A new drive-in movie theatre will open on May 28 on the Entertainment Quarter's car park rooftop in Moore Park in Sydney, Australia.
Movie-goers will feel the 1950s vibe as they enjoy the cinema experience from their cars, according to Daily Mail. The idea is a response to the social distancing rules amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Sydneysiders can watch blockbuster films from their cars while they tune in to their radio to get the sound. Food and beverages, including pizzas, chips, wine, and beer, are available on-site and will be delivered to their cars.
The same people who offered the outdoor cinema, Mov'in Bed, brought this popular movie experience from the 1950s after traditional cinemas were shut down during the lockdown. Movie theaters will be reopened later as it is under stage two of the Australian government's plan to lift the restrictions as the nation has just entered stage one.
Mov'in Car said on its website that they feel people need some entertainment and distractions to boost their morale during the time of uncertainty of COVID-19 restrictions. The company promises to prepare a set-up that will allow people to "enjoy a great experience without putting themselves or others at risk of spreading the virus."
The COVID-19 crisis has crippled the event industry, following the cancellation of almost all major events. The company also said that this would be its contribution and "first support milestone to the Australian event economy" since this could create some new jobs as well as give work to its long-time suppliers, media partners, and even local restaurants.
Mov'in Car is the company's second outdoor cinema after the success of MoveIn Bed, where moviegoers lie on a bed with pillows and blankets, watching movies under the stars. Mov'in Bed is the world's biggest outdoor bed cinema featuring a total of 150 beds.
Can drive-ins be the future of the cinemas?
Drive-in cinemas are slowly getting popular again since the pandemic struck. In the US, about 25 drive-in cinemas have opened across the country last weekend, according to the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association (UDITOA), in a report by The Guardian.
The group expects that this number will continue to grow each week since the majority of America's 5,548 indoor movie theaters remain closed.
Josh Frank, Blue Starlite owner, a mini urban drive-in in Texas, told The Guardian that said he expects drive-ins will see a huge rise in ticket sales in the next two to three months.
He also said that drive-in movie experiences will be "incredibly sought after" for the next couple of years because it is "the safest, most comfortable way of getting out to see a movie, a live show or anything."
Blockbuster line-up
Movie screenings will be from Wednesday to Sunday every week until August 30. It kicks off with the classic hit "Grease," and tickets are already on sale for the May 28 screening.
Aside from "Grease," other blockbusters are lined up including "Harry Potter," "Frozen," "Joker and Muriel's Wedding," "Joker," "Knives Out," "Frozen II," "Jojo Rabbit," "Jumanji: The Next Level," and the "Kill Bill" trilogy, among many others.
