Evolution and Decline of Drive-in Movie Theaters
Keeping land costs low is key. Drive-ins thrived postwar when cars and families did. Their decline began when audience tastes changed. The rise of home entertainment like VHS also drew people away. Still, some drive-ins adapted with more screens and better sound.
Current Landscape of Drive-in Movie Theaters
A few survive today, evoking nostalgia. But most big cities lack space for drive-ins now. Nor do they draw the crowds that indoor multiplexes do. Weather limits operations in northern states too.
Factors Contributing to the Decline of Drive-in Theaters
The primary causes for the decline of drive-ins: shifting audience choices and rising property taxes. The audience began with the WWII generation and concluded with the Baby Boomers.
Drive-in Theaters Today
A few drive-ins survive today, evoking nostalgia. But most big cities lack space now. Weather limits northern state operations too. Indoor multiplexes draw bigger crowds. Still, drive-ins’ comeback during the pandemic shows their appeal.
Drive-in Theater Revival Amid the Pandemic
Pandemic creates an oddest phenomena: here is a British drive-in cinema for people who won’t go to a conventional cinema for fear of infection. Attending a drive-in feels like living inside a film. American cinema honours the drive-in with multiple appearances: in Grease (1978); in Twister (1996); and more.