Back to the Drive-in

2022

Documentary

Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Certified Fresh 93% · 14 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Upright 73%
IMDb Rating 7.0/10 10 144 144

drive-in theater movie theater

Plot summary

A feature-length documentary that goes behind the scenes to get to know the families who own and operate drive-in theaters.

720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
968.78 MB
1280*720
English 2.0
NR
us  
29.97 fps
1 hr 45 min
Seeds ...
1.75 GB
1920*1080
English 2.0
NR
us  
29.97 fps
1 hr 45 min
Seeds 1

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by gortx

Sweet nostalgia tinged with the reality of the business

April Wright's follow-up to her 2013 GOING ATTRACTIONS: THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN DRIVE-IN MOVIE. Like the original, BACK TO THE DRIVE-IN is a mix of sweet nostalgia combined with the sometimes trying reality of running an outdoor cinema.The big difference between the two Documentaries is, of course, the Pandemic which created a boom and bust cycle which Drive-Ins are still working their way through. On the plus side, Drive-Ins were in many areas, the only place to see a movie at the height of the lock-downs. The downside included the difficulty in hiring - and keeping - workers, supply chain issues, occasionally rowdy attendees and film studios' fickle distribution plans. All of those layered on top of the already existing issues of reliance on good weather and the ever increasing value of real estate (the most sobering quote in the movie is when the Mission Tiki drive-in operator says that he has an offer for land that is worth what he could make in 25 years (!) of running the theaters).Wright focuses on 11 drive-ins situated all across the country. The owners and operators are a mix of seasoned pros and wide-eyed amateurs just getting into the game. The Doc is truly a tale of Small Business ownership as much as one about the film exhibition business. The ups and the downs. And, lots of uncertainty.In the end, what comes through in Wright's hands is that running a drive-in is a labor of love. For all the troubles and pains, when these entrepreneurs see the joy of kids playing in the drive-in playground or that glint in the eyes of first-time in their lifetime visitors it makes it all worth-while.
Reviewed by LLgoatJ 8 / 10

Interesting and nostalgic but seemed a bit over ambitious

I'm in the UK so this was very foreign to me. It was very interesting though. Why and how these people keep these places going. They were all the same but different. I really did enjoy it though.

The only criticism is it seemed to try and feature too many places. It was hard to keep track and care for so many different places. It was obvious that some where more interesting than others. To be honest I only remember about four of them.

It would also have been interesting to hear more from the customers of why they visit in the days of streaming. There was a little bit of it but it seemed like an afterthought.

Well worth a watch though and you really do end up hoping and believe some of these places can survive.

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