There's nothing like watching a movie on the big screen, but it would be a shame to waste a glorious summer evening hanging out indoors. If you have a backyard, why not enjoy the best of both worlds by creating your own movie experience in the comfort and privacy of your backyard?
Building your own outdoor movie theater is much easier than you think and can easily be expanded to fit your budget. From a simple projector and seating combination to a full-fledged theater with a large outdoor screen and speakers, you can maximize your video experience. audio quality.
Here's what you need for your outdoor theater and tips for making it all work together.
projector
While it's possible to set up a TV outdoors for the occasional movie viewing, it doesn't have the “wow” factor that a big-screen projection system does. Modern home theater projectors offer excellent picture quality and usually deliver a much brighter image than you'd expect. While they're not bright enough for watching outside during the day, they're plenty bright enough to enjoy a movie night under the stars.
Most of the projector recommendations in our guide to the best budget projectors for home theaters are also useful for occasional outdoor use. It's small and light enough to be carried outdoors or placed on a small table, yet emits enough light to produce large images. Our top pick, the BenQ HT2060, has excellent light output, incredibly accurate colors, and a pretty solid built-in speaker.
However, to create a 100-inch image using the HT2060, you need at least 10 feet of space between the projector and the screen. If the shape or size of your backyard doesn't allow for this method, the BenQ HT2150ST uses a short throw lens, so it can be placed 4.9 feet from the screen to create a 100-inch image.
If you plan to use your projector outdoors more regularly, you may want a more rugged and portable projector with a built-in battery that eliminates the need to run a power cord. The Nebula Mars 3 is our favorite outdoor projector because it's the brightest battery-powered model we've tested so far. The built-in speaker system is powerful enough to fill large areas with clear, balanced sound, and features such as an IPX3 weather rating, drop resistance, and built-in LED lantern make it ideal for outdoor use. Perfect for use.
The downside to battery-powered portable projectors is that they can't be as bright as a good traditional home theater projector, so you can't get super large screen sizes. For Mars 3, a 150-inch screen is probably the maximum size you'll want to use.
There are cheaper projectors on the market that are suitable for occasional outdoor movie viewing, but we understand that they may not be as bright or the image quality may be worse than the one we chose. please. Show movies on a big screen.
projector screen (or not)
Of course, the easiest way to watch a movie outdoors is to just point the projected image at a wall in your house, but we don't recommend this approach. Movie screens are smooth for a reason: no matter how bright the projector is, you can still see the texture and surface of the “screen” material. So if you have wooden shingles, you'll see those shingles colorfully lit up by the movie. The same is true for other surfaces; the film's color will also change to match the color of your wall. While this option is certainly simple (and free), we know we can do better.
A large white sheet is the most affordable solution that can provide a decent image. The aforementioned texture issues can still be a concern, but they become less of a concern if you keep the sheets wrinkle-free. However, even the slightest breeze can cause the screen to move, so for the best experience with minimal disturbance, pull the material as taut as possible when mounting it on a wall or handmade frame. is recommended. When we tested these target sheets for guiding outdoor movie screens, they performed surprisingly well.
If you want the best possible image no matter which projector you choose, you'll need to get an actual outdoor screen. We love Elite Screen's Yard Master Plus and Yard Master 2. Both come with a sturdy frame and ground stakes so they won't blow away if your backyard gets a little windy. The height-adjustable Yard Master Plus is available in sizes ranging from 100 to 200 inches (16:9 shape), while the Yard Master 2 has a fixed height and screen size up to 135 inches.
If you need an even faster screen setup and don't mind some fan noise, the Gemmy Airblown Inflatable Deluxe Screen inflates quickly and provides consistent performance.
best outdoor projector screen
If you want to get the clearest, brightest image during your outdoor movie night, use an outdoor projector screen like the Yard Master series from Elite Screens.
media player
What are you going to see? Or, more importantly, how are you going to see it? Gone are the days when he had to take his DVD or Blu-ray player out into the garden along with the projector. Some projectors, such as the Nebula Mars 3, have built-in streaming platforms so you don't need to connect to an external source, but not all projectors have these features.
Streaming sticks like the Roku Streaming Stick 4K connect directly to your projector's HDMI input, receive power from the projector's USB connection, and use your home's Wi-Fi to stream movies from the old interwebs. Make sure your projector has a powered USB port that provides at least 1 amp of output. Older projectors have USB ports, but they may not provide enough power. In that case, you will need to provide external power to your streaming stick.
best media streaming devices
Chromecast with Google TV has all the features you want in a media streamer, and Google's interface is great for finding and organizing your content.
If you don't want to get a streaming stick, many laptops have the ability to output a video signal via HDMI or an HDMI adapter. You can connect an HDMI cable from your computer to the projector, use a wireless HDMI transmitter, or consider other options for wireless connectivity.
If your projector has a USB-C or USB-A input, you may be able to connect your smartphone or thumb drive to play videos.
better speakers
Perhaps you also want to listen to your own movies. Technically, you can use the projector's built-in speakers. As mentioned above, what's built into Nebula Mars 3 has solid dynamic capabilities. If several people are sitting near the projector, the built-in speakers may be sufficient. But if you have a large yard or some kind of background noise (quiet, kids!), it can be difficult to hear. Besides, if you have a big screen, wouldn't it be great if you could enjoy big sound as well?
The easiest way to add better speakers is to use the projector's analog audio output. This allows you to connect any speaker with an analog input. Many Bluetooth speakers, most soundbars, and in fact almost all speaker systems have this. To connect the two, you'll need an audio cable, either a 3.5 mm-to-3.5 mm stereo cable or a 3.5 mm-to-RCA cable.
If you want (or need) to go wireless instead, you'll need to use Bluetooth. More and more projectors are adding built-in Bluetooth connectivity to easily send audio to high-quality Bluetooth speakers. However, this approach can lead to noticeable lip-sync issues where you can see something happening on screen and immediately hear it through the speakers. This is a common problem with Bluetooth, but if you're watching movies outdoors, it probably won't be an issue.
best portable bluetooth speaker
The UE Wonderboom 3 is the best portable Bluetooth speaker overall because it sounds cool, looks cool, and is the most rugged model we tested.
If you're using a streaming stick, you can also connect a Bluetooth speaker to it. With Roku, you can make this connection through the Roku mobile app on your phone. It's a little complicated, so I'll leave it at that (pun intended): Connect the Roku app to your Roku stick. This is easy as long as you are on the same Wi-Fi network. Next, connect your Bluetooth speaker to your phone or tablet. The audio for streaming content is sent to your Bluetooth speaker via your phone.
If you don't have a Roku or another source device with Bluetooth, such as a laptop, another wireless option is a Bluetooth transmitter. These devices connect to the audio output of a projector or source and wirelessly transmit audio to a Bluetooth speaker, as if the source had built-in Bluetooth.
useful accessories
The items listed above are the core components needed for an outdoor movie festival. Depending on your home, garden, etc., you may need a few other things to get everything up and running.
Depending on your gear, an extension cord may be essential to the job. Some cords have multiple outlets on the end, allowing him to connect only one cable while connecting numerous devices. Power strips are also available.
If you're trying to stream video outdoors and your Wi-Fi signal isn't strong or stable enough, your home Wi-Fi network might need a little help. Before you buy an extender or new router, make sure your home network is as fast as possible.
It's the little details that make a backyard movie night memorable. Our favorite camping chairs and picnic blankets are a more portable (and comfortable) alternative to dragging a chair outside. Additionally, it's a good idea to have a cooler for snacks and a blanket for those slightly chilly nights.
And of course, there are a lot of things outdoors that sting and sting. Don't ruin the fun. From sprays to fans, we have some of the best repellents and mosquito repellents available.