Turn Your Backyard Into A Movie Theater

For a few hundred dollars, or a lot more, you can add big screen entertainment to your next outdoor gathering.

By Shelly BrisbinJuly 8, 2021 9:42 am

Whether you’re just spending more time outside during the summer, or still steering clear of movie theaters for the time being, a great way to enjoy the outdoors with family and friends is by hosting a backyard movie night.

Tech expert Omar Gallaga says you can assemble an outdoor movie-watching rig for a few hundred dollars. Or you can spend a lot more.

“I started talking to people last year, during the pandemic who wanted to be able to enjoy movies with their friends and neighbors, but keep the social distancing,” Gallaga said. “So they started investing in these projector systems.”

Highlights from this segment:

– You can buy a basic projector for as little as $300-$500. Look for one with a high number of lumens – a measure of light output –  wi-fi support and connections to content sources like an Amazon Fire Stick or Apple TV streaming device.

– An outdoor screen costs a few hundred dollars. Or project your movie onto the side of a building, or a white sheet.

– If you can’t, or don’t want to use a projector, combine a smart TV with a large battery from companies like Jackery,  to power it, for a simple setup. You’ll also need access to wi-fi for streaming content.

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