Aside from gifting us with a real retro, throwback way to spice up our dull movie nights that would normally take place on our couches – whose seams we have come to know too well these last 5 months – drive-ins have made a comeback bringing us nostalgia, catharsis, and a huge breath of fresh pop culture air. We finally have a reason to get ready again.

We can also finally feel some sense of normalcy in our date nights and family nights as long as we have an FM radio station at our disposal. If you’re like me, the one non-essential thing you’ve been yearning for the most during this pandemic, is going to the movies. I’ve missed it so dearly that it is truly a sad moment when I sit down and reflect how for granted I took those two (sometimes three) nights out of the week where I’d stuff myself with my favorite snacks, drinks, pineapple pizza, and warm fuzzy moments with my guy.

We would consume all of this in our car before the movie, obviously, as we’re not crazy to drop $200 at the theatres buying all the aforementioned treats on site. (Sorry not sorry @ AMC/Regal/Cinemark, but take that into consideration for the future and your grand re-opening. Try reasonable prices instead of my firstborn and some. They’re Milk Duds not Uncut Gems.) This is an additional perk about drive-ins – being able to go to the movies on a budget and still enjoy your favorite movie snacks with your boo without breaking the bank.

The last movie I saw in theatres was the Oscar-winning film, 1917, released last December. At this point, it feels like I saw it in 1917. Well, this cinephile finally got to break free and went to see The Tax Collector last week at one of the many drive-ins in Southern California, the Paramount Drive-In Theatres. Before that, I went to see Relic, at the Vineland Drive-In located in City of Industry. Although Vineland has more screens, the screens were a lot better quality in Paramount because there were less environmental factors that affected the screen such as the neighboring industrial lights and the train that occasionally passes by at Vineland. To be fair, we did watch a scary movie that was filmed in a dark color scheme to begin with so maybe it just wasn’t the best choice to use that screen. Overall, it was still a great experience being able to set up some blankets in the back and bring along our favorite snacks and drinks.

Something to look forward to once things get back to normal – whatever that means anymore – is making sure to visit a Studio Movie Grill once it is safe to do so. Last November, I watched Doctor Sleep at the location in Monrovia, and it offers an innovative experience that actually encourages you to eat in the theatre by having a button that calls a server to your seats and takes your order ranging from entire meals, snacks, and cocktails. Before we reinvent the meaning of dinner and a movie however, we will have to settle for the great outdoors. For now, be sure to fill up your gas tank, switch your radio dial to the right frequency, and literally pull up to entertainment’s godsend, your local drive-in.

Here is a list of drive-in movie theaters you can check out in Southern California:

Inland Empire/High Desert

Mission Tiki Drive-In Theatre and Swap Meet – Montclair, CA

Van Buren Drive-In Theatre and Swap Meet – Riverside, CA

Rubidoux Drive-In Theatre – Riverside, CA

Skyline Drive-In – Barstow, CA

Greater Los Angeles Area

Vineland Drive-In – City of Industry, CA

Paramount Drive-In Theatres – Paramount, CA

Electric Dusk Drive-In – Los Angeles, CA

San Fernando Valley Drive-In – Los Angeles, CA

Central California

West Wind Drive-In – Santa Barbara, CA

Hi-Way Drive-In – Santa Maria, CA

Sunset Drive-In – San Luis Obispo, CA

What is the last movie you saw in theatres?