Back to the Drive-In

When the pandemic hit, drive-ins were suddenly the only safe venue in town, with press coverage about how drive-ins are "back," and how they are thriving. But this documentary goes behind the headlines to learn 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 screen, we discover these family-owned businesses are actually struggling to survive. This doc is about authentic drive-ins and the resilience of the passionate people who run them, but more broadly it highlights questions about the future of the theatrical experience, and challenges of many small businesses wondering whether they will survive and make it to the other side of the pandemic.