Create a Home Theater in Your Backyard: Outdoor Movies Made Easy

Brian Rieg's outdoor theater is his own backyard in Medina, Ohio -- a 16-by-9-foot screen, a projector, a DVD player, and an old stereo with speakers. He spent less than $1,000 assembling it from eBay projectors and salvaged audio gear. “It's a drive-in without the cars,” he said.

Rieg is among a growing number of home-theater enthusiasts taking their interest outdoors. Digital projectors and new screen technologies have made it possible for almost anyone to create an outdoor theater; one catalyst has been the inflatable screen, which inflates in minutes and deflates into a carrying bag. Projector prices have also dropped sharply -- from around $7,000 in 1995 to under $700 by 2008 for a usable unit.

A professionally designed outdoor theater can range from a few thousand dollars to $100,000 or more; a do-it-yourselfer can set up a basic system for around $1,000 or less. The basic components are a screen, a sound system, a projector, and a video source. Whenever Rieg's screen goes up, neighbors know they're invited to come over with a lawn chair. He even bought a popcorn machine.

“It's the gathering, you know?” said Randy Fisk of BackyardTheater.com. “It's bringing people together.”