What does a backyard movie night really cost? Compare Pillowmoon packages, see what changes the price, and plan your budget with three clear examples.
Pillowmoon’s outdoor movie-night rentals in Los Angeles start at $595 for Essential Cinema, $895 for Signature Cinema, and $1,295 for Premiere Cinema. Those are base packages: delivery, selected extras, and applicable taxes and fees are additional.
For a simple starting budget, Essential Cinema with its four included bean bags and Zone 1 delivery comes to $720 before applicable taxes and fees, with no throws or extras selected. A larger screen, more lounge seats, or popcorn and lighting will change that number.
This guide explains Pillowmoon’s own prices, checked November 1, 2026. It is not an average of every rental company in Los Angeles. The examples below show exactly what is selected so you can compare like for like.
1. What the base movie-night packages include
Start with the screen, projector, sound, and number of bean bags you want. Every package includes installation, equipment testing, and next-day collection. The distance-based travel charge is separate.
| Package and base price | Screen and seating |
|---|---|
| Essential Cinema $595 | 100-inch screen and 4 bean bags |
| Signature Cinema $895 | 150-inch screen and 6 bean bags |
| Premiere Cinema $1,295 | 200-inch screen and 10 bean bags |
How projector and sound quality affect the price
The projector is one part of the price. Sound, screen size, and seating all contribute to the package.
| Package | Picture and sound |
|---|---|
| Essential Cinema | Nebula Mars 3: 1080p, 1,000 ANSI lumens, plus our cinema sound system. |
| Signature Cinema | Nebula X1: 4K, 3,500 ANSI lumens, plus upgraded cinema sound. |
| Premiere Cinema | Nebula X1 Pro: 4K, 3,500 ANSI lumens, plus 400W Dolby Atmos surround sound and two wireless karaoke microphones. |
ANSI lumens describe brightness. With suitable 4K content, the X1 models can show finer detail than the 1080p Mars 3. How much you notice depends on screen size and viewing distance. Light around the screen also affects the picture; even a brighter projector works best after sunset.
Signature and Premiere have the same manufacturer-rated brightness and resolution. Premiere’s base price also includes a larger screen, more seating, and the surround-sound and karaoke setup. Those additions help explain the price difference between the two packages.
A bigger package is not automatically the right fit for every yard. Screen placement, viewing distance, and space to move around matter too. If you are unsure, send us your guest count and approximate yard dimensions. Once we reply, you can share photos so we can help you choose a starting point.
2. How seating, screens, and extras change the price
Additional bean bags and throws
Extra bean bags cost $40 each above the package’s included count, and the builder adds them in pairs. Going from six to ten bean bags on Signature adds four seats, or $160. Throws are optional and cost $10 per selected seat.
The builder offers 4–8 bean bags for Essential, 6–20 for Signature, and 10–30 for Premiere. These are rental seating selections, not a universal limit on how many guests can watch. If you plan to mix rented bean bags with your own chairs or floor seating, tell us so we can check the layout.
A different screen size
Each package starts with the screen listed above. Available changes in the builder are:
- Essential: upgrade from 100 to 150 inches for $150 more.
- Signature: choose 100 inches for $150 less, or 200 inches for $150 more.
- Premiere: choose 150 inches for $150 less.
Screen sizes are diagonal measurements. The frame, projector, and seating need room as well, so we confirm fit before the event.
Optional finishing touches
| Extra and price | What to know |
|---|---|
| Popcorn machine $85 | Kernels and serving cups included |
| Ambient lighting $95 | Fairy lights and candles |
| Layered rugs $150 | Available for configurations of up to 20 seats |
| Side tables $70 each | Choose one or two; two cost $140 |
You do not have to select everything shown in a styled setup photo. Start with the seating and equipment, then choose the extras you will use. If you already have a suitable snack table or blankets, those may be places to keep the rental simple.
3. Delivery rates around Los Angeles
Our travel charge is based on distance from West LA. Setup and next-day collection are included in the experience; travel is added to your package and extras.
| Delivery zone and distance | Travel charge |
|---|---|
| Zone 1 0–15 miles | $125 |
| Zone 2 16–30 miles | $195 |
| Zone 3 31–45 miles | $265 |
Share the event address so we can confirm the right zone. A neighborhood name alone does not establish the delivery rate. For locations beyond the published zones, ask us to check availability and travel pricing before setting your budget.
4. Three example movie-night budgets
These are planning examples using the selections listed below. Each subtotal includes its stated delivery zone but excludes applicable taxes and fees. Availability and the final quote still need to be confirmed.
A simple four-seat setup: $720
Essential Cinema with its standard 100-inch screen and four included bean bags costs $595. With no throws or extras and $125 Zone 1 travel, the subtotal is $595 + $125 = $720.
A six-seat Signature setup with atmosphere: $1,410
Start with Signature Cinema’s 150-inch screen and six included bean bags. Add six throws, popcorn, ambient lighting, and layered rugs:
- Signature Cinema: $895
- Six throws: $60
- Popcorn machine: $85
- Ambient lighting: $95
- Layered rugs: $150
- Zone 1 travel: $125
The subtotal is $1,410. Without throws and those extras, the same base package plus Zone 1 travel would be $1,020.
A ten-seat Signature setup with popcorn: $1,335
Keep Signature’s standard 150-inch screen, add four bean bags to the six included seats, and select popcorn. With no throws or other extras and Zone 2 travel, the calculation is $895 + $160 + $85 + $195 = $1,335.
The larger seating count costs less than the fully styled six-seat example because the selected extras are different. Guest count is only one part of the budget.
5. What the builder estimate includes
The movie-night builder shows the selected package, screen adjustment, additional bean bags, throws, and extras. The published travel charge and applicable taxes and fees are separate from that configuration estimate.
For example, Signature with six throws, popcorn, lighting, and rugs shows $1,285 before travel. Adding Zone 1 travel gives the $1,410 example above, before applicable taxes and fees. Check the selection summary when comparing the builder with the base-package price.
Our booking terms explain that taxes and applicable fees are itemized separately on the invoice. Use your confirmed quote and invoice for the final amount payable; the examples here are not all-inclusive booking totals.
6. What to compare when looking at rental prices
A screen-and-projector rental and a styled backyard cinema may cover very different things. Before comparing two prices, check whether each includes sound, seating, delivery, installation, equipment testing, and collection. Then check which decorative details and concessions are optional.
With Pillowmoon, we install and test the setup, then hand it over for you to host. An attendant does not stay for the screening. You choose and provide the movie and any required streaming login, and you budget separately for food, drinks, and other party purchases.
If you already own suitable equipment and enjoy setting it up, a DIY evening may fit your plans. If you want the screen, sound, lounge seating, and setup handled together, compare complete configurations rather than screen size alone.
7. How to get an accurate quote for your backyard
Send your date, event location, approximate guest count, and the package or extras you have in mind. You can share a few wide photos of the yard after we reply to your inquiry; they help us check the screen and seating layout. Mention access details such as stairs or a narrow gate so we can plan the setup with you.
For help with space, start time, playback, and the day’s schedule, use our backyard movie-night planning guide. When the layout and selections are clear, we can confirm availability and the price for your specific event.
