Take in-home movie theaters. This is a great way to spark some magic from the comfort of your own house, especially since movie theaters aren’t doing so well, thanks to the pandemic. Setting up an in-home projector system is the easiest way to bring the true theatrical experience home. When you set up a movie projector, you can easily blow up the picture to massive sizes. Say goodbye to squinting at tiny screens and laboring over aspect ratios. Our pick is from our sponsor Epson and its line of home theater projectors, which are short-range and easy-to-use gadgets that throw up giant, crystal-clear images.

First up, think about throw distance and positioning

You’ll need to consider the throw distance when you’re trying to decide on a projector. Look for a product that gives you flexibility in placement. Depending on your room, the projector position and the size of the image may need some tweaking. You’ll find three different types:

Long Throw: This type of throw provides huge images. You’ll usually have to install these projectors in the center of the ceiling in a large room.Short Throw: You’ll usually install these projects either on the wall or on the ceiling close to the wall. They’ve got to be close to where the image will be projected. Usually, these project movies from three to eight feet away. This type of throw provides large images while reducing shadows and eye glare.Ultra-Short Throw: This type of project is great because it practically eliminates shadows and eye glare. You’ll install this projector on the wall, the ceiling nearer to a wall, or a table projecting downwards. Ultra-short throw projectors throw images from zero to four feet away from the projector to screen.

You may have to shell out some good money for a high-quality, ultra-short-throw projector, but they’re a good investment. You’re getting theater-quality images from the comfort of your own home. Best of all, there aren’t any whispering strangers or crying babies in the audience!

Look for a projector that’s easy to set up

This one’s a no-brainer. Since you’re using a projector for fun movie nights, you don’t want tech that will give you a headache. That’s why you should pay special attention to these features when shopping for a projector:

HDMI — You’ll want an instant and easy digital connection to high-definition devices and allows digital audio through the same cable.Wireless capability — This feature allows for projecting content without a cable.Vertical and horizontal image correction —This way, you can quickly align a skewed image on the screen. Need to set up in a hurry? This feature is key!Instant on/off — There’s no extra waiting for a projector to warm up or cool down.

You should also note the many types of projector connections, like USB, VGA, Component, HDMI, and Display Port. Check the gadgets you’ll be connecting to the projector to find out what works best for you.

For even more fun, look for interactive features

If you’ve ever set up a backyard movie projector, you know that setting up a blank wall can be a pain. There can also be some awkward tech issues that make it hard to pause, play or stop. That’s why you should keep a sharp eye out for interactive projectors, which can make a table or almost any wall interactive. You can even use Epson’s interactive pens to navigate, click or draw over the movie screen. How fun is that?

Epson is Kim’s pick for the best movie projectors

Most projectors will give you a resolution of 1080p. But if you want to watch movies in glorious 4K quality, there’s no better option than Epson’s movie projectors. Not only are you getting a sharp, 4K quality image, but you’ll also enjoy full 10-bit color processing and 12-bit analog-digital image processing. These projectors are fast and bright with full precision lenses. They’re just as good as, if not better than, most TV sets. Check out these amazing projectors at Epson.com/projectorkim.