Drive-in cinema is coming back, but it would cost you too much

Drive-through or drive-in theaters were pretty big during the 1960s. Usually, hundreds of cars bearing families or couples would park their cars facing a huge theater screen to watch a hit movie, while munching on snacks from a nearby concession stand.

Now, we didn’t get the pleasure of experiencing drive-in cinemas here in the Philippines even during its heyday. But yeah, it’s an experience that we Pinoys would’ve liked very much, especially you lovebirds out there.

But as years went on, it dwindled in popularity and was relegated as a curious relic of the past as more and more people began to favor traditional cinemas, and subsequently transitioned to online movie streaming.

It was America's biggest pastimes in the 1960s

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Now in 2020 however, here in the Philippines, the drive-in cinema is coming back thanks to SM Pampanga, and it’s the country first ever of its kind. And yes, as the world as it is right now, a drive-in type theater would offer a lot of benefits as it makes social distancing a bit easier because you’re staying in your car, where it would act as a barrier between a moviegoer and from the outside world.

However, as we’ve said, the drive-in cinema we’re talking about is located in Pampanga, which is around 80 kilometers away from Metro Manila, which is an estimated two-hour drive from the capital. Also, the SM Pampanga drive-in cinema will only start to screen movies from 5:30 p.m., and only four people will be allowed per car.

The admission price is at Php 400 per car. As such, if you want to get your money’s and time’s worth, you need to consider fuel cost as well as the toll fee you'll be paying in NLEX.

We're also thinking that not all spots in the drive-in cinema are ideal for movie viewing.

The SM Pampanga drive-thru cinema will start its operations on July 31, 2020, and it will run the movie Train 2 Busan: Peninsula. Just like those drive-thru theaters of old, there will be a concession stand that will sell an assortment of snacks.

For more Philippine motoring news, keep reading here on Philkotse.com.