Outdoor Movie Theater

A Design Guide

San Diego, with light at the end of the tunnel finally here, chances are you might be ready to host “Movie Night” again. But why cram everyone into your family room when you can add an outdoor movie theater to your backyard with a screen and projector? After all, there’s nothing quite like watching a movie on a big screen. And while drive-ins have made a comeback, you’ll have a much better experience in the comfort of your own backyard. So, if you are feeling nostalgic for retro drive-ins, you’ll love taking your movie nights outside especially as the weather gets warmer. But, building an outdoor movie theater is easier than it sounds. For this reason, we wanted to offer some insight on what you’ll need for an outdoor theater to work.

What You’ll Need:

Outdoor Home Movie Theater Design Guide

Start Here

An outdoor home movie theater is the perfect way to enjoy your backyard all year long (especially in San Diego). Whether you’re planning to binge an entire season of a newly released show on Netflix or Hulu, there’s something magical about watching a movie under the stars. And, it’s even better if you never have to leave home to do it! But before you start setting up your outdoor movie theater, there are some decisions you have to make.

First Answer These Questions:

How many people will be watching (make sure to account for future gatherings)?
- That’s because larger gatherings will need a larger screen to give everyone a good view.
How much space do you have?
- The ideal viewing distance for a screen is from 1-1.5 times the size.

While you won’t need half an acre to host movie night, planning around the real estate you do have is important.

The Projector

First Step

If you want epic entertainment, adding the right projector is key. While there are endless options out there, most of the time no matter what you are buying, you get what you pay for. Here are some things you need to know about home theater projectors:

Brightness

Projector brightness is measured in lumens; the higher the lumens, the brighter the projector will be at a given distance. This means the brighter your projector, the earlier you can start your movie night. To put things into perspective, an average projector lumens range from 500 to 2500 while JVC reference series projectors offer up to 3,000 lumens. One thing to make note of, if you’ll be using the projector in an urban area with a lot of light pollution, you’ll want a projector that offers at least 3,000.

Contrast Ratio

Choosing contrast ratio is heavily dependent on the lighting conditions of your outdoor environment (light sources out of your control such as street lights). Contrast ratio is the intrinsic ability of the projector to show the complete range of image contrast simultaneously. So, a projector with a high contrast ratio will allow you to see clearly defined shadow detail and deeper black levels (adding a sense of depth and dimension to the picture).

Throw Ratio

The throw ratio tells you how wide your image will be when you place the projector at a certain distance (from the screen). Calculating the throw ratio is especially important if you plan on mounting your projector permanently. Use caution here, if you cannot place the projector far enough away from the screen due to being limited on space, you may need a short throw projector and screen.

The Screen

Second Step

The screen is just as important as the projector. A high quality outdoor movie screen with enhance your projectors image and quality. But, make sure your projector will work with your screen size. Also, keep in mind that every screen is rated by how efficiently it reflects light (gain factor). And, the higher the gain, the brighter the image will be on the screen.

Types of Projectors Screens:

Manual Projection Screens: this type of movie screen is a pull down screen
Electric Projection Screens: uses a motor that allows you to raise or lower it with a switch or remote
Fixed Projection Screens: for those who need a screen to be available at all times, this is the best solution
Portable Projection Screens: this type of screen varies in size, and style ranging from table top to wall sized
Curved Screens: this type of screen has some distinct advantages like delivering a more uniformly illuminated image when seating is more centrally localized

Solo 3 Outdoor Movie Screen

Turn any outdoor space into a home theater. Solo 3 outdoor is the first architecturally design-focused outdoor screen solution that seamlessly blends into a home’s design. Transform your outdoor area into a comfortable, stylish living space.

The Sound

Important Step

The last step is to consider sound. It should be noted, we suggest adding an Episode Landscape Series Speaker Kit for a few very good reasons. One, it allows you to listen to your music throughout your backyard. And, two it doubles as your theater sound. For this reason, we offer some insight on this outdoor sound system.

Episode® Landscape Series

A complete sound system that brings music to life, the Episode Landscape Series is the perfect addition to any outdoor space. Attractive speakers blend seamlessly into the environment, providing maximum performance and minimum visual interference, while a Crown® amplifier and burial subwoofer add some serious power. Whether you’re playing soft, background tunes or hosting a movie night, this professional grade system will have you smiling the whole time you’re listening.

SATELLITE SPEAKERS

Your Perfect Outdoor Speaker

Landscape speakers are meant to be heard – not seen. These aesthetically pleasing speakers blend right into your outdoor space. Whether mounted on the ground, in a tree, or under a trellis, they deliver top-notch audio without drawing attention to themselves.

BURIAL SUBWOOFER

Bring the Boom to the Backyard

The perfect complement to Episode Landscape Series Speakers, a burial subwoofer packs a punch and adds some serious power to your system. Available in three woofer sizes, it delivers deep, pounding bass and hits all the low notes.

CROWN AMPLIFIER

Power Up

Get premium performance for even the largest outdoor speaker systems with a Crown® amplifier. Its compact form factor makes it easy to store, but don’t let its size fool you − it has enough power to keep your speakers rocking.