MONTCLAIR, Calif.  –  When Kerry Mellin got an invite to the premiere of her best friend’s new horror flick, The Wretched, she thought she’d wear something special for the occasion. But she never imagined she'd be sporting this particular ensemble. 

“I’m wearing my special 'Wretched' mask, in honor of the creature in that movie,” she told Spectrum News 1. “I made a bunch of them to take along with me for my friends who are going to be in their cars, all social-distancing.”

What You Need To Know


  • Pandemic has forced movie theaters to shut down

  • Drive-ins, which allow social distancing, are seeing an uptick

  • Horror film decided to move its premier to Montclair drive-in

  • Attendees see some advantages to drive-in format

A business owner from Simi Valley, Mellin hadn’t been to a drive-in theater in 40 years.

“I’ve got my hand sanitizer, I’ve got my mask, I’ve got my gloves. I’m all set,” she said.

As thousands of theaters across the country are forced to shut down due to COVID-19, moviegoers are steering towards a symbol of last century America.

The 305 drive-in theaters still operating in the U.S. have struggled to turn a profit in recent years, as moviegoers opt for the more modern indoor competitors. 

But with movie theaters around the world closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, drive-in theaters appear to be having a moment.

The Mission Tiki Drive In in Montclair has seen its sales jump 50 percent in the just the last few weeks. In all, the drive-in, which offered a double feature on all four of its screens, sold 1,000 tickets on Friday night. 

“I’ve been cooped up like everyone else has. I’m a little like a caged animal so it’s really nice to be able to have this opportunity,” Mellin said. 

Ed Polgardy, the movie’s producer, told Spectrum News 1 he thought his premiere would have to be canceled following the COVID-19 outbreak. But then, his distribution company, IFC Midnight, suggested a drive in and somehow it all made sense.

“We have a really cool retro monster movie and what better way to see it than in a drive-in?” he said.  

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The cast and crew also made an appearance, including actor Jamison Jones.

“Actually for a horror movie this is cooler than the red carpet,” Jones said. 

While it’s nowhere near as glamorous, there’s at least one upside to the drive-in theater. 

“You know the tickets were much less and you can bring your own food,” Mellin said.