How to Choose a Movie for Your Outdoor Event

Planning a public outdoor movie night? Whether it’s a park screening, school fundraiser, or a neighborhood block party, picking the right film can make or break your event. At Rocket Cinema, we’ve helped hundreds of clients host unforgettable evenings, and one of the first questions we get is: “What movie should we show?”

Here are the top things to consider when choosing a movie for your next outdoor screening:

🎬 1. Choose a Proven Crowd-Pleaser

Stick with titles that are fun, familiar, and feel-good—the kind of movies people will bring a lawn chair for. These are some of our top performers:

• The Sandlot

• Back to the Future

• The Princess Bride

• Shrek

• Hocus Pocus (great for fall events)

• Jurassic Park

💡 Need help deciding? We can share a list of licensed titles that perform well with different age groups.

🌅 2. Consider the Length of the Movie

Outdoor movies can only begin after sunset—so if you’re planning a summer event, a 2.5-hour epic might not be your best choice. Look for movies that are:

• 90 to 110 minutes for school nights or late sunsets

• 120 minutes or less if you're starting early in the fall or spring

Pro Tip: Always check your local "civil twilight" time when planning! That is the time after sunset when it finally gets dark enough to see a bright image on the screen.

🌌 3. Pay Attention to How Bright the Movie Is

This is an often-overlooked but critical factor: Movies with a lot of dark scenes don’t play well outdoors.

Films with high contrast, daytime settings, or lots of color look amazing on our inflatable screens. Some examples:

• Up

• Sing

• Encanto

• Moana

• Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Avoid movies with heavy shadows, nighttime action, or dim cinematography unless you’re starting late and have near-perfect viewing conditions.

💰 4. Don’t Forget About Licensing

Yes, public screenings—even free ones—require a movie license. The cost varies depending on the title and audience size.

👉 We’ll cover licensing how-tos in another post soon, but if you’re unsure, just ask us! We can help you navigate the options.

🚀 Let Us Help

Rocket Cinema has the gear, the team, and the experience to help you throw a movie night that people talk about for years. From curating your film selection to handling tech and logistics, we’re here to make outdoor movies easy and magical.

🎥 Need help choosing the perfect movie for your next screening? Contact us today—we’ll help you pick a title your audience will love.