How to Throw the Ultimate Backyard Movie Night

If you asked around a bit, you’d be surprised how many people don’t have a backyard although they want one. If you’re lucky enough to have a spacious backyard, you should use it for leisure activities. We’re not only referring o lounging in a hammock or playing sports but throwing an outdoor movie night. There is no need to watch movies in summer alone and slouched in from of your laptop, as you have all preconditions for the ultimate backyard movie night. And did we tell you that there is a list of movies to watch at the end of the text?

A homemade concession stand

There are numerous examples of movie theaters that charge customers more for a bag of popcorn and a fizzy drink than for the movie ticket itself. That’s why you can be sure that your friends, neighbors, and family will be thankful you organized a concession stand free of charge during the movie night.

Providing everyone with snacks and drinks is easier than you think. Head to the local supermarket to stock on ready-made snacks or prepare a huge batch of fresh popcorn you’ll serve during the screening. A word of advice: make sure there are enough bowls and glasses for everyone, as it would be inconvenient to wash them during the movie night itself.

Canceling out the noise

There are so many advantages of an outdoor movie night that you might forget about its downsides. First and foremost, you have to listen to the weather forecast attentively so there is no rain that evening and secondly, you need to take care of the noise. Everything from the sound of traffic to a rowdy neighbor threatens to ruin the night you have been planning for weeks in advance.

The best way to cancel out any outside noises is by erecting a tall fence and planting trees or scrubs along its edges. Not only will you enjoy a higher level of privacy but the greenery will actually prevent the dust from the street outside from getting inside your spruced up yard.

Seating arrangements

Once you make sure there are enough food and drinks to go around, as well as no interruption from the outside, it is time to sit your guests down. In a commercial movie theater, the most expensive seats are the most comfortable ones so don’t let anyone sit on the ground. This might look cool but not for people with back problems.

Bring out a myriad of seating options from inside the house, ranging from lazy bags to kitchen chairs. The latter can be adorned with comfortable outdoor seating cushions that ought to be water-resistant and shouldn’t fade over time. Heck, you can even bring out the old sofa for the ultimate comfort!

Try everything before everyone arrives

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is leaving technical details last. You probably think that you’ll hook up the project with ease but once you start dabbling with extension cords, you realize that the movie night might not go as smoothly as you planned.

That’s why you should try out the equipment at least 24 hours before the big night. This will help get rid of issues such as no audio or a malfunctioning projector from the very start so guests are not denied the ultimate backyard movie night experience.

Bonus: A list of movies to watch

Once everything is rigged, the popcorn is warm, and the chairs “cushioned,” it’s time to press play. Selecting the ideal set of movies for the movie night isn’t easy so here’s a list of the most popular movies for outdoor screenings: “Big Trouble in Little China” (1986), “Wedding Crashers” (2005), “Superbad” (2007), “Dirty Dancing” (1987), “Love Actually” (2003), “Selma” (2014), “Ocean's Eleven” (2001), “Clueless” (1995), “Taken” (2008), etc.

Now that you know how to throw the ultimate backyard movie night, it’s time to start inviting people, all the while preparing all the necessities listed above. If you own a spruced-up backyard, it would be a shame to let it sit idle so converting it into an open-air cinema is the best way to use this outdoor space.