Drive-in movie theaters have transitioned from being a common pastime to a vintage outing. But, why? Drive-in theaters are one hundred percent better than the typical boring inside movie theater.
I went to the Sky-Vu Drive-In movie theater and it is now at the top of my list of ways to watch a movie. What makes a drive-in so amazing?
Well, it is the place to be a for a broke college student. Two tickets for a double-feature cost $14 total. A medium popcorn cost $3.50. The total price for the night was $17.50. At a normal movie theater, it is considered a good deal if that much will cover the cost of a medium popcorn and two sodas. Two tickets for one movie will almost always total move than $14.
Also, I only wanted a popcorn, but I could have bought so much more. This drive-in offered far more than the nachos and popcorn deal that is typically at theaters. I had the option of buying burgers, hot dogs, French fries, and a wide variety of other fattening foods that I love to eat.
Best of all, I laid down to watch the whole movie with a blanket and pillows as if I was watching Netflix at home. Yes, some movie theaters have fancy recliners, but they cannot compare to laying in the back of a car or in the grass underneath the stars.
Speaking of stars… did I mention that the absolute high point, the main purpose of a drive-in, is watching a movie outside. I understand this can be a bummer if it is raining or extremely hot but, on a nice night, there is nothing better.
Honestly, why have I been watching movies at boring inside theaters my whole life?
Oh, yeah. The closest drive-in to my hometown is about an hour away. Drive-in theaters have dwindled in numbers from about 4000 theaters nationwide to just a little over 300 according to the Sky-Vu theater.
Since drive-in movie theaters rarely open on weeknights and do not have as many shows running at one time, it has been hard for them to survive in the digital age.
The Sky-Vu theater introduced its movie with a few facts about the near-extinction of drive-in movie theaters. According to the Sky-Vu, film studios take much of the commission from movie tickets. With a theater only operating on the weekends with two shows a night, that money loss takes a toll.
Drive-in theaters rely mainly on the money from their snack stands according to the Sky-Vu. With that in mind, I imagined the prices for snack stands being much higher, but the snack stand was cheaper than any snack stand I have seen at a movie theater.
I hope in the next 10-20 years; drive-in theaters do not go completely extinct. We should be doing everything in our power to keep drive-in theaters alive. They are great for date night and they are a great pastime for families.
Drive-in movie theaters are an experience that we cannot lose.