Built Your Own Drive-In Theater With These Top-Rated Outdoor Movie Screens

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There’s nothing like enjoying a great film on the big screen—but, unless you have a particularly large TV at home, it’s hard to get that movie theater experience without forking up the ballooning cost of a ticket. Thankfully, at-home projectors can project a huge movie image against any flat, blank surface—think walls or garage doors—but projection screens, and specifically outdoor movie screens, provide the best backdrop for your movie viewing.

Outdoor projectors are specially designed to handle to shifting light and more unpredictable environments, but projection screens are what take you from blurry focus and muddled colors to a true outdoor movie theater experience. Outdoor movie screens provide a backdrop built to enhance picture quality and give you a truer depiction of the movie’s brightness, color grading, and design.

Anyone with an outdoor space can try one of these outdoor movie screens to create a private screening experience—just add some zero-gravity lounge chairs or an outdoor sectional and you’ve got the best seat in the house. So, before the fall chills set in and while the popcorn is hot, check out our picks for the best outdoor projectors.

For more great backyard upgrades, check out our picks for the best projectors, outdoor TVs, and outdoor speakers.

Best Outdoor Movie Screens

• Best Overall: Elite Screens Yard Master Plus Indoor/Outdoor Movie Screen

• Best Value: Mdbebbron Foldable Projection Screen

• Best for Breezy Places: JSWIT Projector Screen with Stand

• Best Inflatable: XHYCPY 20-ft. Inflatable Outdoor Movie Screen

• Best Mounted: Elite Screens Pull-Down Projector Screen

What to Consider

Portability

Do you want to always watch movies in the same place? If so, buying a large screen with a built-in frame, or a mounted option, is your best bet. These more static options have the advantage of added stability and sometimes a flatter, crisper projection surface.

If you’re on the go, or want to be able to use your screen in multiple settings, a smaller and/or lighter option (like an inflatable model, for example) may be preferable. Portable screens often fold or roll up for easy transfer in the back of a car.

Many screens, like our top choice, the Elite Screens Yard Master Plus, come with collapsible or foldable frames for a completely portable experience. These frames are usually lightweight and can be set up anywhere with enough flat, stable ground.

Flexibility

If you would like to reserve the option to use the screen indoors, like in an office or classroom setting, there are several options that are suitable for both indoor and outdoor viewings. Most outdoor projection screens are designed with sturdier material and some weather resistance, but outside of size and convenience, there should be no obstacle when it comes to using it indoors as well. You may want to look for models with frames or stands instead of inflatable options if you plan on using it inside.

Viewing Quality

To optimize your viewing experience for crisp and bright colors, get a screen with black backing, which helps take care of light penetration that could dilute your picture quality. For the best possible quality, check to see if your screen is compatible with your projector’s specs, including looking at whether or not it can be paired with 4K Ultra HD or Active 3D. Finally, a standard aspect ratio of 16:9 is ideal for the best theater-like experience.

Ease of Cleaning

All of the screens we recommend can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Any outdoor screen is sure to pick up a bit of dust and debris, but don’t worry. The screens are made with PVC, polyester, or a combination of the two, making them incredibly durable.

How We Selected

We researched hundreds of products, keeping a variety of logistical features and space constraints in mind. We tried to include projector screens of different price points, sizes, types, and setup styles. All of our recommendations come from reliable companies with excellent reputations for customer service. The items themselves are also highly rated by professionals and have high ratings from customers. Furthermore, we relied on our expertise on water-resistant materials and technology.

Yard Master Plus Indoor/Outdoor Movie Screen

This is one of the best screens on the market, providing professional-grade clarity. The size of the viewing window is 59 by 104.7 inches, and it comes framed in silver-toned aluminum.

The aspect ratio is 16:9, and it can be paired with 4K Ultra HD and Active 3D. It is also compatible with standard, short throw, and UHD/HD projectors. This outdoor screen features a 160-degree viewing angle, with a black-backed projection screen. The frame is lightweight and collapsible, but strong, and the T-legs are detachable.

This movie screen comes with a two-year manufacturer’s warranty. Reviewers appreciate how easy it is to set up and store when not in use.

Foldable Projection Screen

This compact, one-piece, lightweight, and foldable movie screen can be stashed in a backpack for on-the-go viewing. It works indoors and outdoors, making it ideal for movie night, but meaning it's also useful in classroom and office settings.

This outdoor screen is made of natural polyester and produces a sharp and bright image.

It does not come with a separate frame or mount, however, and must be attached via double-sided adhesive to a wall, which may not work for every space.

Projector Screen with Stand

This easy-to-set-up movie screen goes up in a few minutes. The portable frame has metal snaps that quickly fasten the screen to the frame, and the detachable legs don’t require any tools for assembly.

The projection display is compatible with 3D and 4K Ultra HD and is built to provide sharp, high-res images and enriched colors with a unique three-layer screen design. The black backing prevents light penetration, delivering a clear-as-day display.

At just over 20 pounds, the 100-inch screen and frame are also easily transportable. This outdoor screen comes with ground stakes, rigging cords, and support rings, ensuring stability even in breezy conditions, and it also boasts a one-year warranty and lifetime tech support.

20-ft. Inflatable Outdoor Movie Screen

Outdoor movie screens don’t get much easier to set up than this one. The inflatable design means all you need to do is pump up the frame using the electric blower, and it’s ready to go.

This projection screen’s back is black with a PVC coating, while the front is a PVC-coated white material. The surface creates a fine palette for high-contrast images and offers good color reproduction. This screen also comes with a storage bag, allowing you to bring it on the go.

The entire product inflates in just two minutes using an internal fan you plug, and it comes with a one-year warranty as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pull-Down Projector Screen

If you have a good place to mount a movie screen, this pull-down model is a great option. Not only is it wallet-friendly, but comes in multiple sizes and aspect ratios.

The black-backed screen takes care of light penetration, ensuring crisp, bright images and colors. The textured matte white screen is made from layers of PVC and polyester, making it weather-resistant and less liable to curl on the edges.

When not in use, this movie screen can be easily stowed away in its steel frame.

Double-Sided Projector Screen with Stand

This projection screen is user-friendly and built with a low-maintenance design. The screen itself is sturdy, set in a rust-resistant metal and glass-fiber rod frame for extra longevity.

This screen quickly snaps into the one-piece frame, and the detachable legs can be put together without tools.

While this screen from Getco Tech is ideal for outdoor use, it works well in homes and in classroom settings, due to its lightweight frame and portability. It can be carried around in its black storage bag and is easy to take on trips or new locations.

Pop-up Cinema Fast Folding Projector Screen

Perhaps the easiest to set up and take down, this pop-up projector screen from Elite Screens is built for speed and convenience. Instead of a traditional roll-up screen or collapsible frame, this outdoor movie screen has a pop-up foldout design, similar to a car shade.

As a result, you can set up or pack up your screen in a fraction of the time as many other options—and you don’t need perfectly flat ground to keep it stable, so it’s a great pick for camping.

The white screen and high contrast black also provide a solid projection color balance, however some users have complained about its susceptibility to wrinkles.

Projector Screen with Stand

For an affordable choice that you can take with you everywhere, this Vamvo projector screen is a worthy pick. This outdoor movie screen is made of sturdy polyester material designed to resist wrinkles. Even if it does wrinkle, you can easily iron or steam the screen back to its former glory.

What makes this screen special is the collapsible tripods and frames. Built like camping gear with collapsible poles and internal elastic ropes, the frame easily opens and closes within minutes.

Each tripod easily folds down and you can bring the screen and frame with you anywhere in a small carrying case.

HI-04 Mini Projector and Screen

This easy-to-set-up self-supported screen comes with a stand, and perhaps most uniquely, its own outdoor projector. This outdoor movie screen also comes with ground stakes, tethers, and a bag to store it in when not in use.

The projector itself is compatible with nearly any streaming devices, Chromebooks, PCs, DVD players, laptops, smartphones, and more.

With a Lightning HDMI/USB adapter, your iOS device can be connected to the projector, so you can even turn home movie into full cinematic productions.

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