The days are longer, the weather is warmer, and the time has never been riper for an epic outdoor movie night—summer has arrived. What better way is there to show off your freshly mowed lawn than by inviting all the neighbors and friends over for barbecue and a movie? Here are 5 simple steps you can take to host your own outdoor movie night this summer.
Step 1 – Pick an Epic Movie
Know your audience. You’ll want to pick the flick that has the widest appeal among the guests you intend to invite to movie night. If you’ve got kids home for summer break, now is probably not the time to screen Cabin in the Woods, but at the same time you don’t want to be too generic. Since this is supposed to be an EPIC movie night, you’ll want to find that sweet spot between nostalgia, action, romance, and adventure. One method is to stick to classics like Star Wars, The Goonies, or anything from Pixar. Another surefire strategy is to pick a summer blockbuster from the past year that your friends haven’t seen yet. Pick an epic movie that will draw the crowds in.
Step 2 – Prep your Venue
Has your backyard started to look a little bit like the Jungle Book? Mow that lawn. If you’ve got kids home from school, now’s a great excuse to put them to work. As for seating arrangements, the great thing about sunny weather is that all you need is a beach towel and a freshly mowed lawn. For the true outdoor theater experience however you might want to consider investing in some lounge chairs, fold up chairs, or campfire logs for the full outdoor package.
Step 3 – Acquire a Projector
A simple google search will reveal options for projector rentals in your area. If you aim to be the friend on the block who hosts epic movie nights every summer, you might consider investing into a home theater HD projector with at least 720p or 1080p resolution. You will also want a high lumen rating, at least 2000+, for a crisp clear picture while viewing. Pair it up with a large sturdy outdoor screen or canvas and you’ll have a movie venue you can be proud of.
Step 4 – Get a Large Screen
It won’t be an epic movie night without a big screen, but before you lug your 52 inch, HD plasma screen TV from your living room outdoors, keep in mind that you’ll need to be wary of the weather. Fortunately suburbanites across the country have created a large enough market for outdoor projector screens. Try a Yardmaster or FlexiWhite for some reliable outdoor screen brands. The goal is to set up a weatherproof, canvas that can withstand a sudden burst of wind or a little bit of rainfall.
Step 5 – Complete your Epic Movie Night with Food
Pop some popcorn and fire up the grill, because no epic movie night would be complete without some delicious food. Movie nights work best in the dark, where your projector will produce the highest quality picture A great way to host a successful movie night is to draw in the crowd with a barbecue and start the movie after it gets dark. During the movie, pass out sodas, beer, popcorn, hot dogs, and other delectable treats. You can even roast marshmallows on the grill and make some s’mores for dessert. Keep these 5 steps in mind and you’ll be well on your way to hosting a movie night of EPIC proportions.
[…] We’ve already discussed before how to take advantage of the warm sunny weather and put on an epic outdoor movie night. Now that Halloween is right around the corner, the cinemaphile within you is probably itching to […]