Plan An Epic Backyard Movie Night

As summer ramps up and we’re all spending a little more time at home, we wanted to share one of our favorite ways to make the most of your backyard — an outdoor movie night! There’s really no better way to enjoy a nice summer evening than kicking back poolside with your family and bonding over a great movie. Shake up your summer routine and start planning your outdoor movie night now with these handy tips…

Step #1 – Prep your backyard.

The perfect movie night starts with the perfect backyard! You’ll want to take some time while it’s still light out to get your yard all set for movie fun. 

• Clean up the yard — including mowing the lawn, raking any leaves/grass clippings, putting away toys and tools, and removing tripping hazards. 
• Clean your pool and sanitize your pool floats if you plan to enjoy the flick while floating in your swimming pool
• Hang up twinkle lights, tiki torches, signs, and other decor that gets you in the movie-watching mood.  
• Set up lawn chairs, blankets, and other seating for those who want to get out of the pool. You’ll definitely want some comfy seating.
• Keep mosquitoes, spiders, bees, and other pests away from your pool and patio area with natural pest control remedies and other insect repellents. 
• Grab the essentials, like extra towels, sweatshirts, bug spray, and flashlights so that you don’t have to pause the movie later on! .

Pool floats can add even more fun to your movie night by the pool. Check out our awesome selection of floats to get the party started.

Shop Now:

Swan Float
Unicorn Float
Giant Unicorn Boat
Donut Float
Easy couch
Aquadolce Deluxe Pool Lounger
Water Hammock 

Step #2 – Get the outdoor theater set-up ready.

You can’t have a movie night without something to play the movie, right? You can simply bring your television outside (this is a convenient option since you probably already have a TV on hand) but it does lack a little bit of the magic that a larger projector and screen provides. To really capture the outdoor movie magic and drive-in theater feel, you’ll probably want to invest in a screen, projector, and some speakers. 

You can find everything you need online for a few hundred dollars. While this may seem pricey, just remember, it’s an investment, much like your swimming pool. You’ll get multiple nights of summer fun out of the purchase — especially since you’re spending more time hunkered down at home this summer. You may even get lucky finding good quality projectors, speakers, and screens used on sites like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace or be able to borrow/rent them locally. 

A few tips:

• Check the inputs to make sure the projector can plug into your laptop or whatever device you’ll be using to play the film. 
• Pay attention to the size and throw distance, so you can position the screen and projector appropriately for the biggest, best picture quality. 
• Use sandbags or other weights to keep your screen from blowing over if the wind picks up. 
• Don’t rely on laptop speakers — they don’t work well in the big outdoor area. Opt for Bluetooth speakers or an aux cord plugged into a speaker system. 
• Set the electronics up far enough away from the pool to prevent accidental water damage. 

Step #3: Pick the movie!

This can be the hardest step — especially if your family can’t seem to agree on what to watch. You may need to flip a coin or maybe plan a full summer movie night schedule so everyone gets to watch their favorites. 

If you’re floating in the pool or chilling poolside, opting for a water-themed flick can add to the fun. From pirates to mermaids to sharks, there are a lot of great options. Here are a few family-friendly favorites:

• Finding Nemo
• Finding Dory
• Moana
• The Little Mermaid
• Free Willy
• Flipper
• Aquamarine
• Treasure Island
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Shark Tale
• Dolphin Tale

Many of these films are available through popular streaming services, but if you opt for the streaming route, be sure your Wifi connection is strong enough to work while you’re out in your backyard. 

Step #4: Grab the snacks.

After a long day of setting up the outdoor theater and enjoying the swimming pool, you’re gonna be hungry. The best part about movies at home is that you don’t have to pay for expensive concessions! Stock up on all your favorite classic movie snacks — like popcorn, Milk Duds, Twizzlers, soda, and other treats.

While movie snacks definitely add to the outdoor movie night experience, keep these tips in mind:

• For safety and sanitation reasons, movie snacks are best enjoyed outside of the pool. 
• Opt for plastic, paper, and cloth rather than glass to avoid potential injury and damage to your swimming pool liner. 
• Make sure all snacks are cleaned up at the end of the night. Leftover food can attract bugs and other pests to your yard and patio area. 

Step #5: Enjoy!

Now that you’re all set up and ready to go, all that’s left to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the movie! 

We’d love to hear about your family’s backyard movie night! Leave a comment below or connect with us on Facebook.