OK, our family room looks nothing like this glorious home movie theater, but there are few things we enjoy more than snuggling on the couch with our kids and watching movies on a cozy Friday night. So when we read Common Sense Media’s “Tips for a Fun Family Movie Night,” we couldn’t resist. Common Sense is the San Francisco-based non-profit that provides media and entertainment reviews from a family-friendly perspective – and much more reliable than the usual PG, PG-13 ratings system.

Family budgets are stretched so thin these days, the article says, and a family of four can easily drop $50+ on a night at the cineplex. Why not opt for a homemade film festival instead – borrow DVDs from the library, pop some popcorn, and start your own family movie night tradition. Let family members take turns picking movies each week, and add a few quirky rituals – crazy pajamas, perhaps, or backwards dinner. Our family was always fond of “Pizza Picnics.” We’d heat up a frozen pizza, spread a tablecloth over the den floor, and fire up the DVD player.

Need ideas on what to watch? Common Sense has loads of suggestions and reviews. We also rely on Plugged-In Online, a Focus on the Family publication that has pleasantly surprised us with its savvy, well-written reviews. (Are they objective? Hey, their review of “Twilight” praised a vampire’s morals and family-centric values.)

Have a favorite movie to recommend or movie night tradition to share? Click “comments” and tell us!