How to Turn Your Backyard Into a Movie Theater This Summer
Welcome to The Best Summer Ever , your guide to making the most of the sunny season. Whether you’re dreaming of the perfect summer of going on epic adventures or doing as little as possible (preferably somewhere with good air conditioning), we’ve got you covered, because the best summers don’t just happen. You must do this.
Drive-in movies were once a staple of summer evening entertainment—what’s better than a movie under the stars? You can bring back those days, but make it better by turning your backyard into a movie theater.
Creating a DIY outdoor cinema room will make puffins jealous, and it’s surprisingly easy and inexpensive. Here’s everything you need to do to turn those lazy summer nights into a cinematic experience.
Essential Ingredients for a Backyard Cinema
Choosing a projector for a summer cinema
Obviously, the easiest solution to watching movies outside is to take the TV into the backyard and set it up. Or, if you’re more serious about outdoor media viewing, you can invest in an element-resistant TV like this Samsung Terrace to sit permanently on your patio. Both have their advantages, but if you want to create the most immersive outdoor movie experience possible, you need to ensure that Jaws is projected authentically onto a real screen.
When choosing a projector for outdoor viewing, keep the following in mind:
Brightness : Without getting into the technicalities of measuring light, the rule of thumb for projecting anywhere is that the larger the screen, the brighter the projector should be. You also need to consider ambient lighting: the more ambient light, the more brightness you need. Luckily, even a budget projector like this BenQ GV30 projector will get the job done for a movie night, and it’s also very lightweight and portable.
Resolution : If you’re a real movie buff, you might want to insist on full 4K resolution. This is entirely possible with higher end projectors, but for most purposes 1080p resolution is sufficient. But basically the same rule applies: the larger the projection, the higher the resolution.
Space : If you don’t have a huge yard but still want to project a large image, you might want to look at short throw lens projectors like the Optoma GT780 .
Cords : You can avoid the hassle of running extension cords outside with a wireless projector like the Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Projector .
Our sister site PC Mag recently took an in-depth look at outdoor projectors and named the Epson EpiqVision Mini EF12 the best overall, so it’s a great place to start (or end) your research.
Selecting a screen for outdoor cinema projection
It’s not a movie theater without a movie screen. Your first thought might be to project the film onto the wall of your house or garage. This will work, but only if the wall is white and not textured. Any imperfection will cast distracting shadows.
Another option: hang a white sheet. If the sheet doesn’t have wrinkles, it will work well as a movie screen, but a blowing breeze will ruin the film, and you may find that the logistics of hanging the sheet so that it remains perfectly still is more of a hassle than its value.
So let’s look at an inflatable movie screen. It measures 16 feet diagonally and exceeds Amazon user recommendations.
Choosing a media player for an open-air cinema
Most projectors designed for home use, even on a budget, are essentially smart devices that are ready to stream as soon as they connect to your Wi-Fi network, so you don’t have to drag your Blu-ray player outside. But if your projector doesn’t do that, a USB-based streamer like the Roku Streaming Stick or Amazon Fire TV Stick will work.
Choosing a sound system for an open-air cinema
Many projectors have built-in speakers and also connect to Bluetooth speakers, and for a one-off movie screening for a special occasion, they’re fine. But if you want to get more serious, something like this Sonance Patio Series 4.1 speaker system can live permanently in your backyard and provide background music year-round, as well as on movie nights. Another option: these solar-powered Bluetooth speakers that look like rocks and even offer a light show during breaks.
Outdoor cinema extras you might not have thought of
Extension Cords: The number of cords you will need to run in your backyard depends entirely on how your yard is wired, but it will likely be more than you expect, so it can’t hurt to stock up on a long extension cord or two. so you won’t be running to Staples on movie night.
Mat to cover the cord . Speaking of cords, consider using a cord mat to make sure any wiring is covered and guests won’t trip.
Wi-Fi Extender : Before movie night, check to see if your Wi-Fi actually reaches your backyard. If not, consider a Wi-Fi extender .
Blankets : Be sure to have an extra supply of blankets on hand in case it gets cold.
Insect control . Keep bloodsuckers out of your movie theater by following these tips .
What films should be shown at an open-air cinema evening?
The movie you choose really is the most important thing about your outdoor movie night. In keeping with the laid-back atmosphere of summer moviegoing, classic, more light-hearted films are the traditional choice. You can’t go wrong with Back to the Future , The Goonies or Raiders of the Lost Arc, especially if you make them kid-friendly. If your guests are adults, Jaws is a classic. If you want something a little more elevated (but still crowd-pleasing), try The Big Lebowski.
However, this is your cinema and if you want to show Bergman’s The Virgin Spring , go for it. The right movie depends on the audience: Last summer my brother-in-law showed a series of films for a group of adults and teenagers in his backyard, and the crowd favorite was Breaking Away, a quiet coming of age. the story is about bicycle racing in the 1970s, so it really depends on the crowd.
Ideas to make movie night at home extra special
There are many ways to make your best summer movie night a real celebration, rather than just “watching movies outside.” Here are some ideas:
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Theme night: Make it 1980s or superhero themed. Everything that meets the requirements of the cinema.
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Create a program . Take inspiration from how cinemas have done it in the past and show relevant trailers , movie inserts or even newsreels before the main film. Collections of all this can be found on YouTube.
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Quiz : Everyone loves quiz competitions. You can host your own group trivia competitions in Kahoot that can be shown on your backyard screen, so make one related to the genre you’re showing.