How to Recreate the Movie Theater Experience in Your Own Home

What do the blockbuster films No Time to Die, Avatar 2, and West Side Story all have in common?

The answer is they were all supposed to be released in 2020, but due to cinemas closing across the United States, all were delayed. The pandemic put pay to a whole year of cinema, leaving popcorn fans with little to appease them other than big producers developing movies for Netflix or their back catalog of DVDs.

It’s not the same though, is it? Watching a film on your couch at home is cool, but it isn’t the sensation that you get in a movie theater, with giant screens, surround sound and those luxurious seats. Nothing quite grabs a film buff like the curtains going up when there’s popcorn in their lap, and a cold soda tucked at their side. 2020 ensured that you couldn’t get that experience locally, leaving many to turn their own homes into a movie theater. For a modest cash outlay, you can turn your home into your own personal IMAX, and you might even get friends and family coming round to enjoy a film or two with you.

If you have decided you want a home cinema, here are some handy tips for creating your own.

Big Screen

The first thing you will need to invest in is a massive television if you do not already have one. A trip to the cinema is defined by that gigantic screen on which the big blockbusters play out, so the bigger you can go here, the better. Ideally, it would help if you looked for a flatscreen that boasts UHD 4K resolution. There are plenty of great widescreen televisions on the market, with Samsung doing a great range of UHD TVs at 75” and above. Alternatively, you could look to use a projector, which typically boasts a much larger potential screen. LG do a good range of projectors within a reasonable budget, an option worth checking out.

Surround Sound

Whilst you may immediately have thought you need a big TV for a home cinema, you may not have considered the need for a surround sound system. A trip to the cinema is immersive because the sound comes from above you, in front of you and even at the side of you. When those Star Wars X-Wings fly past on the screen, they sound as though they are all around you, and that’s crucial for your home cinema. Again, there are plenty of options for home theater systems, but typically a 5.1 surround sound system should suffice. Klipsch has some good choices in terms of sound and aesthetic and are certainly worth checking out, with prices ranging from $500 up to a few thousand.

Creature Comforts

If you are serious about your home cinema and have already got the electronics in place, then it is time to look at your furniture. Sure, your Walmart couch looks nice, but does it make you think you are watching a film at the IMAX? No, of course not. Ideally, a set of recliners would provide some real luxury, but you might have to think practically. Perhaps you need to use the room for other purposes in the week, so mix the furniture and make it adaptable. Yes, a couple of lazy boys with drinks holders would work a treat, but are they suitable for when the in-laws come round? You can help create a cinema experience by getting a TV tray or table for drinks and snacks and maybe throwing a few extra cushions around the place.