We all love watching films, whether on TV, at the cinema or outside under the stars at a specially planned magic of outdoor cinema event. It could be argued that when you are in front of a captivating, well-crafted movie, it shouldn’t matter where you are, or what you are watching it on. However, as anyone who has already experienced the magic of outdoor cinema can testify, taking the experience outside adds a whole new dimension of entertainment, immersion and fun. Here are some reason why taking it outside will always beat staying indoors when it comes to watching a movie in style.
Lots of atmosphere – literally!
Going to the cinema indoors is not always fun when the room gets too hot and stuffy, for example, or you sit in a draught and cannot get comfortable. You could find yourself sitting shoulder to shoulder with your neighbour, feeling uncomfortable coming into physical contact with another person on the arm rest and wishing for some more air to breathe. Taking the film outside gives you exponentially more air, space and freedom. You can spread out more and your roof is quite literally the heavens above.
Unless the night is especially balmy, you will feel cooler than staying indoors. In fact, you may need to bring some layers to wrap round you as the night goes on and the heat of the day starts to disappear after sunset. Whatever the weather does, however, you are guaranteed that the space won’t grow stuffy and overpopulated when the great outdoors is all around the audience.
Plenty to see and do
Often, the magic of outdoor cinema is not just centred around the film itself. Thanks to the extra space and more varied surroundings, you can enjoy plenty of other entertainments. These include having an al fresco picnic before the screening or during the interval. Taking a walk in the locality, especially if the cinema event is happening in a beautiful park or the grounds of a stately home.
Summer sunsets can be beautiful to watch at the right time of evening and you can often hear the birds sing as they start to put themselves to bed at dusk. Sitting on the grass, feeling its coolness against your legs, or even the cosiness of a picnic blanket if you prefer not to sit directly on the ground can add a wonderful feeling of freedom to the occasion and being at one with nature. You can’t get all of these natural add-ons at a traditional cinema event located indoors.
Community connections
Another part of the magic or outdoor cinema is the community feel that audiences get when they gather together under the stars to watch a film together. Of course, indoor movie-goers can feel a sense of connection too as they watch and enjoy the same story unfold in front of them. However, there is something extra special about meeting outside for a film and not having to rush off afterwards to make room for the next showing, or to get back to the car before your parking ticket runs out.
Outdoor venues tend to come with larger car parking facilities, or can be an easy walking distance away for very local attendees. Thus, making more time available to chat before and after the film, share insights and get to know each other better as part of the overall event. If you are planning a film festival outdoors, this feeling can be extended by people attending multiple films and continuing their conversations over several nights.
Mental health makeover
Finally, we are told that spending time outdoors is highly beneficial for our mental health. Breathing in the air, taking time to appreciate nature and slow down are all effective antidotes to increasingly busy, stressful lives. When we go to an outdoor cinema event, not only do we get to enjoy the escapism that comes with a good film, but we also access the outside world and set down our phones and devices for a while.
We can breathe in air that has not been filtered through an air conditioning unit and that does not smell of popcorn or fried snacks. We can get back to nature and reconnect with loved ones while enjoying a well-deserved night off, underneath a spring or summer’s sky. What’s not to like about embracing the magic of outdoor cinema this year?