In the 1950s and 1960s, there was an increase in the number of drive-in theaters in the US, reaching over 4,000 drive-ins nationwide. However, with the rise of multiplex theaters and home entertainment systems, the popularity of drive-ins began to decline. By the 1980s, the number decreased to around 1,000. Today, there are only a few hundred drive-in theaters left in the US.
The largest drive-in in the US by car capacity is the Ford Wyoming Drive-in in Dearborn, Michigan holding around 3,000 cars. The smallest is the Spud Drive-in in Driggs, Idaho, holding just 75 vehicles.
New York comes first among states with 30 outdoor movie theaters. Pennsylvania and Ohio have 29 and 24 drive-in movie theaters, ranking second and third respectively.
In 2020, there were 549 drive-in screens in the United States, down from 848 in 1995. As of 2022, AMC, Regal and Cinemark have the most screens in the US and Canada.
Since the pandemic, drive-ins have been making a comeback by adding bars, mini-golf and dog parks. They are becoming entertainment destinations instead of just theaters.