When AMC Theaters announced that many of its theaters would reopen in July, the reviews were mixed. The company initially decided to make mask-wearing optional, but after backlash from the public, quickly changed its stance. Sitting in a movie theater for three hours surrounded by strangers has lost its appeal in the middle of the coronavirus outbreak. As movie theaters plan their reopening phases, many families are wondering if it's safe to go.
Movie theaters are reopening, but is it safe to take your family?
Drive-in movie theaters make a comeback
As an '80s kid, visiting the drive-in was a regular occurrence. Their popularity began declining shortly after the energy crisis and operational costs increased. Simultaneously, home entertainment systems and VCRs gained significant popularity in the '80s. As a result, the novelty of the drive-in movie theater, which reached its heyday in the '50s, wore off.
The coronavirus outbreak has rekindled an interest in the drive-in movie theater and they're starting to make a comeback. According to the United Drive-in Theater Owners Association, there are just 305 drive-in theater locations across the US today.
Beau Bianchi's family has owned Los Angeles' Paramount Drive-in since 1946. “It has been a welcome relief for families and adults looking for a little getaway from the house," he told the Los Angeles Times. “We’ve been trying to let people know that we have a safe environment and [offer] a little escape.”
Pop-up drive-in movie theaters
In recent weeks, pop-up theaters have been cropping up around the country. Recreation departments, like the one in Wellesley, Massachusetts, are transforming open parking lots into drive-in theaters, at least through the summer months. The initiative is two-fold: Bringing some entertainment to residents while also creating summer jobs that have been in short supply as of late.
Whitney Cornelison recently visited a local drive-in theater with her family. "There were spaces in-between each vehicle, masks were mandatory, social distancing was expected, and there was an 'only two people in the restroom' rule," the mom of four told Mom.com.
Before heading out, she and her family agreed that they would leave if at any point they felt unsafe. "We stayed to ourselves and parked in the very back row. It was a great way to social distance while getting a small taste of normalcy," she recounted.
