Backyard cinema · Evanston, the North Shore & Chicago's North Side
We set up a 4K picture on a big outdoor screen before dusk, stay with you through the credits, then pack it all away. You just dim the porch light.
Sunset tonight in Evanston
The idea
There is a moment, just after the sky turns from gold to blue, when the yard goes quiet and the first frame fills the screen. Conversations trail off. Someone reaches for a sweater. That is the moment we build every night around.
YardLight Cinema brings the picture, the screen and the sound to your backyard, patio or driveway. We arrive before dusk, handle every cable and stay on site all evening, so the only thing you manage is the guest list.
How it works
Anytime
Pick a date, a rough headcount and your space in the form. The sunset time for your date shows up as you choose it.
Before your date
We send your quote, date and details by email. Nothing is charged online.
The week of
We keep an eye on the forecast together. If rain looks likely, we move your night to another open date at no charge.
About an hour before showtime
We arrive, find the right spot, raise the screen and dial in the picture while the light fades.
Sunset to credits
Your host runs the show all evening. When the credits roll, we pack up and leave the yard as we found it.
Packages
Every package includes the gear, delivery, setup, teardown and a host on site for the whole show. Pick how much night you want.
One feature, done beautifully.
$499Sun–Thu$549Fri & Sat
Up to 4 hours on site
Our favorite
An early show for the kids. A late show for everyone else.
$649Sun–Thu$699Fri & Sat
For the birthdays, anniversaries and big nights.
$799Sun–Thu$849Fri & Sat
Up to 6 hours on site
Prices cover our usual service area. Final quote confirmed by email before anything is booked; nothing is charged online.
What we bring
Real gear, set up properly and run by someone who cares how the picture looks.
The Anker Nebula X1 Pro, built for outdoor movie nights. Crisp detail, rich color, dialed in on site.
A large projection screen, placed where the whole yard has a clear view.
The projector's built-in speakers carry the dialogue and the score without a tangle of extra gear.
We arrive before dusk and pack up after the credits. You don't lift, plug or coil a thing.
One of us stays on site from first frame to last, ready to pause, adjust or cue the next film.
We play from your own streaming services or media, so the choice of film is entirely yours.
Occasions
Some nights deserve more than the living room couch.
Their name on the big screen
Open with a custom title card and a slideshow of their photos, then roll their favorite film under the stars.
Suggested The Premiere . Ask about a date.Two seats, one sky
A quiet yard, a film you both love and no one checking their phone in the next row.
Suggested Movie Night . Ask about a date.The whole street, one screen
Turn the end of the party into the best part. Neighbors bring chairs, the kids claim the front row.
Suggested Double Feature . Ask about a date.The game, larger than life
Stream the big game from your own account and watch every play land on a screen the whole yard can see.
Suggested Movie Night . Ask about a date.Early show, late show
Something animated while the little ones still have their shoes on, then something grown-up once they're tucked in.
Suggested Double Feature . Ask about a date.Anniversaries, graduations, big news
Your photos before the feature, a title card with your names and a running order we plan together.
Suggested The Premiere . Ask about a date.Where we go
We bring movie night to backyards from Rogers Park to Lake Forest and west through the north suburbs.
Just outside the list? Ask anyway — we'll quote travel.
Questions
We watch the forecast with you. If rain looks likely, we move your night to another open date at no charge.
One standard outdoor outlet, or an indoor one with a door we can run a cord through. A flat patch of lawn, patio or driveway, and as much darkness as you can manage: porch and flood lights off once the film starts. Tell us about your space and we'll confirm the fit.
At sunset, once it's dark enough for a rich picture. The form shows the sunset time for the date you pick, and we arrive about an hour before showtime to set up.
Anything from your own streaming accounts or media. Watching at home with your guests is what we're built for. Community, public or ticketed screenings may need a public-performance license, so please check that before you plan one.
For streaming, yes: a decent Wi-Fi signal where the screen will stand. We don't supply internet, so if your signal is patchy out back, tell us in the form and we'll plan around it in your quote.
As early as you can, especially for summer Fridays and Saturdays. Short notice is worth asking about too: send the form and we'll tell you what's open.
Most nights run from a handful of people to a full backyard party. Share your headcount and your space, and we'll confirm the setup suits it in your quote.
The projector, screen and sound, delivery, setup before dusk, teardown after the credits and your host on site all evening, within our usual service area. Travel outside it is quoted. Your final quote comes by email before anything is booked.
Through the booking form on this page. It's the one way in, and we reply by email with your quote and any questions.
Book
A few details are all we need to check the date and send your quote. Nothing is charged online.
We have your inquiry and will check the date, then email your quote and details. Nothing has been charged.
Pick a date, and we'll bring the big screen to your backyard.
Check your date