Best Outdoor Movie Screen – Take Movie Night to the Back Yard!

Last Updated on August 10, 2020 by Jake

An outdoor movie screen is an important component of any outdoor home theater. A good screen ensures that the true pictures projected are displayed. There is no use having a state-of-the-art projector if you pair it with a subpar screen. The projector screen should enhance picture quality, not take from it.

Selecting the best outdoor movie screen that needs your needs can be tricky and challenging. There is a lot to consider. With all the information out there, the decision process can be overwhelming and you can end up with a movie screen that doesn’t suit your needs.

In this article, we wish to provide you with reviews of the best outdoor movie screens as well as the factors to consider when buying a projector screen. Without further ado, let’s jump straight into the reviews.

In a Rush?  Here’s Our Top Picks:

 

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Best Outdoor Movie Screens Reviews

Here are the best movie screens on the market. Not only do these screens produce the best pictures, but they are also portable, easy to set up and durable.  There’s no better way to take the game room outside!

 

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Elite Screens Yard Master 2

Expert’s Rating: 5/5

• Aspect Ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Viewing Area:100-inch to 200-inch (diagonal)
• Viewing Angle: 160 degree
• Gain: 1.1 (Front Projection), 2.2 (Rear Projection)
• Color: Cinewhite (Front Projection), Wraithveil (Rear Projection)
• Material: Textured PVC w/ Surface Coating
• Other Key Features: 4K HD, Active 3D, & HDR Ready, Mildew-resistant, includes a padded carry bag

Yard Master 2 is certainly one of the best outdoor movie screens on the market, if not the best. It comes in a variety of sizes, from 100 inches to 200 inches. One of the more impressive features of the Yard Master 2 is that it allows for both rear and front projections. With rear projections, you can eliminate shadows.

The CineWhite front projection features a gain of 1.1 and a viewing angle of 160 degrees while the WraithVeil rear projection features a gain of 2.2 and the same viewing angle of 160 degrees, just like the front projection. The screen is 4K HD, Active 3D, & HDR capable. With all the features on display, Yard Master 2 is an ideal modern projector screen for all.

Pros

• The Yard Master 2 is easy to set up.
• Rear projection ensures that objects in front of the screen don’t cast shadows on the pictures on the screen.
• The frame is light but sturdy.
• Yard Master 2 comes with a padded carry bag.
• The frame features strong and sturdy aluminum construction.
• With a 1:1 gain, the Yard Master 2 produces excellent reflections.

Cons

• The Yard Master 2 has a noticeable hot spot on the screen.

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon

 

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Excelvan 16:9 Portable Projector Screen

Expert’s Rating: 4.7/5

• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Viewing Area: 100-inch, 120-inch, or 150-inch (diagonal)
• Viewing Angle: 160 degree
• Gain: 1.1 -1.2
• Color: Light Grey/White
• Material: PVC
• Other Key Features: 4K HD Ready, Anti-Crease

The Excelvan Portable Projector Screen is one of the more affordable movie screens on the list. However, it doesn’t come with a frame. Instead, it has 32 grommets that allow you to hang it with ease. It is affordable and perfect for anyone on a budget. It is also easy to install, take down and store. Don’t expect to spend more than 10 to 20 minutes setting it up.

Made from PVC, this strong screen is built to last. In terms of size, it comes in 100-inch, 120-inch, and 150-inch. The aspect ratio is 16:9 and the viewing angle is 160 degrees. This Excelvan Portable Projector Screen comes in 2 colors namely light grey and white. The screen is easy to clean and sp is the viewing surface.

Pros

• The Excelvan Portable Projector Screen features a nice wide viewing angle
• It is well built.
• Its highly reflective surface allows for nice clear pictures.

Cons

• The screen doesn’t come with a frame.
• It doesn’t feature rear projection.

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon

 

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Visual Apex 132HD

Expert’s Rating:4.5/5

• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Viewing Size: 132-inch, 120-inch, or 144-inch (diagonal)
• Viewing Angle: 160 degree
• Gain: 1.1
• Color: Cinema Matte White
• Material: PVC
• Other Key Features: 4K Ultra HD, 2D, and 3D Ready, Carry bag

The Visual Apex ProjectoScreen 132HD  is a respectable projector screen. It is easy to assemble (although some people found it a little tricky) and offers a viable choice at a low price. It works exceptionally regardless of conditions and is stable thanks to its sturdily constructed frame.

There isn’t much to talk about since the Visual Apex 132HD works just as expected. As expected from any top movie screen, the  Visual Apex ProjectoScreen 132HD boasts a gain of 1.1 and a 160-degree viewing angle.  The black backing ensures that front projections are as crisp as they can be. The Visual Apex ProjectoScreen 132HD is easy to clean and mildew-resistant.

Pros

• Setting up the Visual Apex ProjectoScreen 132HD is quick and should take no more than 15 minutes.
• It comes with a carry bag.
• It has a nice gain which allows for nice clear pictures.

Cons

• The lacks the advanced features of other outdoor screens in its price range.

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon

 

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EasyGo Products Inflatable Movie Screen

Expert’s Rating: 4/5

• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Viewing Size: 125-inch,  (diagonal)
• Viewing Angle: Not specified
• Gain: Not specified
• Color: White
• Material: PVC
• Other Key Features: Air blower and carry bag included

An inflatable movie screen such as the EasyGo Products Inflatable Movie Screen has several advantages over other types of movie screens. For starters, it is easy to set up.

You don’t need any tools or knowhow. Just connect the air blower and watch the frame inflate. The EasyGo Products Inflatable Movie Screen works excellently in the backyard, at picnics, at kid’s birthday parties, and even on the beach. It fills its niche market so well.

The EasyGo Products Inflatable Movie Screen comes with all you need to set it up. These include a carrying bag (for portability and storage), an air blower, the screen itself, and pegs to secure the screen on windy days.

The screen color is plain white and reflects light off it very well. It doesn’t support rear viewing or any additional fancy features such as anti-crease. Not to worry though, the picture quality is top-notch.

Pros

• Setting it up with the air blower that comes with it is super easy.
• It comes with a carry bag.
• It is portable and easy to transport & store.

Cons

• After it has been set up, the EasyGo Products Inflatable Movie Screen takes a lot of space.
• A puncture can be very damaging.

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon

 

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TaoTronics Indoor/Outdoor Projection Screen

Expert’s Rating:4/5

• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Viewing Size: 100-inch,  (diagonal)
• Viewing Angle: 160 degrees
• Gain: 1.1
• Color: Matte white
• Material: PVC
• Other Key Features: Anti-crease, carry bag included

While not the largest movie screen on the list, the TaoTronics Indoor/Outdoor Projection Screen is a wonderful choice to have. Not only is it affordable, but it also works really well.

With a gain of 1.1 and a viewing angle of 160 degrees, the  TaoTronics Indoor/Outdoor Projection Screen delivers clear images with little reflection. Also, with a viewing screen that is 100-inch in size, it is large enough for home theaters.

The TaoTronics Indoor/Outdoor Projection Screen frame has 4 legs and features a tripod design. This is especially well-balanced and sturdy. You can set up the entire screen and frame in as little as 5 minutes. In addition to being easy to set up, the TaoTronics Indoor/Outdoor Projection Screen is also easy to clean.

The TaoTronics Indoor/Outdoor Projection Screen comes with a storage bag, although the frame itself doesn’t collapse. The storage bag may protect the frame from the gathering dust, but it takes up more storage space than other movie screens reviewed do.

Pros

• Assembling this outdoor movie screen is as simple as it gets. There are no screws or fitting parts.
• The TaoTronics Indoor/Outdoor Projection Screen includes a carry bag.
• Compared to other outdoor movie screens that boast similar features, the TaoTronics screen is very affordable.

Cons

• The frame doesn’t collapse. As such, it requires more storage space than other projector screens reviewed on the list. Transportation is also a slight hassle because of this.

 

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Features To Consider When Acquiring An Outdoor Movie Screen

There are several factors to consider. There are countless factors to consider depending on your preference. However, some factors such as portability, size, ease of use, screen aspect ratio, material, and viewing area size cannot be ignored.

Aspect Ratio

With modern projector/movie screens, format ratio really should not be a problem because almost all screens now use a 16:9 aspect ratio. The 16:9 aspect ratio allows for better backdrops and scenery as more can be captured on screen. As you may already know, almost all modern movies and video games have a default aspect ratio of 16:9.

While there are still projector screens with different aspect ratios such as 4:3 (which is better suited for document presentations), the screens reviewed in this article have aspect screens of 16:9.

Ease of Assembly/Use

The screen must be easy to use. Obviously, you don’t want to spend all the time setting up the screen when you could be watching a movie or two. It’s important to get an outdoor movie screen with basic installation steps.

There are many outdoor projector screens on the market that don’t require tools to set up. If you’re not handy with tools, you can get one of those. Some are even inflatable and as such require just an air blower to set up. Inflatable screens are easy to use but can be loud as you need to run the blower continuously to keep the screen up.

Viewing Area Size

The size of the viewing area has a large influence on the screen you decide to acquire. If the size is large, a larger image can be projected onto it. However, it is important to consider the output resolution of the projector you have.

For example, a projector with 4K resolution produces sharper and nicer looking images on a screen with a large viewing surface than a projector with a low resolution (such as 720p) can.

Also, consider the gain of the viewing surface. Gain indicates how reflective the view area is. The higher the gain, the truer the image will be.

Build

The construction of the screen projector is an important factor to consider especially as the screens will be used outside. Both the frame and the base of the projector should be sturdy and well built. It should not sway with the lightest wind.

Similarly, the fabric of the screen should be durable enough to last for a long time. Compromising on durability and construction can turn out to be expensive.

Portability

Maybe you wish to take your projector and screen with you to a gettogether or a movie screening at a friend’s place. Well, that’s where portability is important. Even if you only screen movies at home, you will be moving the projector and the screen in and out of the house a lot. A portable projector screen is a plus as it is easy to move.

You don’t need help to move or set up the screen if it’s portable and easy to use.  The movie screen also needs to be easy to store when not in use. Many outdoor movie screens can easily be folded up and stored in a storage bag. Other factors to consider when it comes to portability include the weight and foldability of the projector screen.

 

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Best Outdoor Movie Screen – Final Thoughts

These are our top picks of movie screens you should get. The brands provided will ensure you get the best value for your money. With a good outdoor movie screen, you can screen movies in your backyard every evening.

The last advice I’ll like to offer is to avoid buying used outdoor movie screens especially if it is inflatable. Even a tiny puncture or a rickety frame can ruin the home theater experience.

The projector screens reviewed are the best on the market and perform exceptionally well.

Last update on 2022-06-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API