NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio — With social distancing now on everyone's minds, drive-in move theaters appear to be making a comeback. One Northeast Ohio location, in particular, is attracting scores of customers.
According to the entertainment site Deadline, the Aut-O-Rama Twin Drive-in Theatre in North Ridgeville was the fifth-highest-grossing move theater in all of America last weekend with $60,100 in tickets sold. Although that's less that half of the top-earner (Ford Wyoming Drive-in in Dearborn, Michigan), it blows away the top conventional movie theater in the country (Megaplex Theatres at the District in South Jordan, Utah), which took in just $14,600.
Drive-in theaters were some of the first locations allowed to reopen by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, and since then moviegoers have been eager to get in on a little nostalgic fun. Among the classic movies currently showing at the Aut-O-Rama is "Jurassic Park," which deadline reports was the weekend's highest-grossing film despite being 27 years old.
The drive-in will also be showing "Jaws," "Shrek," and "Despicable Me" through Thursday, but the real fun begins Friday: A five-night marathon featuring all eight "Harry Potter" films plus the two "Fantastic Beasts" installments. Tickets can be purchased here.
LEON BIBB: Let's head back to the drive-in