Best Outdoor Movie Night Essentials You’ll Love

Turn your backyard into a movie night your kids will never forget with these easy tips and must-haves.

Have you ever gone to a drive-in movie? They are so much fun because it’s super unique, but these days, it’s hard to find such things in your area. That’s why we are so excited to talk about hosting an outdoor movie night.

It gives the drive-in movie vibe, but is way more accessible no matter what area you live in. Plus, they have so many great, cost-effective ways to create these right at home now.

We did the research, the shopping, and rounded up everything you need to know to host your own outdoor movie night. Let’s get to it!

How to Make the Most Epic Outdoor Movie Night for Your Family

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Set the Scene

One thing we for sure don’t want is to have to worry about a super complicated setup. To make this as easy on ourselves and as special as we can for our family, start by choosing a flat space in your yard that you can gather everyone comfortably.

Then, you want to create a space to project the movie. You could tie a sheet taut at each end, but it’s not as simple as it sounds. Our advice is to grab a simple inflatable screen. Not only will it feel like a real outdoor movie experience, but it will be a whole lot easier to setup.

Next, you want to gather your blankets, cozy pillows, and maybe even some inflatable lounge chairs (our favorites are in the must-have section below). We love the inflatable loungers because they make hanging out outside way more comfortable.

Lastly, add some string lights and you’ll have the coolest backyard movie theater on the whole block.

Pick a Movie Everyone Will Enjoy

This may be the hardest part of the whole event lol… it really can make or break the whole evening. So, let’s talk about a few tips we came up with from our big families to help you pick the best movie.

One thing that always work for our family when picking a movie all of us will enjoy is choosing a new release. Usually, we try to stick with animated films, but there are some other great films, like Honey I Shrunk The Kids, that still can keep everyone’s attention, no matter how old.

If you’re having trouble deciding, put it to a vote. Have your kids throw out different ideas and everyone vote on them anonymously. This is a great way to get them involved in the process and make the decision-making a little easier on you.

Snacks Make the Night

Are your kids snack-heads like ours? Our kids will literally finish eating dinner and immediately ask for a snack. So, shocking I know, but snacks are going to be a crucial element to your movie night.

You could get creative and keep it simple all at the same time. Our favorite way to do this is with a small snack station with all the classics like popcorn, candy, and soda. You could even have a little s’mores station too.

We like to use reusable movie-themed cups and trays to keep it festive and fun. This way, they can load them up and be able to, maybe, sit still throughout the movie.

Make Sure You Have Enough Seating

There are so many great ways to set up the seating for your movie night. It could be as simple as blankets and pillows on the grass or even your stack of folding camping chairs lined up.

One of our favorite ideas, though, is to use inflatable loungers. They have so many fun options nowadays, like blowup couches and individual loungers. The only thing to keep in mind is making sure that everyone has a designated spot to get cozy.

Invest in the Tech

Last, but not least, our final tip is an important one. Technology has grown so much over the years that investing in a good projector that has a bluetooth speaker and potentially streaming service access is way cheaper than it used to be.

This also helps you avoid having too many cords everywhere and having to think through how it’s all going to hook together. The only thing besides the projector you may want is a stand to put it on to make sure it’s out of the way.

Outdoor Movie Night Must Haves

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here. As an Amazon associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Now let’s talk about the essential must haves you’ll need to make this outdoor movie night a success and set yourself up for future movie nights outside! Here are our favorite finds:

1. 16 Feet Inflatable Movie Screen Outdoor – This large inflatable screen is our top pick for making setting up your moving night simple. It gives you a crisp, bright backdrop for the movie and it inflates quickly and packs away neatly when your done.
2. Inflatable Couch Flocked Blow Up Couch Mattress – How cool is this? We’re obssessed with this cool inflatable couch. It adds a cozy, lounge feel to your movie setup and is perfect for kids who like to stretch out while watching. It’s another item on this list that’s easy to inflate and even easier to store.
3. Movie Night Basket Gift Set – with Candy Variety Pack, Movie Trays, Movie, Movie Snacks & Popcorn – If you’re looking for an easy cheat-code for the snacks, grab this pre-packed movie basket. It comes with everything from candy to popcorn as well as trays to save you tons of prep time.
4. Outdoor String Lights 25 Feet G40 Globe LED Patio Lights – We’ve mentioned these string lights in other posts, but these are for our favorite for adding charm and an immersive experience without taking away from the movie. .
5. 1080P Bluetooth Projector, Full HD Portable Outdoor Movie Projector with Built-in Speaker – This portable projector is a really great option with a built-in speaker and it has super clear and sharp visuals.
6. Projector Stand, 22 to 55 Inch Laptop Stand With Phone Holder – We really like this stand to keep the projector steady and at the perfect height. It even has a phone holder if you want to control things without getting up.
7. 2 Pack Inflatable Loungers Air Sofa Couch – These loungers are another crowd favorite. They are lightweight, portable, and super comfy for kids and adults.
8. S’Mores Station, Farmhouse S’Mores Bar Holder with Handles – If you want to go next level, this s’mores station is always a hit. It keeps everything organized and adds a fun activity before or after the movie.
9. 12 Pcs Movie Night Cups 24oz Reusable Tumbler with Lid and Straw – These are our favorite reusable cups to help keep drinks from spilling and keep with the whole movie theme.
10. Inflatable Serving Bars Ice Buffet – Nothing better on a hot summer night to have your snacks and drinks cool with this inflatable serving bar.

What a super fun tradition this is. We can’t wait to set up a fun outdoor movie night for a super fun way to hang out at home. These are the kinds of things that summer memories are made of.

Now there’s only one question left… Which movie is your family going to pick? Let us know in the comments!

If you enjoyed these ideas, make sure to pin the image below to reference later!