As some industries open up, cinemas are still struggling to get to the point where it’s safe to open and start popping popcorn. However, Walmart and Tribeca Enterprises have a solution for people who miss the movies.
With fewer people going to stores, many Walmart stores end up with additional parking spaces and have found a clever solution. The company is partnering with Tribeca Enterprise, which oversees the Tribeca Film Festival, to convert 160 Walmart parking lots into makeshift cinemas.
According to The Hollywood Reporter , Walmart, “turns 160 of its parking lots into contactless movie theaters, allowing viewers to have a socially distant big screen experience amid the coronavirus pandemic.”
“Drive-ins have been a signature program for Tribeca since we started the Tribeca Film Festival 19 years ago after September 11,” said Jane Rosenthal, co-founder and CEO of Tribeca Enterprises and Tribeca Film Festival in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter . “But now the Tribeca Drive-In is much more than a fun and retro way to see movies – it’s one of the safest ways for communities to come together. We are delighted to partner with Walmart to bring more people together around the shared cinematic experiences that make Tribeca famous. “
Starting in August at select Walmart stores, we’re partnering with @Tribeca and rolling out the red carpet for drive-in movie premieres, complete with car-side 🍿and 🥤service. Stay tuned for more details. See you at the movies! https://t.co/JfUPB6QK8C pic.twitter.com/t4Enk8aYzL
— Walmart (@Walmart) July 1, 2020
Walmart film screenings will run from August to October, and more details about the locations will be announced closer to the launch date. The screenings will include concessions that will be delivered to customers in their vehicle, and moviegoers can place an order for the most part with a curbside pickup before the film begins.
Currently, no details are available on the films that the Walmart / Tribeca partnership plans to offer. Still, the company promises that the screenings will feature star appearances, and we can safely guess that there will be movie offerings for the whole family.
