June 6th is National Drive-In Movie Day and marks the official birthday of the drive-in movie theater. The popularity of the drive-in movie theater peaked back in 1958 with 4,063 drive-ins spread across the United States of America. In 2018, only about 400 traditional drive-in theaters remain operating worldwide with most of those located within the United States (348). The unique outdoor experience has allowed that number to hold steady over the past decade. Drive-ins might even be poised for a slight rebound. However, the future of outdoor cinema may lie elsewhere. Entrepreneurs are looking to update the outdoor cinematic experience by using historic landmarks, rooftop locations, air-supported domes and beds to create a fresh spin on the outdoor movie experience and make 'movie night' a special event again.
