Movie Drive-In Theaters May Make a Comeback

A lot of Americans, even the millennials and Gen Z zoomers consider the movie drive-in theaters as a cherished and nostalgic icon. The 1960s were the heyday of these drive-in movie houses, a pastime that allowed people to watch movies as they were projected on a huge screen, while they sat inside their cars. These theaters soon fell into disuse due to the rise of the TV, the VCR, and the video rental establishments.

 Now, in 2020, the pandemic has caused movie theaters all over the country and the world to shut down operations, as they are considered a non-essential business. The much-awaited theatrical releases of films such as the James Bond movie No Time to Die, Mulan, and the Wonder Woman sequel 1984, have been postponed, since more than 40,000 theaters all over the US were closed indefinitely with no tentative schedule for reopening.

 The pandemic has put industry leaders Cinemark and on the brink of bankruptcy. Analysts estimate that ¼ of the country's theaters may permanently close down due to the reeling economic crisis caused by the pandemic.

 This Great Lockdown has the movie industry looking into the revival of the movie drive-in theaters as a feasible alternative. The theaters allow the public to gather in a large venue while being able to maintain the necessary social distancing that will keep them safe from COVID-19.

 New York Governor Andrew Cuomo earlier said that the movie drive-ins might soon open. He added that there is no danger to public safety since the people are confined to their cars. The Hollywood Reporter states that there are about 320 drive-in movie theaters in the country, only 25 of which are currently open.

For now, Americans seem to be content for streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. The New York Post reveals that ticket sales of movie drive-in theater are steady. Many theaters are relying on the classics while the crisis rages on, and Hollywood films are delayed indefinitely.

 In Germany and South Korea, however, crowds flock to drive-in movie theaters. Autokino Essen in Germany has two drive-ins that are open all year, and it sold out all of its screenings since lockdown started in early March. Its manager, Frank Peciak, says that it does not matter what movie the management shows; tickets have been sold out many weeks before. A Cologne drive-in movie theater also has the same experience. It only allows ¼ of its 1,000-car capacity for its screenings to maintain proper physical distancing.

 Besides, pop-up options are also proliferating to fill the high demand for entertainment outings. Loe Studios is a theater in Marl that shows movies on a LED screen 640 square feet placed behind its barker bar. The premiere offering, "Parasite"  and "The Lion King," were sold out within hours.

 In New York, Beth Wilson, theater manager of Warwick Drive-In, hopes to waive her business' non-essential restrictions, as it satisfies people's need to go out.

 Still, after the lockdowns are over, drive-in movie theaters may once again face a sharp decline. But for now, the drive-ins enjoy a mini-renaissance for being fun and safe venues that can maintain physical distancing while entertaining people with the movies they enjoy.