Which is better for an outdoor movie night, an LED screen or a projector?
Dallas sunset times by month, and when a projector is enough or LED is worth the cost.
Outdoor Movie Screen Rentals in DFW
LED screens are bright enough to start an HOA, school, church, or city movie night before sunset. If your movie starts after dark and budget is tight, we also rent an inflatable movie screen.
The 16′ × 9′ Main Event screen is $3,750 for four hours of show time, delivered, set up, and run by our technician. See all prices
Local businesses can sponsor part or all of the screen. How to find sponsors
Start Your Movie Before Sunset
In June and July the Dallas sun sets around 8:37 PM, and a projected picture doesn’t look right until the sky is fully dark, usually after 9:15. Families with young kids often leave before the movie ends.
An LED screen is bright enough for direct sun, so the movie can start at 7:30. It also holds up under parking lot lights, pool lights, and streetlights. Month-by-month comparison.
How Movie Night Runs
- We arrive about 90 minutes before showtime, park the trailer, raise the screen, and test the picture and any sound you’ve booked.
- You pick the movie. The movie night kit adds a Blu-ray player and license coordination.
- For a drive-in movie, the kit also sends the audio to car radios over FM.
- A technician stays through the credits; then we pack up and leave the lawn as we found it.
Movie Licensing
Showing a movie to the public, even for free, takes a public performance license from the studio’s licensing agent, issued in the host’s name. The movie night kit ($195) covers coordinating it. The license fee is billed at cost and is usually a few hundred dollars per title, depending on the movie and the audience. How movie licensing works.
What a Typical HOA Movie Night Costs
For about 250 residents on blankets: the Block Party screen ($2,750), pro sound ($395), and the movie night kit ($195) come to $3,340, or $3,006 at the 2027 early-booking rate for dates booked by January 31. Add Texas sales tax and the movie license fee. Delivery is included within 30 miles of downtown Dallas.
Which Screen to Choose
The 16′ × 9′ Main Event fits most HOA and community movie nights. For a backyard or a small courtyard, the 12′ × 7′ Block Party is enough. If the movie starts after dark and budget matters most, the inflatable screen is $895. For a birthday or a backyard party, see private party rentals.
Our Guarantees
All three are written into your rental contract. See all booking terms.
Rental agreement §9.4
On-Time Guarantee
If the screen isn’t running at your start time because of the equipment or crew we provide, you aren’t charged for the lost time.
Rental agreement §6
Weather Reschedule
If lightning or high wind cancels your event, move it to any open date within 12 months at no charge. If your date can’t move, like Easter, and the call comes before the halfway point, you can take a refund of everything but the deposit instead.
Rental agreement §3
Posted Pricing
You pay our posted prices, and your written quote lists sales tax and any travel past 30 miles before you book.
Can we show any movie we want?
Almost any studio release can be licensed for a public screening. Tell us the title when you book and we’ll confirm availability and the license fee before you promote the event.
Do we need to provide power?
No. LED trailers run on onboard generators. The inflatable screen needs one standard outlet for its blower, or we can bring a quiet generator.
What if it rains?
LED panels are weather-rated, so light rain doesn’t stop the show. If lightning or high wind makes it unsafe, you can move your date free within 12 months.
Planning Guides
Do you need a license to show a movie at a public event?
When a movie night needs a license, whose name it goes in, and what one showing usually costs.
The HOA movie night checklist, starting six weeks out
A week-by-week plan for a community movie night, starting six weeks out.
Check Availability
Send your event date and city; it takes about 30 seconds.
What Happens Next
To see the full price first, use the booking form or call (214) 239-4458.
- The trailer runs on its own generator, so you don’t need an outlet.
- If lightning or high wind cancels your event, move it free to any open date within 12 months.
- Private property usually needs no permit. A public park or street usually does, often 30 to 90 days ahead; see the permit guide.