When the COVID pandemic hit the world hard and nasty, cinema theatres are among the badly injured. However, Drive-in cinema theatres are helping the industry to stay alive, says Mac Torluccio, senior program director for entertainment business at The Los Angeles Film School. He said that drive-ins have been a positive way to keep the industry alive until indoor theaters can stay open. In Los Angeles, people are reviving drive-ins in parking lots.
With the recent news from Walmart that its parking lots across the country are being transformed into drive-in theaters, drive-in cinema theatres are picking up its pace.
From Aug. 14 through Oct. 21, the retailer will have 320 movie showings at 160 of its stores, including “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Black Panther” as well as animated movies like “Cars” and “The Iron Giant.”
Walmart in early July announced plans to show free movies, which are being curated by the Tribeca Film Festival, and on Wednesday released the list of the movies with dates and cities where the movies would be shown.
Starting at 5 p.m. ET Wednesday, consumers can sign up to reserve a parking space for viewing at thewalmartdrivein.com.
Back in the ’80s and 90’s drive-in theatres were the best entertainment for cinema lovers. It was always jam-packed as people were rushing to park their vehicles and catch the front seats for better sight.
After decades, the same trend is back again in Germany and it is Valley Drive-In in Fredericton, New Brunswick. In 2020 kids and teens are excited to have such an experience by keeping aside their smartphones.
The usual Cineplex is shut down around the globe due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The drive-ins are a touch of old-fashioned which has been flooding people in.
One of the prominent drive-in theatres named Autokino Essen has sold out almost 500 tickets on April 6th for the comedy flick Manta Manta which was a blockbuster in 1991.
The source from the drive-in stated that: “It doesn’t matter what we show, people just want to get out and watch a movie,” and “we’re sold out weeks in advance.”
Patrons watch a movie as the sun sets over Bengies Drive-In Theatre in Middle River, Md. Drive-in movie theaters, which numbered 4,300 in 1957, have dwindled to just 350
Driving Changes, Middle River, USA
Further, their other Cineplex in Cologne were also fully packed. And only 25 vehicles were permitted in the 1000 car parking capacity. This is to assure that social distancing was followed and every spectator was checked through a closed window.
However, when the sunsets it looks like the usual movie and a fun night out which was not there for a prolonged time.
Post all these several old or new drive-in cinema screens have been emerging across the country.
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