10 things you'll need for watching the Oscars 2025
Oscar night is almost upon us. If you're watching live, it can be a long night.
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
We like Pops up to 70g (three servings) of popcorn at once, easy to use and to clean, doesn't use oil
We don't like Kernels can fly out of the maker before being popped
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.
See the full review and find out which popcorn makers will get your Oscar party popping
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
We like Slim design, you can also customise the level of fizz and add syrups to create lots of flavours
We don't like The back cover is a bit fiddly to remove and replace
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.
You can buy a range of syrups to add to your sparkling water from Amazon, Lakeland, SodaStream and other retailers.
See our full review and top-rated SodaStreams and sparkling water makers
3. 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.
Our pick: Nebula Anker Mars 3 Air Portable Projector
We like Small size and carry handle make it very portable
We don't like Not bright enough in normal room lighting
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.
Read the full review and the whole star-studded line-up of home projectors
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
We like It's designed for up to eight players, and you can play 'just for fun' or for points
We don't like It's more fun with more people, so it's best reserved for parties
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 best board games for family and friends, plus our full verdict on Telestrations
5. 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
We like Brilliant value for money, simple to assemble and use, compact size
We don't like Small chute to add ingredients and mix-ins, best results from freezing overnight
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 of ice cream makers
6. 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
We like Has a 240V mains plug, costs less then 2p an hour to run, room for 50 x 330ml cans
We don't like Uncomfortable handle
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.
Read the full review and discover the rest of the best electric cool boxes we've tested
7. 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
We like Keeps the coffee warm, brews up to 10 cups (2.25 litres), uses a reusable basket
We don't like Not all parts are dishwasher safe
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.
Read the full review and find out which filter coffee machines get top billing
8. 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
We like Has an aux connection, so it can be used with our home projector pick, and is cheaper than most soundbars
We don't like It's quite large and heavy, and its LED indicators are a bit confusing
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 full Denon DHT-S218 review and find out which soundbars are solid-gold performers
9. 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
We like Good voice controls and remote, very good value for money, rich and clear audio
We don't like Slow settings menu, doesn't have PVR function to record shows
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.
Read our full LG 50UT80006LA TV review and stay in the picture with all the best TVs for 2025
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
We like Can be used indoors, easy to use, has set programs for cooking different types of pizza
We don't like Bulky and takes up a lot of kitchen counter space
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.
Read the full review and see which pizza ovens are topping our tests
