Watching a movie outside is a lot more challenging (at least the first time) than simply putting out a DVD for the kids and leaving them in the living room. But don’t worry you are in the right place we will guide you through easy steps in this article on how to project a movie outside.
Outdoor backyard movie parties are growing in popularity for good reason – it’s fun for family and friends, and outdoor parties are always great when the weather is on your side.
And DIY outdoor theater screens are actually not much difficult to set up yourself. You can do the entire thing in about 30 minutes if you have the right equipment.
If you want to give it your all, a little bit of extra technology can make for a more convenient and enjoyable experience. For the complete outdoor theater setup, you need a projector, external speakers, and a screen as well as the movie player of your choice, e.g. B. a DVD or Blu-ray player, Amazon Fire Stick, or a laptop.
There is a lot of useful information online but I like to keep things simple so let’s see how to set up an outdoor movie theater with good results.
How To Watch Movies Outside?
Watching movies outside helps many of us to relax, decrease anxiety, inspire motivation, and can even give us energy for real life! You just have to do some steps to set the projector screen outside and enjoy the movie. Here are some steps!
1. Choose the Space
You can’t watch a movie without electricity, so find an outdoor spot with electrical outlets. Then design your setup keeping the lighting in mind. Make sure that house lights, street lights, or passing car headlights are not reflected on the cinema screen.
2. Build your screen
When you select a screen, you have options to choose from; choose the best option that suits your outdoor needs. There are inflatable screens that are very easy to assemble.
If you think your outdoor movie nights are regular, then invest in a decent screen, even then. You can buy a decent screen for less than $ 150. The screen is completed with a special screen cloth to make the picture clearer when viewed outdoors.
The other options to consider are a hanging screen or a screen with a frame. All screens are easy to erect in an ad store. It is a personal choice that you need to consider.
The other option is to make your own screen; yes you read that right, make your own. Most of us know how to build a simple frame. You can use a bedding sheet.
For a sharp, clear image, create a makeshift blackout cloth by placing a dark cloth on the back of the white screen. And if you are concerned that the sheet will wrinkle or blow in the wind, you can secure it with a thin frame made of wood or lightweight tubing.
I do not recommend this option. The picture won’t be that clear. The problem with using sheets is that they move in the wind and puff up. They also let light through and become somewhat translucent.
The screens are honestly so cheap and easily available that it’s easier to buy one and get away from the stress of building a screen.
3. Selecting an outdoor projector
If you want to know how an outdoor projector works, choose a recommended projector from a reputable dealer. Choose one that suits your budget and give the dealer some specifications so they understand the parameters of your intended outdoor film.
There are some technical aspects to outdoor projectors, but most new projectors cover most eventualities to give you a good viewing experience.
The reality is that backyard films are fun and you don’t have to get bogged down in math and technical terminology. This is a fun event and should be fun from the start.
4. Decide on Your Media Player or Storage Device
In media storage, you need to save your movies on a device to play them through the projector. You can use your laptop. This is as good as any other media storage device and avoids another expensive purchase.
You can also use flash drives if you want. Any suitable and compatible media storage system will suffice. It plugs into a media port on the projector and you’re done. Your picture is ready to be viewed.
5. Prep the Sound System
You can make the movie come to life and be exciting with a quality sound system. In my experience, residential cinemas are limited in volume due to noise restrictions at night. Do not pay attention to the Dolby Digital / DTS sound experience when watching movies outdoors. Stereo is the way to go.
8-inch speakers between 150 W and 200 W are recommended for an optimal sound experience that does not wake up the neighbors. However, if you are in a sparsely populated area with no noise restrictions, turning up the volume with a 12-inch speaker can make more sound explode and not need an amplifier.
Another option for a quality speaker experience is to invest in Bluetooth-connectable speakers. No wires to run, just simplicity itself and a great sound. Soundbars work well but the better the speaker system, the better the experience for your guests.
How to Project a Movie Outside Without a Projector
Many people do not have a projector that they can use to project the film outdoors. Projectors can be expensive and not many people can afford them.
Aside from the cost, they also require a constant source of power. This, therefore, limits its outdoor use. Because you always need a power source to connect the projector.
There are many different methods of making your outdoor cinema screens, but the most common method is undoubtedly using your phone as a projector.
Using your phone as a projector
This method is the most common method used by people who don’t have a projector. With some simple and readily available household items, you can take your screen outside and enjoy the movie without buying a projector. This method will make the best movie Projectors That You Can Get without Buying a Projector.
Things you will need
You will need the following items and tools. You can buy most of these items cheaply from Amazon or, with a bit of luck, have them already at home.
- Smartphone/Tablet – this will be used for playing the movie
- A magnifying glass; is the most vital thing which acts as a lens.
- A shoebox of adequate size
- Glue
- A crafting knife and scissors
- Black paper or cloth
- A large white, plain sheet/tablecloth – which acts as a screen
- Tape
Method to Project a Movie Outside Without a Projector:
- Trace the magnifying glass on the box
- Cut out the circle on the box
- Tape the magnifying glass to the box
- Cover the interior of the box with black paper
- Make a smartphone stand using binder clips
- Place your smartphone on the stand inside the box
- Move the phone back and forth to find the correct focus
- Project onto the wall
Other methods
While the smartphone method is the most common and most secure method of making your outdoor projector, there are also many different methods including:
- The laptop’s screen projector: Projecting a laptop screen onto a This method offers better image quality than a smartphone projector, but it is more difficult to perform.
- A lightbulb projector: is more or less the same as the smartphone projector but has a hollowed-out lightbulb instead of a lens.
- DIY wood projectors: use a wooden container instead of a shoebox. Although this is harder to make, it is way more durable than a shoebox projector.
With some manual skills and a few household items, you can build your own projector at home. Not only is it inexpensive, but it is also energy-efficient and transport friendly as well.
What do you need for outdoor movie night?
We have got a list of all the essentials you’ll need to make your backyard movie night a fun experience for the whole family. To host your backyard movie night, you’ll need:
- 1.) The Projector
If you’re planning on hosting a backyard movie night this summer, you probably already have a projector, or at least have a projector on your mind.
- 2.) The Screen Surface & Projector Table
There is no wrong way to show your movie for your movie night outdoors. I’ve seen people project onto the walls of their homes, but white sheets on fences, hang them from trees or even set up their own system of poles to tie the sheets. The latter could easily be done with a few PVC pipes.
- 3.) Your Video Source
It is easy. If your computer has HDMI, you can use a laptop to project your movie. Just make sure you change the screen settings so the screen saver doesn’t interrupt the movie. You can also use a DVD or Blu-ray player or a game console like PlayStation or Xbox.
NVIDIA Shield (affiliate link) is also an option if you want to stream your movie from Netflix and have a super portable video source.
- 4.) A Sound System
Most projectors suitable for an outdoor movie night have their own built-in speakers, but as with all built-in speakers, the sound lacks the deep resonance found with a proper speaker. Some options for external sound systems are:
- A Portable Speaker
- Computer Speakers
- A Guitar Amplifier that accepts a 1/8” input jack (or a 1/4” to 1/8” adapter)
- 5.) A Power Source
It’s easy: if you’re having your movie night out in your garden, you can use an extension cord to run the power from inside the house or from one of your outdoor sockets. And your projector and sound system are on the power strip, and you’re spot on! I like to use surge protector socket strips for projectors in the event of accidental power outages.
- 6.) The Snacks
What’s a movie experience without popcorn? The answer: Just One Movie Popcorn and huge MandMs, Dips, Sour Patch Kids, and Drinks are a must for your summer movie night.
Bonus points if you get your own little popcorn maker or shaved ice machine! It’s also great fun for kids if you can make a small film-themed decoration for your snack table.
- 7.) The Movie
This is the most important essential of the night! That’s why you’re putting all of this together, so pick out a movie that you’ve always wanted to see or that the whole family is already enjoying.
- 8.) Comfy Seating
Comfortable seats are an important element to consider on your movie night. Would you prefer to sit or lie on a blanket? Do you need back support? When selecting the seats for your outdoor movie night, there are a number of options that can also be combined with one another:
- Lawn or Beach Chairs – Chances are you have some of these in your backyard or garage already.
- Loungers – This is a nice hybrid of chair and floor-sitting.
- Poufs – For those who love floor sits but do not want to sit on a blanket.
- Large Blanket – Possibly the easiest to get, the large blanket can be made more comfortable with cute pillows and poufs.
Some Outdoor Projector Screen Ideas
It is not necessary to buy costly devices from your local electronic store, as many forms of ways are present to build the outdoor screen, which is good news if you do not want to spend too much money or time on this project.
We will go over some simple projector screen ideas below so you can get started right away!
- Paint
If you have a spare wall or door in your garden, this is not too important that you can use, and then you could paint it so it is suitable for it to be seen. If you have a nice, flat surface and no sunshine, this can be an option. If you have a nice, flat surface and no sunshine, this can be an option.
- Thin Sheet Of Plywood Or Cardboard:
The other idea for a projection screen is to use a thin sheet of plywood or cardboard. You can get a sheet from any of your local hardware stores and tape it on the wall or fence.
If you want, you can make a four-sided box and place it about 3 feet behind the platform to keep the wind from blowing the moving sheet around. The easiest way would be to hold it down using large nails, and if you have thin sheets, then you could use some tape instead.
- White Canvas / Cloth
If you have a piece of white canvas or fabric, you can easily create your own outdoor projection screen. Just take the material and place it on something that will hold the shape, such as Branches, around 4 feet apart. Make sure both sides are separated. However, there is no image distortion when viewed from a distance.
- White Bed Sheet Material
Another great and inexpensive idea to use to make your own projection screen is a blank sheet of paper. No tools are required, just hang the leaf over a sturdy fence or branch. Or you can use two pieces of wood connected together. It’s about three feet high.
If you’re struggling to find an area to hang your sheet in, find some boxes that are taped around the house and placed behind the house so the wind doesn’t blow them away.
And if you want to stop the wind from blowing too much, they also put up sheets of cardboard behind this box for extra support and stability.
- Spandex
That might be a strange idea, but it works. One way to stretch the projector screen is to use Spandex fabric or PVC fabric. First, you need to take the fabric and cut it into a piece large enough to cover your screen.
Next, fulfill two poles about three meters high and place them at each end of the material. Secure them with tape or string so they don’t move too much while you watch the movie.
How To Show A Movie Outside – FAQs
Conclusion
It’s time to invite your guests and neighbors to an unforgettable movie night. Setting up an outdoor cinema in your garden doesn’t have to be complex. There are some simple guidelines that you need to follow when installing the theater in your yard.
Follow the basics and follow the advice of the dealer, who must have extensive knowledge to make your viewing experience exceptional.
Unfortunately, if you want a matinee preview for a few small children in the family, the projector won’t work until sunset. A certain amount of darkness is required to see clear and sharp images on an outdoor screen.
In cloudy weather, it is possible to change the projector’s lumens by changing the projector lamp. This gives a brighter picture and overcomes some ambient light to some extent. I hope this article helps you to set up your own outdoor movie outside.
