Outdoor Movie Night

Create Your Own Drive In Theater

If you have been longing for those Drive-In theater experiences you must make your own at home. It’s as simple as using a sheet, a wall, anything for your “movie screen” You can even rent inflatable screens along with the movie projectors inexpensively. Try funflicks.com.

To set the stage, you’ll need:

A great location. You want comfy and quiet but also dark so you can control the light. Sometimes you can get creative and make this indoors too.
Equipment – think screen, projector, dvd or computer player and sound system.
Pick a great movie that works for the crowd.

Here are some summer movie classics:

One Crazy Summer: a John Cusack and 80’s classic.
Raiders of the Lost Ark: There’s no such thing as seeing this one too many times.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: We saw this projected outside in someone’s backyard a couple of summers ago which made it that much better.
National Lampoon’s Vacation: Oh the wacky hijinks of Chevy Chase.
Rushmore: the cult classic from Wes Anderson is sweet, charming and has a great soundtrack.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: or really Any John Hughes Movie.
Jaws: a summer classic that spawned Shark Week and our own irrational fear that somehow there might be a shark in the pool…

Think seating – great fold up chairs, comfy seating or a blanket.
Get rid of bugs day before. You don’t have to douse yourself in harsh chemicals; they have lots of more natural options to repel bugs.
Utilize soft lights like candles You want it dark enough to see the movie, but you also want a little light for function and ambiance.
Let neighbors know about the lights and noise in advance –maybe include them in!

Fun spins on outdoor movie night popcorn:

Curry popcorn:

1/2 cup popcorn kernels popped in vegetable oil tossed with 1 tablespoon curry powder (4 servings)

Bacon popcorn:

1/2 cup popcorn kernels popped in 1 tablespoon bacon fat; drizzle with 1/4 stick of melted butter and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup; toss. Sprinkle two strips of crispy bacon, crumbled, on top of popcorn. (4 servings)