Going to the movie theater is one of people's favorite outings for a reason. You get to snack on delicious popcorn and candy and share a new film experience with friends or family. So what if you could recreate that awesome theater experience at home?You wouldn't have to splurge 10 bucks on a ticket and could actually pause the movie when you inevitably need to go to the bathroom.Recreating a movie theater at home is actually easier than you think. You don't need a dedicated media room although that definitely helps. But here are some great items to start investing in a home theater experience.

1. An Awesome Flat-Screen TV

First and foremost, you'll need a quality television. The larger you can go, the better. But if all you can afford is a 32-inch TV, that's still perfectly fine. Who said you can't have a home theater on a budget?

Pay attention to features that will improve your movie viewing experience. Larger TVs with 4K and special focus on vivid colors and dark blacks will be your best bet, but there's really no right option here.

2. A Streaming Subscription

When it comes to movie viewing, you have two main options: a physical movie (DVD or Blu-ray) or a movie from a streaming service. If you don't have a lot of extra space in your home, or you don't have extra money to splurge on individual movies, a streaming service will be the best option.

Of course, if you're a movie collector, buy all the movies you want. You can even inmanyvest in extra movie storage so you can proudly display your collection in an organized fashion.

But if you're leaning towards a streaming service, you've got a lot of options. For movies, try out Amazon Prime Video or go for Netflix, the streaming classic. If you're not feeling either of those, there are plenty of other streaming services to choose from, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, and HBO Max.

3. Ambient Smart Lighting

If you haven't thought about putting lights behind your TV setup, you're not alone. It's not something a lot of people think about, but it makes a world of difference in how vivid your picture is.

There are even smart lighting options that allow you to control the colors, brightness, and more through a corresponding app or voice commands.

4. A Quality Soundbar

One of the best parts about going to a movie theater is the immersion experience. And a huge part of that immersion comes from the booming sound system.

That's why a quality soundbar is a must for your home theater. Although there are some of us that have to have closed captions on, no matter how loud and clear the sound is, a soundbar that's able to capture the entire scene makes an amazing difference. A good soundbar is able to help you hear dialogue clearly as well as everything that's going on in the background of the scene.

And the good news is that there are many great soundbars for audiophiles on a budget.

5. A Strong Subwoofer

A dedicated subwoofer is able to pick up on lows and eerie rumbles that a soundbar just can't. Even if your soundbar has the ability to put out significant bass, it won't be able to do well as a dedicated subwoofer

You know when you're in the movie theater and there's a massive explosion on screen? You can feel that explosion in your seat and the surrounding area because of the bass being produced. A subwoofer will help recreate that booming experience in your home.

If you can only afford one piece of tech to improve your home theater sound, go for a soundbar over a subwoofer. But if you can splurge on both, you'll be a happy camper.

6. A Universal Remote

When you have multiple different devices in your home theater, and everything has its own remote, it's easy to lose track of what goes to what. That's when a universal remote comes in handy.

With a great universal remote, you won't have to juggle four or five different remotes just to turn everything on before a movie. To turn the TV on, increase the sound, pause the movie, control the TV lights, and more, you'll just need a single remote.

7. A Movie Projector

You can't have a complete movie viewing experience without a projector. Nowadays, you can get a projector for your phone if you don't want to splurge on an expensive, dedicated projector.

A projector is also a great way to watch a movie on a big screen if you don't have the money to buy a huge flat-screen TV. Although a projector is still pricey, it's less expensive than a massive TV. If you have a large, blank wall, you can use that, or you can purchase a screen that you can project onto.

8. A Blu-ray Player (or Gaming Console)

For any Blu-ray movie collectors, something to play the movie with is obviously a must. You can get a dedicated Blu-ray player, or you could spring for a new PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X to get a gaming console and Blu-ray player in one device.

If you're not into buying movies for your own personal collection, you may not need one of these devices. That said, you should also consider whether you ever rent movies from Redbox or have friends bring movies over occasionally.

Invite Friends Over For Your Home Theater Premiere

There's nothing classier than a home theater, even if it's technically just your living room that you refer to as a home theater. And again, you don't have to spend an arm and a leg for the most premium tech out there.

At the end of the day, your home theater could include a small TV, some ambient lighting, and an awesome soundbar. Or, you could even have no TV and just invest in a quality projector and a screen.

Make sure that whatever you put into your home theater is what you want, and not just something that you think a home theater needs. After all, you're going to be the one watching movies with your friends and family.