Drive-in theaters are making a comeback amid COVID-19 pandemic

Drive-in theaters are making a comeback amid COVID-19 pandemic

Decades of seeing a decline in customers -- drive-in theaters are now seeing a shift.

Dozens of drive-ins in indiana saw a record number of people this opening weekend.

But as hollywood puts a halt on movie- making, drive-ins are expecting new challenges.

News 18's micah upshaw tells us more.

E: drive-ins have been around for a long time, their peak time was about the 50s every little town had a drive-in.

M: in monticello, that drive-in is lake shore theater.

Owner, earle mclachlen says the decline for drive-in movie-goers started in the 80s.

That's when big movie companies started building large indoor theaters.

But under this pandemic, people are making their way back to outdoor movie-lots.

E: we're really on a increase in business because of the indoors not being able to attract the people, people just don't feel quiet safe enough yet but they feel very safe out in the open air of the drive-in atmosphere.

M: mclachlen says opening weekend's movie-screening brought a hundred more customers than normal.

Even though the movies they're screening have been released for some time.

E: people want to get out they want to see a movie.

M: while people are seeking safe activities to do outside the house, mclachlen is worried that the inability to play new movies could become a problem.

E: we're having to play older pictures now, because there's no newer pictures.

Hollywood's not making anything.

M: that's even though mclachlen says all theaters are playing re-runs only.

Movie-makers have put new releases on halt to figure out how to recoup the millions of dollars they expected to make- back in theaters.

He's hoping the desire for families to create new memories will outweigh the fact that it may be a movie they've already watched.

E: we have people coming here saying, we've been married 50 years and our first date was at this drive-in movie theater.

It'll always be a special niche and i think they'll stay around though..

They'll stay around.

M: in monticello, micah upshaw.

News 18.

Like bars and restaurants, drive-ins are also required to function at 50- percent capacity.

Lake shore drive-in's limit is 300 cars right now.

You can find the list of movie's playing this weekend on our website wlfi.com.