Top Places to Rent a Movie Screen in Austin, TX

Austin is brimming with fantastic venues and activities for birthday celebrations, and if you’re considering a unique and entertaining twist for your teen’s party, a backyard movie night could be the perfect option. It’s an ideal way to keep the kids outdoors, and trust me, as a parent to two energetic boys, I know the value of keeping them away from your furniture 😊. However, you might be wondering about the specifics: Where do you start, and what are the costs associated with a top-notch inflatable screen rental?

Well, fret not, because I’ve gathered all the necessary information to guide you through the process. Before we dive in, I want to be transparent. My name is Zulfiya, and I’m the founder of Backyard Starz, a leading provider of outdoor screen rentals here in Austin. As a small, local, family-operated business, we pride ourselves on offering superior quality and value in our services. But beyond promoting Backyard Starz, I am committed to providing an unbiased review of all options available in Austin. This ensures you have comprehensive knowledge to make the best decision for your memorable event. Let’s dive in.

Freedom Fun USA

Freedom Fun USA, a family-operated national franchise chain, was founded in Texas by Tim Masters in 2003. Initially specializing in mobile laser tag, the company quickly expanded its offerings to include a variety of party essentials like snow globe rentals, snow machines, archery games, bounce houses, foam machines, and movie screens. Originating in Texas, they have since branched out to several cities, including Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Springfield, and Tulsa.

Renting a movie screen from Freedom Fun USA means you can expect professional and excellent customer service, a notable distinction from some other options I’ll discuss later. To reserve your event date, a 30% deposit is required, and they provide the convenience of free rescheduling for any reason. Full payment is due upon the delivery of the equipment.

Freedom Fun USA is known for their transparent, straightforward pricing, and they offer various packages to suit different needs. For instance, their 18-foot screen Concierge service package is priced at $399, covering delivery, setup, and tear down/pickup.

In comparison, our 18-foot screen package at Backyard Starz is $389, which includes an extra 12 lounge chairs and side tables, along with setup and takedown services. We add a standard $20 cleaning fee to all orders, bringing our total to $409. Although this is slightly higher than Freedom Fun’s $399, we believe our package provides much more value.

I should note that Freedom Fun USA also has a DIY package for $299, which means that you’ll have to pick up, setup, and return the equipment to their Georgetown, TX warehouse. In contrast, our DIY package is $197 + $10 cleaning fee, and we deliver and pickup the equipment at your location.

It’s important to note that while Freedom Fun USA doesn’t have a standard cleaning fee, they may charge a $75 cleaning fee if equipment is returned in unsatisfactory condition. They also apply a delivery fee based on mileage and an additional $100 for every extra hour beyond their standard 2-hour rental.

Fun Flicks

Fun Flicks, like Freedom Fun, operates as a nationwide franchise with a presence in several states, including California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida. Established in 2001, Fun Flicks offers services similar to those of Freedom Fun. However, their distinct pricing structure is often significantly higher, and there are additional fees that you may incur. For instance, the cost breakdown for an 18-foot screen rental from Fun Flicks is as follows:

• 18-foot screen rental: $499
• Delivery fee: $25
• Surcharge (royalty fee): $32.92
• Total: $556.92

When booking with Fun Flicks, a 50% deposit is required, and full payment must be made at least 14 days before the event. Their cancellation policy is strict: if you cancel within 14 days of the event, you are liable for the full payment. Cancelling 30 or more days in advance results in a refund of only 25% of the total cost, indicating that Fun Flicks does not offer full refunds, unlike Freedom Fun. Rescheduling is allowed, but if it’s for reasons other than weather, a fee of 20% of the rental total is charged. Weather-related cancellations are only accepted on the day of the event; cancelling in anticipation of bad weather the day before may incur additional fees. If there is a 40% or higher chance of rain forecasted within two hours of the event, Fun Flicks may cancel the event. Choosing to move the event indoors due to rain does not entitle you to a refund for screen size differences. Importantly, if you do not inform Fun Flicks of your decision to reschedule or cancel at least two hours before the event and they are unable to set up due to a 40% chance of rain, your event will be cancelled and you will be charged the full amount.

Other considerations when booking with Fun Flicks include an extra $50 fee for events exceeding the 2.5-hour rental time. You are also responsible for ensuring easy access to the setup location, which must be within 200 feet of the equipment.

Amanzi Party Rentals

Amanzi Party Rentals operates as a comprehensive one-stop shop for event equipment in several major Texas cities. Not only do they provide inflatable screen rentals, but their range also includes bouncy houses, water slides, rock walls, and even Ferris wheels.

Inflatable Screen Rental Details:

• Booking Process: The process is user-friendly with an online form allowing for specific date and time selections. Options for overnight rentals are also available.
• Pricing: Their 18ft inflatable screen is priced at $499 + tax. Other options include a 8′ X 4.5′ screen package for $350, which includes an inflatable screen, speakers, projector, and DVD Player.

Additional Charges and Policies:

1. Non-Residential Fee: An extra $35 is charged for events held in non-residential areas.
2. Alternate Venue Fee: If the event is at a park, clubhouse, or a similar venue, there’s an additional charge of $85.
3. Gated Community Access: Failure to provide a gate code in gated communities may lead to cancellation and full charges.
4. Event Planner Surcharge: An extra 10% fee is applied for event planners or organizers.
5. Standard Delivery Fee: There’s a $45 delivery fee for all events.
6. Equipment Delivery: They provide an estimated 2-hour delivery window the day before the event and require someone over 18 to sign and make payment upon delivery.
7. Setup Requirements: Clear access to the setup area is needed, and they do not carry equipment down any stairs.
8. Payment: Exact cash payment is preferred as drivers do not carry change, and checks are not accepted.

Partyflix

Partyflix is a company that specializes in big movie screen rentals and sales, founded by Kevin L. Ramos. Since its inception in 2010 in South Florida, it has grown significantly. The business, which started in Ramos’ backyard in North Miami, now operates in five states with 12 outlets. Partyflix offers inflatable movie screens ranging from 9ft to over 30ft, suitable for displaying movies, video games, sporting events, and more.

Renting a 12ft inflatable screen from Party Flix will cost you $500 and their 18ft inflatable screen is $600. The rental duration is 2.5 hours and they charge $80 for each additional hour. The rental package does not include seats, it only comes with a screen, projector, two speakers, and a DVD player. The 2.5 hour rental time starts from the time of sunset. Partyflix offers a few add-ons which you can take advantage of. If you’re screening a movie in a park and don’t have access to an outlet, you can rent a generator from them for $150. Keep in mind that their setup does not include weights, sandbags, or any other weighting system other than stakes, they offer sandbag rentals for an additional $100.

If you decide to book with Party Flix, here is what you might typically expect.

• They will send you an invoice that outlines your package.
• 48-hours before your event you will receive an automated email and/or SMS reminder.
• The morning of your event, they will contact you with a setup time.
• Two hours before your event, you will receive an email with links to their Agreement to Terms form and a payment link to pay for your event via credit/debit card or ACH. Note, full payment is required prior to them setting up the equipment.

Note, once setup is complete and you’ve paid the full invoice, they will not refund your money unless deemed necessary. Also note that if you choose to stream your movie from a device other than a standard DVD or Blur-ray player, you are responsible for providing any proprietary video adapters like HDMI or VGA connections. Partyflix does not take responsibility for an undesirable audio/visual playback if you choose to stream from a laptop.

Unlike Fun Flicks, their rain out policy is relatively straightforward. You can postpone/reschedule or cancel your event the day of the event due to inclement weather. Party Flix does not impose a penalty if the event is canceled due to rain. However, if you do decide to go through with the event no refunds will be issued if it rains and they’ll need to pack up the equipment. Note that Partflix has the right to postpone or cancel the event due to rain or high winds.