A Resurgence in Drive-In Theaters
A guest sits in the back of their trunk to watch “The New Mutants” at The Plant Drive-In in Van Nuys, Calif., hosted by Regency Theatres, on Sept. 14, 2020. (Romeo Kuhn | The Corsair)
On a Sunday evening, typically a slow business day for the movies, the Regency Theaters Drive-In, also known as The Plant, had a half-full parking lot of cars. Couples and families settled in as the lights dimmed. The screen came to life with 20th Century Studios’ newest movie, “The New Mutants.”
Drive-in theaters had not been popular since the 1950s, but they recently made a comeback amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In late August, the state of California released a new color-coded tier system for reopening businesses that allowed drive-in theaters to open in Los Angeles County, but closed indoor movie theaters indefinitely.
Angelica Rios, an employee at The Plant Drive-In, noticed an influx of crowds since they opened two weeks prior.
“The first show, there [wasn't] that many people, and as time went by we started filling up the parking lots more and more,” said Rios.
The same can be said for other theaters. The Paramount Drive-In sold out five minutes before their 7:55 p.m. premiere of “Tenet,” starring John David Washington, on Saturday night, Sept. 12. A line of cars that extended half a mile down the street could be seen trying to enter the venue when the announcement was made.
Antonio Gonzalez, an employee at the Paramount Drive-In, attributes the bigger-than-usual crowd on Saturday to “Tenet” being a new movie. He mentions that the theater drew a similar crowd with the release of “The New Mutants” on Aug. 26.
Both Gonzalez and Rios share the opinion that more people are going to the drive-in because it offers something fun for them to do outside of their homes, amid the pandemic.
Brandon Engstrom and Alyssa Claudio were newcomers to the Paramount Drive-In on Saturday night. They mentioned that they would go to an indoor theater if it was open, but decided on the drive-in since they were in L.A. for the weekend, and they wanted to see “Tenet.”
As for COVID-19 safety concerns, the state requires L.A. County drive-in theaters to enforce regulations. These include that masks be worn by all patrons and employees, and that patrons stay in their vehicles for the entire show, except for when going to the on-site restrooms or concessions stand. At both establishments, a list of COVID-19 regulations was handed out at the ticket window, and employees patrolled the area to make sure patrons were following the guidelines.
Traditional drive-ins have been around for decades and typically have multiple screens with a large selection of classic movies and new releases. They charge around $10 per person. Moviegoers in the Santa Monica area are welcome to a variety of drive-in theaters throughout L.A. County. These drive-ins include The Paramount Theater, The Vineland Theater in the City of Industry, and The Mission Tiki Theater in Montclair.
Pop-up drive-ins offer special screening locations, holiday-themed decorations, and a variety of movies depending on the occasion. These drive-ins include The Plant Drive-In in Van Nuys, The San Fernando Valley Drive-In, and The Sony Drive-In Experience that allows patrons to watch Sony movies on the studio lot in Culver City. Pop-ups charge around $30-$40 per car with a maximum of four people per vehicle.
