Outdoor movies are a fun way to relax in the evening. Although some projectors are capable of producing a picture bright enough to be seen during the day; the cool air, bright stars, dark skies and quiet atmosphere at night make the evening a better time for curling up in blankets or chairs for an outdoor movie.

There are four basic components in every outdoor theater: a screen, a projector, a video source and a sound system. Sometimes, when people want to have friends and neighbors over on a regular basis for an outdoor movie, they build their own backyard theaters. And, depending on how creative and frugal the builder is, these outdoor systems can be built using either large or small budgets.

Most people don't have the space or desire to make a permanent outdoor theater though. That is why some event coordinators decide to rent a full-service outdoor movie company. With professionals running the system rather than amateurs, things are bound to run more smoothly. Technicians bring, set up, run and take down the outdoor movie screens along with all the necessary equipment.

If there does happen to be some malfunctioning machinery, a professional outdoor movie supplier will always provide backup equipment like second projectors, generators, and video sources to ensure that the evening goes as planned.

A movie supplier will probably have more and better resources at hand as well. For example, a movie supplier will literally have thousands of movies for customers to choose from and many different screens. The sound systems they use will usually be capable of reaching as many as three thousand viewers and kids can play around with a Kid Cam to see themselves dancing up on the big outdoor movie screen. Those are some features a home-made theater isn't likely to offer.

If you want to add even more fun to the show, some outdoor movie companies will also rent out popcorn machines so you can provide refreshments. Whether you want to host a backyard party, a corporate event, a fundraiser, a school event, a concert or a sporting event, renting a big screen for the occasion can make your evening a lot more fun. And best of all, no one hosting the party has to spend a lot of effort to get things set up and working smoothly. Everyone can relax to enjoy the movie.

If you are trying to stretch your budget however, outdoor movies might not be your first choice for entertainment. One night with the equipment and technicians may cost as much as $2,300. If you want an outdoor movie to serve as a fundraiser, or you just want it to cover its own cost, you will have to plan on charging for admission and be prepared for a lot of people.

Getting enough people to show up may require some advertising though, and many outdoor movie companies offer marketing for an additional fee.