A new documentary film called Back to the Drive-In trailer is released, which examines the love of drive-in theaters and the battles that they face. I’m sure you’re aware that there was a wave of dive-in movie viewers during the pandemic when the rest of the theaters were closed and it seemed like people were loving the experience of watching movies like the good old days! But, now that movie theaters are open and flourishing again, attendance at the drive-in theaters has declined. This is what this documentary is all about, I for one love drive-ins and the whole experience of watching the movie like the old days but I’m sure drive-ins will never make a comeback.
When the pandemic started, drive-ins were unexpectedly the only safe venue in town, with press coverage about how drive-ins are “back,” and how they are flourishing. But this doc goes behind the headlines to understand the truth, spending a whole night with 11 very different drive-ins in 8 states all over the country, from preparations before the customers arrive, to selling tickets, opening the snack bar, and getting the movie on the screen, These family-owned businesses are actually working very hard to survive. This doc is about authentic drive-ins and the strength of the devoted people who run them, but more extensively it highlights questions about the future of the theatrical experience and problems of many tiny businesses wondering whether they will prevail and make it to the other side of the pandemic.
The movie comes from filmmaker April Wright (Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the American Drive-in Movie and Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace), check out the trailer below: