Last Updated: 01 March 2025 - Now picks between two movie options

Goals

• Automate choosing a movie
• Stop kids from arguing
• Stop wasting time bickering over nonsense
• Prevent having to think of a movie every weekend

I have a really simple one today. The script below will pick two options from a list of movies and message you when it’s time for Movie Night.

My kids are siblings. They argue. When my son doesn’t get his way, he’ll find a loophole or negotiate until he’s blue in the face, then tantrum walk away if there’s no hope. My daughter, on the other hand, will switch to 100% silent mode and quietly and slowly walk away if someone doesn’t offer her the win. You know, typical kid bullshit.

Python has surprisingly helped calm these issues since I’ve convinced my kids that the computer is an impartial, unfeeling robot monster. So, no matter what the robot picks, it’s not because it doesn’t want you to win. It’s because it doesn’t care which kid it eats first. It’s important as a parent to instill a healthy respect and fear for technology. How else will we stand a chance in the AI wars of 2027?

So, here’s how it’s done:

movies.py

import random
#from slack_lib import send_message_to_slack

with open('/movie_bot/movies.txt', 'r') as file:
    movies = [line.strip() for line in file]

if len(movies) < 2:
    raise ValueError("Not enough movies left on the list.")

choices = random.sample(movies, 2)

message = f"> Tonight's Movies:\n• Option 1: {choices[0]}\n• Option 2: {choices[1]}"
print(message)
#send_message_to_slack(message, username="🍿 Movie Bot 🎞️")

Set this script to run at certain times or run it manually. Enjoy the movie. Knock it off the list. Simple.

Movies Watched

• Kung Fu Panda ^{1 2 3}
• The Sea Beast ¹
• Wish ¹
• Detective Pikachu
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II
• Original Power Rangers movie
• WALL-E
• Wreck It Ralph
• New Power Rangers
• Lego Movie
• Monsters Inc
• A Bug’s Life
• Jungle Book
• Alice in Wonderland
• The Little Mermaid
• Mulan
• Antz
• Pee Wee’s Big Adventure
• The Meg
• The Wizard
• Ace Ventura 2
• Snow White and the Seven Dwarves
• Home Alone
• George of the Jungle
• Mary Poppins
• Jumanji
• Ratatoulle
• Honey I shrunk the kids
• Lilo & Stitch
• Aladdin
• The Lion King
• Star Wars: Episode 1
• Spaceballs
• Tangled
• Iron Giant
• The Incredibles
• The Emperor’s New Groove
• Despicable Me 4
• If
• Deadpool & Wolverine
• Harold and the Purple Crayon
• Puss in Boots
• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
• Up
• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Inside Out
• Happy Feet
• James and the Giant Peach
• Inside Out 2
• The Wild Robot
• Sonic the Hedgehog 3
• Big Hero 6
• Toy Story
• Beauty & The Beast
• Madagascar
• Coco
• How to Train Your Dragon
• Penguins of Madagascar
• The Good Dinosaur
• Toy Story 2
• Onward
• Finding Nemo
• Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
• Soul
• Rio
• Hook
• Ice Age
• Bolt
• KPop Demon Hunters
• Zootopia
• Casper
• Monters vs. Aliens
• Monsters University
• Finding Dory
• The Goonies ³
• The Bad Guys
• The Bad Guys 2
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
• Zootopia 2
• How to Train Your Dragon 2
• Shrek
• The Princess & The Frog
• E.T.
• Paddington
• Cars
• The Secret Life of Pets
• Home
• The Road to El Dorado
• Night at the Museum
• Over the Hedge
• Hoppers
• Super Mario Galaxy
• Planet 51
• The Peanuts Movie
• Madagascar 2
• Pocahontas
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
• Elf