STATISTICS
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The following statistics are compiled from a variety of resources, including personal visits and research, telephone recordings, websites, UDITOA member information, and on-line movie listings. Because of the constant flux of numbers (closings, addition of screens, change in ownership, etc.) sometimes, despite best efforts, a theatre will be erroneously tallied as operating (or not operating) that season.
As of November 2022:
302 Theatre Locations in the USA
533 Total Screens
Number of Operational, permanently constructed, commercially operated US Drive-Ins by State/Territory
(as of November, 2022)
These statistics are updated as UDITOA learns of changes in drive-ins.
| State |
Sites |
Screens |
|
State |
Sites |
Screens |
| Alabama |
7 |
16 |
|
Nebraska |
3 |
3 |
| Alaska |
0 |
0 |
|
Nevada |
2 |
10 |
| Arizona |
1 |
9 |
|
New Hampshire |
3 |
7 |
| Arkansas |
0 |
0 |
|
New Jersey |
1 |
2 |
| California |
16 |
46 |
|
New Mexico |
0 |
0 |
| Colorado |
7 |
11 |
|
New York |
28 |
49 |
| Connecticut |
2 |
4 |
|
North Carolina |
5 |
8 |
| Delaware |
0 |
0 |
|
North Dakota |
0 |
0 |
| Florida |
4 |
6 |
|
Ohio |
24 |
39 |
| Georgia |
5 |
12 |
|
Oklahoma |
7 |
8 |
| Hawaii |
0 |
0 |
|
Oregon |
3 |
3 |
| Idaho |
6 |
6 |
|
Pennsylvania |
27 |
47 |
| Illinois |
8 |
11 |
|
Puerto Rico |
0 |
0 |
| Indiana |
20 |
36 |
|
Rhode Island |
1 |
3 |
| Iowa |
4 |
8 |
|
South Carolina |
3 |
8 |
| Kansas |
5 |
6 |
|
South Dakota |
7 |
8 |
| Kentucky |
6 |
7 |
|
Tennessee |
13 |
21 |
| Louisiana |
0 |
0 |
|
Texas |
14 |
34 |
| Maine |
5 |
6 |
|
Utah |
4 |
9 |
| Maryland |
1 |
1 |
|
Vermont |
3 |
6 |
| Massachusetts |
2 |
3 |
|
Virginia |
6 |
8 |
| Michigan |
10 |
19 |
|
Washington |
5 |
7 |
| Minnesota |
5 |
8 |
|
West Virginia |
5 |
5 |
| Mississippi |
1 |
1 |
|
Wisconsin |
9 |
14 |
| Missouri |
11 |
13 |
|
Wyoming |
1 |
1 |
| Montana |
2 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
TOTALS |
302 |
533 |
PAST STATS & THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY
|
YEAR
|
SITES
|
SCREENS
|
| August 2018 |
317 |
559 |
| December 30, 2011 |
366 |
606 |
| September 19, 2010 |
374 |
618 |
| July 23, 2009 |
382 |
629 |
| July 26, 2008 |
383
|
635
|
| July 31, 2007 |
383
|
636
|
| July 27, 2006 |
397
|
650
|
| July 26, 2005 |
402
|
649
|
|
July 2004
|
403
|
641
|
|
July 2003
|
401
|
635
|
| summer 2002 |
433
|
667
|
| summer 2001 |
441
|
684
|
| summer 2000 |
443
|
684
|
| summer 1999 |
447
|
684
|
Industry resources list the high figure for drive-ins as 4063 in 1958. The 1978-1988 time period was particularly hard on the industry, with over 1000 screen closings. Closings were commonly due to land value increases that made selling for redevelopment attractive financially, aging owners who wished to retire, difficulty obtaining first run product during the time period, and increasing entertainment options (video, multiplexes, other activities).
But by the 1990s, new drive-ins were being built and re-openings were becoming more common. The numbers have leveled off from their rapid drop in the 1980s. Some owners who want to retire now are seeking someone to purchase it to keep it as a drive-in instead of selling the property for development. Though drive-in numbers will never be as high as they were in the 1950s, the industry seems to be on an upswing.
