Some of the country's largest major movie theater chains, including Regal Cinemas, Cinemark and AMC Theatres, have all announced tentative plans to begin reopening their theaters throughout the month of July, as have some of New York City's indie theaters. But even if they do begin to reopen, that doesn't ensure that studios will be releasing many films in the coming months, nor that people will feel comfortable going back to theaters while the pandemic still rages on—the fact that the theaters won't require people to wear masks unless it's mandated by state or local government is also an ominous sign.
Some New Yorkers have still been able to enjoy the communal experience of watching a movie with strangers, however, thanks to the influx of drive-in theaters that have started sprouting up since the pandemic began. And we now have a new one to add to that list in Brooklyn: the Skyline Drive-In has opened in Greenpoint this week with a slate of classic movies you can watch from the socially distant confines of an automobile.
Located at 1 Oak Street, Skyline Drive-In bills itself as the "only drive-in with a Manhattan skyline view." They plan to have a movie showing every night at 9 p.m. for the rest of the summer, and they already have a schedule of the films showing through early July up on their website, including Footloose, Anchorman, Grease, Braveheart, Breakfast At Tiffany's, Gladiator, Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan, Mean Girls, Trading Places, Saving Private Ryan and more.
Notably, unless you are attending with a large group, Skyline is more expensive than some of the other drive-ins, with tickets costing $54.99 per vehicle for up to seven passengers and $34.99 for motorcycles. People are encouraged to bring their own food and drinks, but they also say at some point they will have food trucks available so people can buy food there. Most enticingly, they write that they're planning to have seating available for people without cars, though details on that are still being figured out. They also note it's totally fine to sit on top of or next to your car if you want, writing on Instagram, "Blankets and folding chairs allowed but please stay by your cars and keep social distancing regulations."
In early May, The Bel Aire Diner in Astoria started hosting drive-in movie nights in their parking lot which became wildly popular. Then MASC Hospitality Group, the company that helps run the Bronx Night Market and the Bronx Beer Festival, announced that they are planning to bring their Uptown Drive-In festival to the Yankee Stadium parking lot in July. In addition to drive-in movies on giant screens, they want to have live music concerts, karaoke nights, carside dinner service from street vendors, interactive games and giveaways, and theme nights. Finalized details on that are still forthcoming, but the company did put up this preview.
