Sure, relaxing under the stars is nice, but sometimes a little more action is desired. Or if not action, comedy. Different types of stars if you will. Turning your yard into a home theater for your family isn't difficult Summer and early fall from Shelter-in-Placecan be a great substitute for visiting one actual indoor theater.
It does, however, require some equipment. You could have some of it already lying aroundand some you probably can reuse from other places in your home. Check out the list below for a few Ideas and product recommendations to get that best picture and Sound quality for movie night outdoors. Just don't forget that Snacks!
Geoffrey Morrison / CNET
You will need a projector for the largest films. Any projector will work, but the brighter it is, the easier it is to see. Brightness also determines how large an image can be that a projector can create. As for our choices for home projectors, I like the Epson Home Cinema 2150 for that. It's bright and has a long range for a small projector so you can position it farther from the screen. This could make the placement easier for you. Epson Home Cinema 2150 review.
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Another Epson that EF-100is even smaller and has a built-in streaming stick.
The Viewsonic M2 isn't as bright as either of these options, but it can run on a USB battery so you don't have to be near an electrical outlet. See our list of best projectors for other options.
Assuming you don't have one Outdoor tv you could bring yours with you Indoor TV outside. Note, however, that televisions are very sensitive. One wrong turn and you may crack the screen. Even small televisions should be carried by two people. Treat it like you're carrying a thin, expensive sheet of glass. Technically, it is exactly what it is.
Big bluetooth speaker
UE hyperboom
David Carnoy / CNET
Projector speakers are not loud. Worse, they often compete with the projector's fan noise. So if you're sitting close enough to hear the speakers, try to hear them by the rustle of the fans.
A Bluetooth speaker can connect to certain projectors or streaming sticks. The better and bigger ones should be clearly audible. More importantly, you can place them closer to your seat.
We like the UE hyperboom. It's big, heavy, and not cheap, but if your screen is 10 feet wide you should have great sound on it. It's loud, but just as important, it has a 3.5mm analog input so you don't have to worry about lip sync issues when going over bluetooth. Read the UE Hyperboom test.
Sarah Tew / CNET
If you are using a conventional projector, you must be supplying power. Why not just plug in a speaker since you will be powered on anyway? A good soundbar is significantly louder than a Bluetooth speaker and probably sounds much better too.
We like this affordable Vizio, which is "the best budget soundbar we've ever heard". Part of its secret is the subwoofer, which can give a real punch even in your garden. Read our Vizio SB3621N-E8 review.
Don't forget that you need a cable to connect it to the projector. Almost all projectors have an analog audio output that can be connected to the Vizio. Some have HDMI, so you will need one HDMI cable from the soundbar to the projector.
Outdoor screen
This is a tough question as outdoor screens are currently selling out incredibly quickly (... gestures on everything ...) for pretty obvious reasons. A few tips when searching. Rigid frame screens are more expensive and slightly more difficult to assemble, but are more wind resistant and usually have smoother screens. Inflatable screens need to be attached to the ground and any wind will make them rock. However, they are usually easier to set up. Remember that their fans are running all the time. In a smaller or enclosed garden, this can be annoying.
There are endless DIY options too, basically anything that is pretty reflective and has no color will work. The top of my head comes to mind. It's worth noting that you can see every texture on the surface of the screen, so a garage door is not ideal because you will see the design, seam, or other flaws.
Sarah Tew / CNET
The easiest way to see something on your outdoor projector is through a streaming stick. Most modern projectors have a USB port, so you can connect a streaming stick without an additional power cord.
We like the Roku Streaming Stick Plus for its ease of use and wide range of content options: "With its simple design and focus on features that you actually use, Roku's most affordable 4K HDR streamer is one you should get." Check out the best streaming devices of 2020.
You can read more in our Guide to the best streaming sticks.
This assumes that your home's WiFi is strong enough to get into your garden. See below for other ways to resolve this issue.
Ry Crist / CNET
Depending on where and how strong your WiFi router is, you may not have enough signal to stream something in your yard. Maybe you can fix that. Read the Wi-Fi tips at How to Improve Internet Speed for Netflix, Hulu, and More.
If none of these options work, consider a Wi-Fi extender. These connect to your main WiFi and then essentially send out "more" WiFi from another point in your house. We like the TP-Link RE220 (aka AC750). As Ry Crist said in his review, "Nothing else I tested could match [the RE220's] Level of performance that makes the RE220 a bargain for $ 30. "Read more about improving your home's WiFi.
Or just connect your phone
Andrew Hoyle / CNET
Another option that might work is to turn your phone into a WiFi hotspot. This uses a cellular signal for the internet and then sends a small Wi-Fi bubble near the phone. However, streaming a movie searches data. So make sure you have enough data or have an unlimited plan.
Most modern phones can create a hotspot. As soon as it is active, simply connect the streaming stick or projector to it, just like "normal" WLAN. These instructions are intended to help you connect your iPad to your phonebut works for connecting any device.
Also, keep in mind that running a hotspot will usually drain your battery quite quickly. Hence, you should also consider the following USB battery, or plug it in if you routed an extension cord.
Blu-ray player
Sarah Tew / CNET
If your WiFi isn't strong enough to reach your makeshift theater and you don't want to burn through all of your mobile data, Blu-ray players are very affordable and should cover your viewing needs. You have a few more discs, don't you?
For the most part, we recommend a 4K Blu-ray player at this point. They're only slightly more expensive, and 4K discs are the best way to take advantage of your 4K TV. Not that the projector we recommend here is 4K. You're only 720p! But I am assuming you will be using this for indoor movie nights too. The Sony UBP-X700 Shown here is our choice for best 4K Blu-ray player.
Alternatively, you could get one Playstation or a Xbox for a few outdoor games on a giant screen. However, the PlayStation does not play 4K Blu-rays.
extension cable
One of these is vital for any high-performance outdoor theater. The outdoors are much tougher so they can easily survive. I like the one with three sockets on the end. It is better to have too many than too few. The connection to a grounded socket and / or a FI circuit breaker socket is probably also useful.
Alternatively, you can connect a socket strip with a fuse, but this is not intended for outdoor use. So proceed at your own risk
hammock
Hammocks Rada
Finally, what kept me sane through the quarantine. Don't underestimate the relaxing powers of a good hammock. You could get one from Hammock Hut, Hammocks-R-Us, Put-Your-Butt-There, really everyone will do it. I've had one of these airy models for years and it has held up surprisingly well.
The only problem with watching a movie all at once is sleeping in the middle of act two. There's nothing wrong with that.
As well as reporting on TV and other display technologies, Geoff also takes photo tours of cool museums and places around the world, including Nuclear submarines, massive aircraft carriers, medieval castles, Aircraft graveyards and more.
You can follow his exploits on Instagram as well Twitter and on his travel blog BaldNomad. He also wrote a bestselling science fiction novel about city-size submarines, as well as a sequel.
