What Is the World’s Largest Drive-in Theater? Drive-In Theaters

  • Bengies Drive-In Theater

Bengies Drive-In Theater in Middle River, MD has the largest movie screen in America, 52 feet high by 120 feet wide.

  • Algiers Drive-in

The Algiers Drive-in in Detroit, MI had a 65.8 m wide screen when opened in 1956 to show "The Searchers".

  • Ford Drive-In

The Ford Drive-In in Dearborn, MI could host 3,000 cars and stays open year-round with heaters.


A drive-in theater allows viewing films from cars. At peak popularity in the 1950s over 4,000 drive-ins were across America as a cheaper alternative.

The Lighthouse 5 in Florida will be the world’s largest with five screens, verified by Spencer Folmar with records over three years.

Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theater in Orefield, PA is the oldest operating. There are 350 drive-ins with a comeback during the pandemic as distancing.

Expect $250,000 to $1 million to develop on 10-14 leased or bought acres. Prices vary from $200 to $500 per screen. CinemaHD is an app letting you watch movies in theaters.

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