Outdoor movie nights can be a wonderful way to come up with friends and families and have some great time outside the home. These movie nights are suitable for those who do not want to leave the comfort of their home yet wish to spend time outside. A backyard movie night can offer you both- a great outdoor time and an unforgettable movie night..
However, you need to put in some effort and brainstorm creative DIY ideas to get the best result. Sounds challenging? Not really, as we are here with eight amazing backyard movie night ideas that will set up the mood of your evenings.
These backyard movie night ideas will help you plan an unforgettable outdoor movie night with your friends and family. So that no one feels left out, we’ve included DIY ideas for both adults and children. Among other things, we concentrated on the seating, cuisine, and decorations.
In addition, we’ve included a list of the essentials you’ll need to complete any of the DIY projects. So, without further ado, let’s get our hands dirty with these fantastic backyard movie night suggestions!
Why Outdoor Movie Plans?
Before we go into the ideas, it’s important to understand why you’re having an outdoor movie night. There is no single response to this because different people will be thinking about different things and objectives.
However, an outdoor backyard movie night usually provides a welcome reprieve from everyday life by providing your backyard sanctuary. And guess what, you can create and arrange as you desire.
For you, a backyard movie night might be a fairy tale or a means to bond with your children or loved ones. It’s also a creative way to keep your kids occupied so you can have a romantic night! Birthdays and other important occasions can also be commemorated with a customized backyard movie night.
So, it depends on why you want to arrange a movie night outdoors, as based on that, you can pick up the DIY ideas and customize them.
Sounds interesting? We bet!
So, now, let’s dig into some of the things that an outdoor movie night would require.
Things You Would Need For An Outdoor Movie Night
Before we get into some fantastic DIY outdoor movie night ideas, let’s take a look at what’s required to keep things running. You won’t be able to develop brilliant ideas unless you have the following essentials. Keep in mind that a backyard movie setup takes up a lot of space. And while it’s more important to make memories than to have it all in order, none of the following should be overlooked.
However, if you want to, you can add things up.
#1. Selecting The Area
The first thing to think about is the amount of room you’ll need to set up the system. Of course, you don’t want to choose a location that’s crawling with pests, has uneven terrain, or is muddy and littered with rubbish. As a result, deciding on an appropriate location ahead of time is critical.
Also, if we’re talking about movie evenings, it’s best to pick a location where you can hand or place lights, lamps, and other necessities. Furthermore, you must provide enough space for parking, access to restrooms, and enough accommodations if you expect visitors.
#2. Sitting Arrangements
Then there are the seating arrangements, which entirely depend on how you organize your seating on that special night. Chairs, bean bags, beds, inflatable seats, reclining seats, and other items can be used according to the available space. Simply make sure that the seating is proportional to the number of attendees so that no one is left out.
#3. Foods and Snacks
How can we forget about food, snacks, and drinks when it is movie night?
Choose whether to provide just snacks or dinner as well. Select dishes that can be readily self-served when planning the cuisine for the patio or backyard movie night. To avoid any mishaps, make sure you have information on any food sensitivities. If you have children, select customized food and drink alternatives such as carbonated beverages, cookies, popsicles, and so on. You’ll also need to provide a bin to dispose of the plates and glasses once the party is over.
#4. Projecting The Movie
It’s now time to put the movie player together.
It’s simple to set up because all you’ll need is a DVD player, a projector, speakers, and a white screen. If you don’t have a projector, don’t worry. You can either hire one or borrow one from a friend or neighbor if you do, so do not forget to invite them!
You can also buy a new one or, better yet, download a flashlight projector app on your smartphone.
#5. Setting Up The Screen
The screen can come in a variety of sizes and types. Your ingenuity and personal preferences will determine the type of screen you install.
You may easily use a flat white wall as a movie screen if you have one. However, you can also use a screen composed of white cotton cloth, vinyl, and other materials. Simply hang a white cloth over your wall and paste the edges with clips or tapes to build the screen. You can also hand a thick white sheet over a doorway if you don’t want to deal with any hassle.
Interesting Backyard Movie Ideas
After arming yourself with all of the essentials listed above, it’s time to focus on some fantastic backyard movie night. And these ideas can transform your evening into something truly remarkable and memorable.
The following suggestions are simple to implement and will certainly spice up your outdoor movie night.
#1. Movie and Snacks Night
This is a perfect way to engage kids in a movie night. Select any animated movie like The Minions or Zootopia, and customize cookies resembling the main characteristics. You could wrap them in paper bags and draw the same characters on them. This will give the kids’ movie night out a little extra oomph. Alternatively, create seating arrangements using soft plush toys, such as minions or zoo animals.
#2. Cast The Magic Spell
You may create a magical paradise in your garden if you want to play magical movies like Harry Potter or The Chronicles of Narnia. Create witch hats, set up a large cauldron, and don’t forget to give each visitor a magic wand in keeping with the movie theme! You can also make use of your Halloween decorations for this purpose. For the wand, you can buy them online or use your creativity to craft them out of paper and cardboard. All you will need is some color, paper, and lots of glitters!
#3. Smartphone Turn Projector
After setting everything up, if you are worried about the projector, you can borrow or buy one. But if you are unwilling to do any of these things, we are here with a great DIY idea to turn your smartphone into a projector.
To make your smartphone projector, follow the procedures outlined below.
- Take a paper cardboard box and cut out a hole into it
- Tape a magnifying glass to that hole
- Take a stand and set your smartphone against it
And you are done. Well almost!
Remember to twist or rotate your phone screen to make this idea work because light appears inverted when traveling through a lens.
After you are done with the setup, increase the brightness of your smartphone’s screen accordingly. Place it in the box, and adjust its projection until you find a perfect focal point. That’s it! Now all you need to do is sit with your friends and enjoy the movie.
#4. Hanging Drop Cloth Movie Theatre
Arranging a drop cloth movie screen in the backyard can be the simplest way to keep minimalistic and hassle-free. If you’re working with a stable fence or wall, simply lay the cloth over it and tuck the edges. Ensure the cloth is clean and free of any blemishes.
There is, however, another approach that can elevate this concept. You can make your portable outdoor movie screen with a drop cloth if you have some time and a few dollars to spare. You’ll need to buy a wooden or PVC pipe frame and get a cloth to hang on it to make the screen. However, to make it a permanent screen, you can glue the cloth around the frame.
#5. A Cozy Outdoor Movie Night
A cozy seating arrangement can be considered if you’re arranging a garden movie night with your sweetheart. Consider placing a thick mattress on the floor, covering it with a colorful bed sheet, and throwing in some fur cushions instead of chairs or stools. In addition, you can enhance the entire ambiance by placing scented candles, hanging lamps, string lights, lanterns, red and pink balloons, and quilted blankets.
We are sure the dreamy backyard movie setup will add oomph to your romantic movie date night.
#6. Fun Seating For Kids
Celebrate your kids’ birthday party by arranging a fun backyard movie night. To start with, focus on arranging some out-of-box seating plans for them.
You can take large carton boxes, open them from one side, paint them, or cover them with colorful clothes. The result will be nicely done with handmade seats for kids. To make the seats more comfortable, add extra cushions and blankets inside.
However, keep in mind that this arrangement is only ideal for little children, and you’ll need to arrange well-conditioned boxes to make DIY seats. So, we recommend that you start working on this concept in advance.
#7. The Red Carpet
Haven’t we all watched and fantasized about walking the red carpet? Well, you can bring this fantasy to life right in your backyard. How? We’ll let you know.
Mow your lawn thoroughly and fill in any gaps. Next, purchase or borrow a red carpet and lay it from your front door to the seats. You can also create a placard with the “VIP ENTRANCE” sign to install it on the front door. Voila! Your movie premiere on the red carpet is set.
We’re sure that this DIY will make all of your visitors feel special.
#8. Cookie And Movie
Chocolate cookies and milk and add a magical factor to your movie night. The idea of cookies and a movie can be arranged after dinner. All you would need is to keep some homemade choco-chip cookies and milk ready. After all your guests take their places, offer each of them the cookies along with a glass of milk. You can replace plain milk with a chocolate milkshake. You can use your creativity to add more varieties to your cookie platter!
Take Care of the Following Things.
We are sure that our DIY ideas have touched your creativity. But all labor can be lost if you forget to consider some basic factors. Since we are talking about backyard movie night, it is highly crucial to check on the factors that are not in our hands.
Confused?
Don’t be just focussed, on the below pointers.
#1. The Weather
Focusing on the weather is a primary priority. Plan these movie nights for the summer, autumn, or dry winter seasons because you don’t want an unpredictably rainy or stormy night to ruin the atmosphere. Before making any plans, make sure to check the weather in your area.
That said, for the winter nights, do not forget to keep extra blankets ready for the guests.
#2. Insects And Bugs
Bugs and mosquitoes can be extremely bothersome. So, what is the option to take? Of course, you’ll need to get rid of any pests in your backyard first, which you may do with insect repellents. Also, keep enough kid-safe bug spray on hand if you have kids coming in for the movie to keep mosquitos and other pests at bay!
#3. Adult Supervision
If children are given an excellent film to watch, they will all become engaged. Nonetheless, we always advise keeping a close eye on them and never leaving them unattended. Toddlers have a lot of energy, and some of them may be rather unpredictable, so it’s best to supervise them at all times, especially because there will be a lot of equipment and arrangements.
Summary
So, that’s it. We have come to the very end of our post. We hope you enjoyed reading our top 8 DIY backyard movie night ideas. These are very simple to arrange, and you will just need some extra time and the intention to convert your backyard into a very customized open-air movie theatre. This is an inexhaustive article, and you can add your own ideas to the list. If you have any, don’t forget to share them with us.