Backyard drive-in: the 16-ft inflatable outdoor screen

Looking to add some open-air ambience to your next big screen gathering? While outdoor TVs are the most obvious option, inflatable projection screens present an attractive alternative in terms of affordability, portability and size - which is where Open Air Cinema's gargantuan new Inflatable Movie Screen comes in. Tailored for home use, the 16ft x 9ft screen weighs less than 20 pounds when deflated, withstands winds of up to 20mph and inflates in seconds using the included blower to deliver a 220" diagonal projection surface. The catch - you may have to build your own grandstand.

Open Air Cinema's 16-Foot Inflatable Movie Screen for Backyard Drive-in Just in Time for the Holidays

Ultra Lightweight Open Air Home Screens Turn Backyard, Park or Beach into Outdoor Theater

The Open Air Home Screen features a matte white, wrinkle-resistant ripstop nylon projection surface with a black-back to keep out light from behind and improve contrast ratio. The unit fits inside a small stuff-sack when not in use and includes cinch straps and stakes to ensure it doesn't become an out of control blimp if the breeze picks up.

“The 16-foot screen is the largest screen available for backyard use on the market,” said Stuart Farmer, president of Open Air Cinema. “This new size truly converts your backyard into a huge cinematic experience. With the included blower fan, it takes just a few seconds to inflate. And even though it is the biggest screen we recommend for home use, it is still easy to set up, use and take down.”

The 16-foot screen costs USD$999 (introductory price) and two smaller versions are available - a 12ft x 7ft model ($599) and a 9-ft for $449.

The company also sells the 16-foot screen as part of a complete "Home Backyard Theater package" which includes a Sanyo 3000 Lumen LCD projector, 2 x 8" outdoor speakers, a DVD player and an audio mixer. The cost - USD$3299.