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18 hours ago
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Friends of ours used to invite us for movies at the "Johnson Monoplex," their nickname for the living room that was their home theater. It definitely had all the accoutrements: giant screen, great sound system, even some movie posters adorning the walls. (The popcorn and candy selection was a bit lacking, if I'm being honest. Would it have killed them to lay in some Junior Mints?) If you've long dreamed of creating a monoplex of your own, good news: It's easier than ever. Here's everything you need to know about turning your living room into a Hollywood-caliber home theater.
The screen
The most important part of this dream-realization is, of course, the screen. Needless to say, the bigger, the better; half the fun of going to an actual theater is watching a movie that's three stories tall.
You have two options here: TV and projector. I used to favor the latter, in part because it was the only realistic way to get a really huge screen; TVs just weren't that big (or if they were, they were $10,000).
Now I lean more the other way: TVs have super-bright panels, familiar onboard software (Roku, Google TV, etc.) and prices that just keep getting lower. Not long ago I spotted a 100-incher for just $1,600. And you can pretty easily find 85-inch TVs for below $1,000 (including our top pick, below).
With a projector, you're probably going to have to ceiling-mount it, which can be a pretty major exercise. (Holes in drywall, cables fished behind that drywall, etc.) That's one reason I like ultra-short-throw (UST) models, which can sit right beside the wall on which they're projecting. But those can get expensive, anywhere from $1,800 on up to $3,500.
Still can't decide? Here's a list of TV and projector pros and cons:
TV pros:
Very bright — no need to draw the curtains
More placement options within your living room (i.e., wall-mounting optional)
Equipped with full-featured streaming capabilities
Easier to adorn with rear LED lighting (more on that below)
TV cons:
They don't look like movie-theater screens
The largest ones are very heavy, therefore more difficult to wall-mount
They start to get expensive at sizes above 75 inches
Projector pros:
Able to produce a 100-inch or even larger picture
Needs only an empty stretch of white or gray wall...
...but with a framed screen, really imparts that movie theater look
Projector cons:
Higher-end models are expensive
Brightness often a factor; they work best in dark rooms
Mounting and placement can be challenging
Audio can also be challenging, especially if you want surround sound
Harder to connect external devices like game consoles and Blu-ray players
Ultimately, the goal is to get yourself the biggest screen you can afford. With that in mind, here are some top options for TVs and projectors alike. Note that our use of "best" in these descriptions is based on expert evaluation of features, price, reviews and other factors.
The best TVs for your home theater
"Only" 75 inches? Park yourself reasonably close to the Hisense U6H and it'll seem plenty big, I assure you — especially if you're accustomed to something smaller.
Despite the budget pricing, this model isn't short on bells and whistles. Its Quantum Dot display technology is bolstered by Dolby Vision HDR and full-array local dimming, and there's a Filmmaker Mode for viewing movies "as intended" (in terms of frame rate, motion smoothing and other settings).
The U6H also has a 240Hz refresh rate, important for watching sports, and a variable refresh rate (VRR) mode for playing games. Hard to believe you can often find this selling in the $500 range.
With a price tag under $1,000 and a feature set that wants for nothing, the Hisense QD7 is your best bet for a TV-based home theater.
It's not only huge at 85 inches, it's also equipped with Mini-LED technology, which is widely regarded as better than QLED and not far off from OLED. In English: The screen is gorgeous: sharp, bright, richly colored.
The only thing I don't love is the Amazon Fire OS software, which I find harder to navigate than, say, Roku or Google TV. But it does net you onboard Alexa for easy (and potentially very familiar) voice commands.
The best projectors for your home theater
The "3" in PX3 might be in reference to the three areas where this UST projector excels: features, image quality and gaming.
The features (many of which impact image quality) are too many to list. The highlights: 3000 ANSI lumens (referring to brightness, which is higher than most), support for images as large as 150 inches (let's see a TV do that), a front-firing Harmon Kardon speaker with Dolby Atmos and all the HDRs: HDR10, HDR10+, HLG and Dolby Vision.
On the gaming front, the PX3 is unique among UST projectors in that it has a Designed for Xbox certification: Hisense promises no lag or screen-tearing thanks to the 240Hz refresh rate.
I'm a big fan of UST projectors, but you'll almost certainly want to invest in a framed screen (like this one) to really bring home the home-theater vibe.
Hey, I said it was a splurge. But Epson's top-rated LS12000 is arguably one of the best consumer projectors to date, with full 4K resolution courtesy of a 2,700-lumen laser light source that's guaranteed to last as long as the projector does.
And if you want to get technical about it, the LS12000's use of three LCD chips means it won't produce any rainbow artifacts, which can happen on DLP projectors. (Hey, I said it was technical.)
Obviously this won't fit every home-theater budget, but if you're serious about getting the best possible picture, this definitely belongs on your short list.
The best sound systems for your home theater
The screen is only half the battle. To really round out a home theater, you need amazing sound. The tiny, underpowered speakers inside your TV won't cut it; what you're going to want is a soundbar, preferably one that includes a subwoofer and at least two rear speakers.
You can find some great options in our roundup of the best soundbars for theater-quality audio at home. But I've highlighted two of them here, along with a third option you might not have considered: headphones!
In our aforementioned roundup, this was actually my pick for the best soundbar overall, because it offers such incredible bang for the buck. For a mere $350 you get a Dolby Atmos equipped main speaker, a robust subwoofer and two wireless rear speakers. That means real surround sound, not simulated.
And it's a small thing, but I really like the large embedded display, which lets you view the volume level and various settings with ease.
Just take note that this setup lacks Wi-Fi, so you can't use it as an AirPlay speaker system. Other than that, it's a pretty great pick for anyone seeking affordable surround sound.
Did you win the Powerball? Or score an inheritance from crazy old Uncle Leo? Then by all means splurge on Samsung's utterly spectacular Q990B soundbar setup. It's expensive and somewhat annoying to use, but also unrivaled at plunking you into a veritable dome of immersive sound.
Just be prepared to overcome some usability issues, including bad setup instructions, a poorly designed remote, and a user-hostile display.
Once you figure it all out, though, you'll never want to leave the couch again.
Whether you're a viewing party of one or you don't want to disturb the neighbors, a headphone can make a great alternative to a speaker system. Indeed, it affords the kind of immediacy — sound that's inside your skull — you can't get from a soundbar.
I like the Sonos Ace, our pick for the best wireless headphone of 2025. For starters, it supports both Dolby Atmos and spatial audio, meaning if you're watching video sources that support one of these as well, you'll experience pretty amazing surround sound.
What's more, if you happen to own a Sonos soundbar, you can seamlessly switch between it and the Ace headphones.
These are expensive, though; for a more affordable private-listening experience, check out the Soundcore Space One.
The lighting and little touches
Just as a decorator will tell you there's more to a living room than a couch and coffee table, I'm here to say that a home theater is more than just a TV and soundbar. A few little extras can make a huge difference, transforming your space into something that's festive and fun. My top picks:
Nothing says "home theater" quite like walls adorned with movie posters. Amazon has plenty to choose from, like the example above; you might be able to locate more obscure ones on eBay.
By the way, 24" x 36" is the standard size, and of course you'll want frames to go with them. Here's a 6-pack of poster frames to get you started.
Sure, you can make pretty good popcorn in the microwave, but this is your home theater we're talking about. That calls for the real deal, something that looks like it came right from the multiplex.
Great Northern's Matinee Popcorn Machine fills that bill, and it can produce up to 48 cups of corn per batch. It comes with measuring cups, a popcorn scoop and both buckets and bags for serving.
And here's a pro tip: A pinch of Flavacol Popcorn Seasoning Salt will make you think you're really eating movie-theater popcorn.
FAQs
Why shouldn't I buy one of the 4K projectors I see on Amazon for $200 or less?
Because they're not really 4K projectors. Look closely and you'll see something to the effect of "4K support," which is highly misleading. You can plug in a streaming device, game console or the like that's capable of producing 4K resolution, but the projectors themselves have a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 (aka 1080p). It's like a fire hose that has a tiny spigot on the end: plenty of water behind it, but it doesn't spray anywhere near the full amount.
Do I need an OLED TV for a home theater?
This is straight-up opinion, but I say no, you do not. OLED screens are great, with incredible colors and deep, inky blacks, but unless you're aiming to fully replicate a movie theater experience, watching with the lights off, I'm not convinced any of that stuff will impact your overall enjoyment of Black Bag, Captain America: Brave New World, Sinners or any other movie. What it will do is empty your wallet. My take: Mini-LED TVs are nearly as good as OLEDs, for less money.
What's the better movie snack, Twizzlers or Red Vines?
Look, some things are subjective, like pancakes versus waffles or rolled oats versus steel-cut. But on this there can be no debate: Twizzlers are awesome, Red Vines are gross. I will not be accepting comments at this time.
Actually, there's a red licorice I like even better than Twizzlers: Better Made, which comes from right here in my home state of Michigan. Try it; thank me later.
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