Outdoor Movie Theater Lighting

When planning the best layout and solutions for a drive-in movie theater. lighting plays a role in achieving a successful night at the movies. While the screen is the main focus of this type of business, there is more to lighting than just the big projector lighting. From the snack bar to parking lot lights, lighting can encompass the entirety of this type of seemingly low light business. With our 3 outdoor movie theater lighting ideas to guide you, achieving the ideal night under the stars watching movies can be easy.

1. Consider light pollution when positioning lights.

One of the best outdoor movie theater lighting ideas is to keep in mind the light pollution. When showing a movie on a large screen outdoors, there are special considerations to ensure the best quality image is retained and part of that is eliminating light pollution as much as possible. Since you won’t be able to completely eliminate all artificial lighting since it is needed for directional purposes, as well as a safety measure for customers, you should opt for warmer colors near the yellow range with lowered lumen outputs over cooler options with high lumen output.

2. Light in the direction of the concessions stand.

Since the majority of drive-in movie theater profits come from the concessions stand, it is important to make it the focal point of the location as much as possible. With the right placement of lighting solutions, you can direct customers to this area with ease. Make sure lighting solutions are placed so that they face this area which will also help to eliminate light pollution towards the screen. Another great option is the use of rope lighting along the walkway of the snack area to make it easier for customers to get snacks during the movie without creating distracting lighting.

3. Use low light parking guide lights.

Most drive-in theaters are located in a big open field. With this common setup, configuring parking lots is a complicated issue. Since spaces are designated by the speaker box placement, there is less confusion on the matter of where to park, but there may be a need for supplemental lighting on the way to that spot. Again, you want to keep in mind the light pollution factor and how it will affect the screen, but you also want to ensure some sort of lighting system is in place. With the use of outdoor string lights designed typically for construction sites, you can create a clear pathway to the parking area for customers. These lights can be hung on metal poles evenly spaced from the ticket booth to the parking area a few feet above the ground which will help to reduce light pollution as opposed to higher up fixtures. Again, keep these lights in the warmer temperature range for the best results.