How to Create Your Ultimate Outdoor Movie Theater

If you love that feeling you get from being in an outdoor movie theater, you can create that experience right in your own backyard.

01:47 06 July 2023

Nothing beats watching movies with friends and family, but who wants to be cooped up in the house on a warm summer night? Going to a drive-in is fun, but sitting in a car all night can be uncomfortable. If you love that feeling you get from being in an outdoor movie theater, but you want comfort, you can create that experience right in your own backyard.

Building an outdoor movie theater isn’t hard

Although it might seem intimidating at first, it’s not hard to create a movie theater in your backyard, but you will need to source the right equipment and get all of your technical specs right. Best of all, there are options for just about any budget, which means you can create a theater to be as plain or as fancy as you’d like.

How to build your outdoor movie theater

There are several key components involved in putting together a home movie theater system. Once you have the basics, you’ll need to give your attention to a few more details to make it work outside.

1. If you stream movies, you need strong Wi-Fi

When you don’t spend much time outside using your home internet connection, you probably don’t know if the signal is strong enough to stream movies. You’ll want to check this out first before investing in equipment. You can use an app called Wi-Fi SweetSpots to locate a strong signal, and once you find that spot, that’s where you’ll need to put your projector, laptop, or other device you plan to stream from.

If you don’t have a decent signal outside, outdoor theater experts from Freedom Fun USA have some solid advice. “Since Wi-Fi strength is often an issue, what we typically do is recommend getting a booster,” says [name here], the company’s CEO. “A good booster will carry the signal into your backyard and provide the strength required for streaming.”

Basic Wi-Fi boosters typically cost between $50 and $100, but depending on your setup, you might need one that can carry the signal further.

2. Get the right projector

When outside, movies require a higher level of brightness, so it’s important to get a projector with the right ANSI lumen rating. One ANSI lumen is equal to 2.4 standard lumens. With some intentionality, you can create images that look just as good outdoors as they do indoors, but it all starts with brightness. The lighter the surrounding area, the more brightness you need.

If your screen is in the shade or under a shelter, you can get away with fewer lumens. About 500 would be the absolute minimum, but you’ll have a better experience with 2,000+.

The ideal projector should offer a wide range of brightness so you can adjust it based on what you’re watching. For example, movies with nighttime scenes need more brightness than daytime scenes. You’ll also need to adjust the brightness for sports matches and video games.

If you’re going to stream movies with a streaming stick, you need a projector with a USB port with at least 1 amp of power output. Older projectors might not have this, so consider that before buying used equipment.

3. Focus on your audio setup

Visuals are only half the equation for a good outdoor home movie theater. You also need great audio, and that can be a little challenging if you’re not experienced. While you can hire a pro, there are ways to do it yourself. No matter what, don’t skimp on sound quality.

Start by getting high-quality speakers instead of relying on your projector’s built-in speakers. You can get a few individual speakers, use a sound bar, or get a complete surround sound system for the ultimate experience. 

However, be aware that your neighbors might not like hearing your movies late at night. If you feel this might be an issue, keep the volume low or get wireless headphones for everyone.

While you can use Bluetooth speakers, be aware that the audio might be slightly out of sync with the movie. This is a common issue with Bluetooth, so if this is a deal-breaker, connect your speakers directly with 3.5mm cables.

Don’t forget the seating

Last, but not least, your movie guests will appreciate a comfortable seat, whether it’s a lounge chair, reclining patio furniture, or an outdoor couch. You can bring out giant bean bags on dry days or toss down some mattresses on a tarp. Snacks are great, but comfortable seating makes any movie night infinitely more enjoyable.