How Do You Host an Outdoor Movie Night?

Nothing feels cosier than watching an outdoor movie with friends or family at night. A backyard movie night requires more planning and set-up than a typical indoor watch party, so follow our tips and tricks to ensure you have everything you need for a movie night to remember. 

With just a few items and a reliable outdoor power source, you could create a fun new tradition.

How To Host an Outdoor Movie Night

The best outdoor movie nights start with planning and preparation a few days in advance. Here’s our guide to hosting the best movie night outside under the stars.

Pick a Theme

Why not embrace the fun of it all with a themed movie night? Lean into the current season with a holiday flick in the winter, a springtime flick favourite as the weather gets warmer, or a summer blockbuster to beat the heat. 

Or, let your imagination run wild with a Disney, underwater, spooky, or magic theme. Choose your theme based on the time of year or the movie you’re watching.

Create a Cosy Space

Next, it’s time to prepare the space for a cosy night outside. First, clear the yard of any leaves, debris, or pet droppings so it’s ready for a crowd. Then, choose a relatively flat area to hold your projector, power source, and other necessary equipment. You want it on solid ground so it won’t shake or risk toppling over mid-movie. 

Create a comfortable seating area for viewers by laying down picnic blankets, rugs, lounge chairs, cushions, or patio furniture in prime viewing areas. Add pillows and throw blankets to make it extra cosy. 

If you’re hosting the movie night in the winter, add a few more layers for bundling up or set up a heater or fire pit nearby. Consider adding an outdoor fan or the EcoFlow Wave 2 Portable Air Conditioner if it’s summer.

Get Equipment Ready

The equipment is the most critical part of your outdoor movie night. Without it, you won’t have a movie to watch. Think ahead and gather all the equipment for the activity, including a movie screen, projector, and power source. 

Rather than reach a long extension cord from your home to the movie area, use an off-grid power source like EcoFlow Portable Power Stations or EcoFlow Solar Generators. A powerful option like the EcoFlow DELTA Pro can keep your projector, computer, speakers, lights, and anything else running for the whole evening. 

Don’t want to use your AC grid power to charge up the portable power station? Pair the EcoFlow DELTA Pro + 400W Solar Panel and set it in the sunlight earlier in the day to use the sun’s energy to reach a full charge before guests arrive.

Connect everything and test out your movie so you can troubleshoot any issues before the main event.

Provide Snacks and Drinks

A movie experience is only complete with classic snacks and drinks. Create your own outdoor movie theatre snack bar with options ranging from popcorn and pretzels to candy and nachos. Then, pair it with a beverage station so guests can wash it down with soda, water, or a cocktail!

Don’t forget all the extras, like plates or bowls, napkins, trash cans, and hand sanitiser to prevent sticky hands.

Up the Ambiance

Create a lovely ambience and mood under the night sky with string lights, ground lights, candles, banners, or balloons (if you’re celebrating something special). Just remember—if you’re using open flames, keep them away from flammable materials and blow them out if the wind kicks up to avoid danger.

Pick a Crowd Favourite Movie

The movie choice makes the most significant impact on the night ahead. Will it be a scary movie night under a full moon, a couples’ date night with a classic rom-com, or a special screening of a newly released movie for home viewing? Consider your audience and what they’d like best, or take a poll and let them decide.

What You Need To Make an Outdoor Movie Night Run Smoothly

Without all the right supplies, an outdoor movie night is just an evening spent sitting in the grass in the darkness. All the elements—projector, blankets, lights, movie, snacks—work together to create the best experience and make the night even possible. Here’s our list of all the essentials.

Off-Grid Power Source

An off-grid power source is vital. It allows you to avoid long extension cords, which can be a tripping hazard, and create a more aesthetically pleasing outdoor movie extravaganza. It also means you can set up your screen anywhere without being limited by outlet locations or worrying about load shedding or load reduction in South Africa.

Use a camping solar generator or portable power station with enough capacity and output for all your electronic devices, from the projector to your computer and any lights and extras. If you’re putting the movie night together during a camping trip, you can also use the generator for camping power needs.

Projector Setup

You’ll need a projector screen and a projector to watch the movie outside at night. Test out this setup before anyone arrives so you can feel confident in its operation. If you are using your computer to stream a movie, ensure you have all the correct adaptors and cables to connect it to the projector.

Speakers

Don’t rely on your computer’s internal speaker for the entire crowd. Match the movie theatre experience with a surround-sound setup loud enough for everyone watching to hear (but not your neighbours). Sound is another element you’ll want to test before the event.

Extension Cords and Cables

If you require additional extension cords or cables to connect the speakers, lights, projector, or computer, ensure they are safe for outdoor use. Indoor extension cords aren’t created to withstand moisture and temperature changes, which can create potential electric shocks or fire hazards. Always practice electricity safety when using cables and electric equipment.

Comfortable Seating

No one wants to sit on the cold, hard ground for two hours to watch a movie. Ensure the seating area is sufficiently comfortable with extra padding from blankets and pillows. If the ground isn’t ideal, use chairs or large cushions as seating. Folding, lawn, or beach chairs and other outdoor furniture would be perfect for this instance.

Lighting

If the only light in your outdoor space is from the stars and the projector, you should add more for ambience and safety. Consider adding grounded lights along the pathway to your movie and snack areas or hang string lights above the seating space so friends can find their way around safely. 

Not only will it avoid tripping and accidents, but it will also create a warm glow around the event, creating a cosy and snuggly experience.

Food and Beverages

Munching on snacks and cold drinks is half the fun of a movie. Offer a few of your favourite candies and let guest create their own custom mix. Consider renting or buying a popcorn machine for fresh-popped and buttery goodness. If you’re providing drinks, bring something to keep them cold, like an ice bucket. 

Better yet, place them in the EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator, which lasts for hours during outdoor activities and even comes with an ice machine. 

Insect Spray

Too many bugs can ruin any evening outdoors, especially in the spring or summer months. Keep them away by providing guests with insect spray upon entry and leaving the bottles in an accessible spot for touch-ups throughout the night. 

Additionally, consider some more comprehensive solutions, such as citronella candles or bug zappers, to eliminate the bugs before they get too close.

Movie

You can’t have a movie night without the movie! Decide whether you’ll rent a DVD, use your own, or stream from your computer. Make sure it’s something your group will be excited to watch, and consider the age group of your audience. Keep it to G or PG-rated movies if kids will be there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

An outdoor movie night will take your at-home hangouts to the next level. Whether bundled up watching a Christmas movie or enjoying a summer night breeze under the stars, bringing your movie-watching outdoors creates a memorable experience. 

The activity relies on an outdoor power source, so be sure you have a reliable option like EcoFlow Solar Generators to power your projector, computer, and other accessories so you can relax and enjoy an entertaining night ahead.