There is nothing more fun and special than having a projected outdoor movie night! Whether a warm summer night or a cozy bundled up fall evening, an outdoor movie night is sure to be a slam dunk family, friend or date night!
This post is all about how to prepare for an epic outdoor movie night!
1. Pick the perfect movie
Picking the perfect movie is one of the most essential parts of throwing an outdoor movie night. While this could be seen as something rather objective, there are certain movies that just tend to be crowd pleasers. Here are a few suggestions in several genres!
For your horror and thriller buffs, go with something scary, but not too scary (you are sitting outside after all). Some of the best options could include classics like Halloween, IT, The Ring or Silence of the Lambs, or some funnier modern horrors like Final Destination, Scream, or Get Out.
If you’re looking for a classic comedy crowd pleaser, look no further than a John Hughes flick. Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Weird Science, and so many others, make for some of the best outdoor movie night viewing there is.
For those who are looking to make this a date night romance, there are a few movies that will always be a romantic hit. The Notebook it pretty much goes without saying will be a slam dunk. Curl up and watch the heart-wrenching tale of Allie and Noah. If you’re looking for something equally swoon-worthy try Pride and Prejudice, Brokeback Mountain, or Before Sunrise. Or a romantic comedy like Sleepless in Seattle, 10 Things I Hate About You, or How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
There really are endless possibilities, so if all else fails, just crowd source a favorite! Or, check out one of our movie guides to give you inspiration!
2. Make sure you have the right equipment
In order to make sure the film you’ve picked can be seen and heard be all, it is essential to make sure you have the right projector and speaker!
In a pinch, bringing a tv or laptop outside will do the trick, but if you’re ready to bring it to the next level, you have to get a projector. When picking a projector, the higher the lumen count, the easier it will be to see the projection. Make sure there is a hookup for HDMI and external speakers so that you can use something like an Amazon Fire TV Stick or AppleTV to play your film. Here is one that fits the bill and is an affordable projector!
Once you’ve landed on your projector of choice, I suggest using an external speaker. Generally projectors come with an internal speaker, but they often don’t project very far and can sometimes be low quality. If the projector has an Aux outlet or Bluetooth capabilities I suggest using a portable speaker. My favorite is my UE Boom 2, but just about any speaker will do.
3. Create the perfect surface to screen it
Second in importance to the projector, the screen you are projecting it on is essential to an outdoor movie night. There are several options that will do the trick. Buying a freestanding projection screen is definitely an option if you plan to make an outdoor movie night a tradition.
But to keep in more DIY, a large white bedsheet will definitely do the trick! Once you have your sheet picked out, be sure to adhere it to a flat surface or pull the corners taut so the sheet is flat. Wrinkles in the sheet will cause wrinkles in the image, so do your best to keep it flat!
4. Choose your furniture
When it comes to getting comfortable for your outdoor movie night, the options are endless. If you have lawn chairs, sports chairs or low chairs, those are perfect for a big crowd. Or you can even use your existing outdoor furniture.
If you’re looking for something more cozy and intimate, I highly suggest busting out all the pillows and blankets you can. If you want to level up even more, bust out an air mattress to give yourself a little cushion from the ground. As long as you can get comfy, there really is no wrong way to do it!
5. Load up on movie theatre candy, sodas and treats
Believe it or not, I’ve found the best place to get my tasty movie treats is The Dollar Tree (or some other dollar store). They have the movie-sized candy boxes, and even usually fun red and white striped popcorn bowls, sodas, and more. But wherever you do your shopping, don’t skimp on the treats, it truly is one of the best parts about an outdoor movie night. Milk duds, Buncha Crunch, Peanut M&M’s, Twizzlers, whatever your choice, you really can’t go wrong as long as there is enough for sharing.
6. Pop fresh popcorn
Nothing says movies quite like popcorn. And no outdoor movie night would be complete without tons of fresh popcorn. Make the popcorn extra fun for guests by serving them in these adorable reusable popcorn boxes! Or if you plan to have many outdoor movie nights, you could even invest in one of the Vintage Popcorn Machines. Whatever you decide, don’t skip on this salty treat!
Enjoy!!
This post was all about tips to throw an epic outdoor movie night!
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