during the Oscars is having your homemade ice cream melt and your sparkling drinks go warm, so a cool box will keep things nice and frosty.
Plus, you won't have to get up and walk to the fridge for a top-up in the middle of the Best Picture speech.
Our pick: Hi-Gear 28L 240V electric Cooler
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A lot of electric cool boxes are designed for the car and plug into the cigarette lighter. This one also has a UK mains plug, making it ideal for use indoors. Plugged in for 12 hours, it will cost less than 30p to run.
There's plenty of room for drinks and bottles to keep everyone topped up throughout the evening.
undefined7. Filter coffee machine
Even if the ceremony sticks to time, it will be 3am in the UK by the time the Oscars wrap up.
So if you’re worried about nodding off, a top-notch cup of filter coffee could get you over the line.
Our pick: Delonghi ICM15210 Filter Coffee Machine
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We really like the reusable basket on this filter coffee machine, which makes it a more environmentally friendly option as you don't need to buy filter papers.
It can brew a lot in one go, and has a keep-warm function that lasts 40 minutes, extending the life of your coffee.
It comes preassembled in the box, so you can get a brew on quickly.
Read8. Soundbar
One common complaint about TV speakers is that dialogue sounds muffled, which is where a soundbar can help. Don’t risk missing a word of those Oscar speeches.
Soundbars can be connected to both home projectors and TVs. Most home projectors have an 'aux out' for audio, so look out for soundbars with this connection.
Our pick: Denon DHT-S218
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This is a basic all-in-one soundbar with two speakers to handle the stereo, plus a built-in subwoofer for the deeper notes.
You can stream music from your smartphone via Bluetooth, and there's also a special 'dialogue enhancer' control that helps to make voices sound clearer and speech easier to follow (a must for the Oscars).
Read the full9. TV
If you’re watching on TV, don’t let a poor performer turn your Oscar viewing into a full-blown raspberry.
You'll want a model with a clear picture and smooth motion to handle those clips from all the nominated movies.
Our pick: LG 50UT80006LA 50-inch 4K TV
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This mid-range LG has all the staples you need for everyday use, and it supports SD and HD Freeview and satellite channels.
It's a smart TV, so it gives you access to Netflix, YouTube and more, although the settings menu can be a bit sluggish.
The sound is good compared with similarly priced TVs, and it also has voice control, which is a useful feature.
10. Pizza oven
Saying a pizza oven is something you 'need' for an Oscar party is perhaps a bit of a stretch, but why put up with tepid delivered pizza on Oscar night?
If you're already thinking about splashing out on a pizza oven, why not do it for the most glitzy evening of the year? Making guests a restaurant-quality pizza at home will be the talk of the night.
And don’t worry, you won’t have to decamp to the garden in the early hours – plenty of pizza ovens can be used indoors.
Our pick: Ooni Volt 12
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Plenty of electric pizza ovens can be used indoors, but the versatility of this one is brilliant.
It has three dials: one is a timer, one is for setting the temperature and the other lets you adjust the balance of heat between the elements above and below the pizza stone.
It's big, though, weighing nearly 18kg and measuring 28 x 62 x 53cm (H x W x D), so you'll need to clear some space for it.
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