Watching the Stars Under the Stars

Spring has sprung and summer is just an equinox away.
Warmer temperatures mean more outdoor fun, and what could be more fun than a drive-in movie?
What if the drive-in was in your backyard?

What do you need to bring the nostalgia of the Starlight or the Galaxy or the Skyview home?
What do you need to bring an unforgettable night of cinema to your cul-de-sac?
Fret not, movie lover.
BenQ has the answers.

Throwing a successful movie night al fresco requires getting several things right. There’s lots to consider, from technology to thunderstorms. There are four main categories. They all start with S.

Anyone can drag an HDTV outside and call it good. But that’s not the drive-in experience we’re looking for, Obi-Wan. Like the theatres, your backyard movie night is going to begin with two crucial components: A projector and a screen to project upon.

One projector we would recommend is the BenQ MH733.It’s a 4000 lumen, full 1080p HD DLP multimedia projector with a 16,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for sharpness. It also features an accommodating 1.15 to 1.5:1 throw ratio and a 1.3x zoom that can fill an 80” screen from 6.7 feet (if you have a smaller yard) or bigger screens (as mentioned earlier, up to 120” at 10 ft.) for bigger yards.

Your backyard movie party should be just that. A party. Watching a movie should not be as complicated as launching the Space Shuttle or require the expertise of SpaceX. The quicker you can set up the quicker you can tend those burgers and bratwursts.

Outdoor projection screens come in a variety of shapes and sizes and deployment options. There are stand-mounted ones, ones you can mount on an exterior wall or backyard fence, and inflatable ones. The size and type of screen that’s best for your backyard is determined by the size of your yard and nature. Is your back yard breezy? A screen with an anchoring system is a must to ensure movie night doesn’t feature Gone with the Wind.

Outdoor screens can range in price from the thousands to the hundreds. You’ll need to do some shopping to find the perfect one for your back yard and budget. A couple to consider are the Camp Chef Backyard Big Screen Lite 92" Folding Projection Screen and others by Camp Chef, which range between $160 and $400. Companies like Open Air Cinema have inflatable options, from a 9-foot screen for $799 up to a 20-footer listed at $3,199. There are also companies like FunFlicks that offer rental options.

You might even get away with projecting the image on a wall or hang a sheet from a tree. It’s just crazy enough that it might work.

Another thing to keep in mind when putting together a backyard movie night is the source of your programming. Does your projector have multiple input options? HDMI is the king connector and enables you to connect devices like a Blu-ray player or a satellite receiver. If you have adequate Wi-Fi coverage, streaming devices like Amazon Fire TV, Roku Streaming Stick, and the Apple TV are great.
The Apple TV allows you to stream content from your iOS device via AirPlay and connect to your collection of programs in iTunes. Or, you can use the built-in apps on Apple TV, Roku and Fire to stream content from Hulu and Netflix and Amazon Prime to name a few.

For Android devices there is MHL which enables you to connect and charge your smartphone or tablet and play content through the projector. Yep. BenQ projectors MH733 have it.

We’ve covered the sights, and now it’s time to look (or should we say listen?) at the other half of the equation, sound. Most projectors have built in speakers of around 10 watts or so, if that’s not enough sound for you, there are lot of options out there and we’ll explore a couple.

The ION Audio Pathfinder High Power All-Weather Rechargeable Speaker is a great option at $249.99 and is iPX5 water resistant. It has a 100-foot Bluetooth range and 100 watts of power. Another option is the $299.99 Exos-9 Bluetooth Speaker from Aiwa.

Don’t forget the creature comforts for your back yard movie night, and don’t let the creatures interfere with your comfort! Insect repellent, citronella candles and foggers are good to keep the mosquitoes away. Have plenty of cold beverages on hand and lots of popcorn. You might even consider a $299 Great Northern Matinee Movie Popcorn Machine from Home Depot or a fire pit option like the $17 Outdoor Popcorn Popper from Uncommon Goods.