Looking for a super fun and unique (but low-stress!) summer party idea? Host an outdoor movie night in your driveway or backyard! It’s a fun way to transform a basic movie night in your living room into a real party, complete with a theme, cozy blankets, and yummy snacks.
Ready to relive the drive-in theater days? Get ready to become a huge hit yourself! Here’s your complete guide to throwing an epic movie night:
1. Pick a Theme
The best parties have a really fun theme, especially when your guests share your passion! Your theme can be simple: comfy and cozy blankets-on-the-lawn, wear-your-pajamas vibe, recreating a 1950s drive-in theater in your driveway. Or you can go all-out themed around the movie you choose to watch! Whatever theme you pick, establish your theme from the start so you know how to prepare accordingly with the movie, decorations, and what you ask your guests to bring.
2. Gather Your Supplies
Once you have a theme, you’re ready to get your supplies together for the big event! Start with the movie and work your way through this list of must-haves. While you do, write down all of the outdoor movie night rentals and purchases you need to make, inventory the items you already have, and make a note of anything you plan to ask guests to bring for sharing (like food or extra blankets).
The Movie
Make sure you have your movie, or else the whole thing won’t work! If you have a specific on-theme movie in mind, take a look at streaming services to see if they have it, or grab a copy of it on Blu-ray.
Here are some popular movies that are perfect for a teen or adult backyard movie night:
- Grease
- Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Indiana Jones (any or all of them!)
- Dirty Dancing
- Jurassic Park
Need a family-friendly option? Try one of these:
- The Goonies
- Wizard of Oz
- Princess Bride
- The Sandlot
- E.T.
Plan your movie alongside your projection method to make sure you can either plug in a Blu-ray player or stream it out of your house. And if you’re planning to stream, make sure you have excellent wireless reception in your outdoor space! Nothing pauses a party like buffering! If streaming, you may need a Wi-Fi extender.
Screen and Projector
Gather everything you need to actually play the movie outside, then set it up and test it out before the night of the event so you know whether or not it works!
For a screen, a bed sheet can be a good budget option if you have a solid-colored white or cream one and have a place to hang it up, but you can also get one for under $50 online, which includes a stand for hanging it. If you plan to do more than one outdoor movie night, investing in a good screen is worth it. You might consider an inexpensive projector, some of which include a screen!
Also, keep in mind the sound quality. Not all projectors have speakers, so think about renting or investing in some speakers to help with the sound quality and test them with your projector beforehand.
Seating Options
You either need to have somewhere for everyone to sit or instruct your guests on what they need to bring for seating. A drive-in theater theme makes this pretty simple so long as you have enough parking space—just tell guests how and where to park upon arrival. If you’re having guests spread out around your lawn, make it a BYOB (bring your own blanket!) event, then have a stack of extra blankets and pillows for those who forget.
Food and Drinks
The best parties always have yummy treats to eat and drink! You can make it a potluck and have guests bring pizzas and sodas, but we recommend including some fun movie-themed snacks and treats as well.
The quintessential snack for any movie night? Popcorn! And our popcorn machine is the perfect outdoor movie night rental to make it feel just like the real deal! Other fun snack options you can rent from us for additional fun include:
Don’t forget the drinks too! Soda is a classic, but hot cocoa is another great way to keep your guests warm and cozy as the evening chill sets in.
Decorations and Event Extras
The decor is what will really set the mood, especially if you have a specific theme to incorporate! Here are a few basic elements you should be sure to include that can easily be customized to fit your theme:
- Free printables, like these drive-in theater-themed ones
- Insect-repelling tiki torches or candles
- Twinkle lights or other mood lighting
- Paper plates, bowls, and cups
- Tickets, just for fun!
You should also add these essentials to your outdoor movie night rentals and purchases list:
- Bug spray
- Folding chairs for guests who don’t want to sit on the ground
- Tables for the food, drinks, and party favors
- A generator to run the projector and lights from
- Flashlights
- Extra blankets, pillows, and towels
3. Invite Your Guests
Now it’s time to put together your guest list and send out the invitations! Be sure to note when they should arrive and what time the movie will officially start, as well as a list of items they should bring for themselves or to share.
Speaking of contacting guests, you should also contact your neighbors! Let them know what you’re doing and make sure they’re okay with the noise for that evening, or better yet, invite them to join in on the fun!
4. Prep the Setting
Prepare your backyard, front yard, or driveway for the party. Clear away any clutter, mow the lawn, rake up leaves and grass clippings, and set up the decorations, projector, and everything else you need. If guests will be sitting on the lawn, water it a few days before the night of so it has plenty of time to dry, and take care of pest control well in advance so it’s both bug and chemical free!
5. Have a Back-up Plan
Keep an eye on the weather forecast and have a backup plan in case you get rained out. This may mean moving the event indoors or postponing it entirely, or you might consider renting a party tent to protect everyone from the elements during the movie night.
Book your Outdoor Movie Night Rentals Now!
We have your concessions and event extras covered for the perfect outdoor movie night in Kansas City or St. Louis, so give us a call to request a quote for an unforgettable fun time!
