Outdoor TVs are wonderful for watching a football game on the patio or while you are soaking in the hot tub, but what if you want to enjoy a movie on a giant screen? You’ll need a very specific setup for outdoor entertainment, and the team at 21rst Century Audio Video can help with professional outdoor AV equipment. Read this blog to learn about what it takes to have an incredible movie night in your own backyard.

SEE ALSO: How to Create an Outdoor Media Room

Watching movies under the stars has been a popular pastime since the 50s when couples would go to the drive-in and sit in their vehicles while watching a fun flick. Today, families still pack their picnic baskets and sit on blankets on large lawns to see fan-favorite films in the park. To do the same in your backyard, or even while you are traveling, you’ll need two things – a professional projector and screen.

Short Throw Projectors

Short throw projectors have many benefits. They are lightweight, so they are easy to carry from inside the house to the backyard, they can connect to your Wi-fi, and they don’t require any wiring. They also only have to be about 14 inches from the screen, so you don’t need to put it far away or hoisted up on a table. You can enjoy crystal clear picture from a very short distance, leaving you more room to invite your friends and also prevent people from walking in front of the light.

With a strong and reliable home network, you can stream movies using the projector. The Epson 2045 projector, for example, has a plugin for a Roku Streaming Stick so you can play HD videos. If you want to bring a Blu-ray player outside, it can connect to that too; you just need to be careful about the weather conditions. Most people would never watch a movie in the rain anyway, but it’s important not to accidentally leave a Blu-ray player in the yard because they aren’t built for permanent outdoor use. 

Outdoor Screens

You don’t necessarily need a screen to watch a movie outside, but there are a lot of benefits to investing in one for an outdoor home theater. For example, instead of projecting the image on a large white surface—like a wall—a screen will ensure the image is clear. A dirty wall that has cracks or roughness will affect the clarity of the motion picture. 

Freestanding screens have stands that sit on the grass. Or, the screen can be rolled out over a surface, such as a garage or RV. LG, for instance, has a new line of rollable screens. Want to watch the Super Bowl outside? Bring your 60-inch LG flexible OLED panel to the backyard and place it on an exterior wall. 

Lastly, if you already have an outdoor audio system, you can connect the outdoor speakers to your projector using wireless technology. If you need weatherproof speakers to go along with your projector and screen, let us know! We have everything you need for a movie night under the stars. 

Learn More