For movie-going fans who are tired of sitting at home watching Netflix or Disney, Walmart has come up with a solution. The box store will be giving people a chance to get out of the house and catch a movie, and maybe pick up some groceries afterward.
Walmart announced Wednesday that several of its stores throughout the country will transform into drive-in theaters. One of those cities is Lawton.
“We recognize the challenges our customers and their families have faced over the last few months, and we wanted to create an experience where they could come together safely to create new memories,” said Janey Whiteside, chief customer officer at Walmart.
The tour starts Aug. 14 and concludes Oct. 21. The drive-through theater will touch down in Oklahoma in only two cities: Stillwater (Sept. 1-5) and Lawton Sept. 8-9). According to the Walmart website, all dates are already sold out, but officials say things could change as the dates get closer.
Each location had nine movies to choose from. They were all family-friendly with only three having a PG-13 rating. They included Black Panther, Friday Night Lights and Wonder Woman.
On Sept. 8, the Lawton Walmart SuperCenter at 6301 N.W. Quannah Parker Trl is showing Spider-Man: Into The Spider Verse. The next night it is showing Spy Kids.
Walmart is teaming up with Tribeca Enterprise to put together the movie tour that will hit 160 Supercenter locations across the country with a pop-up style theater. Tickets are free online (TheWalmartDriveIn.com) for the 320 showings, but must be requested in advance. Tickets will not be available at the gate.
"Drive-Ins have been a signature program for Tribeca since we started the Tribeca Film Festival 19 years ago after 9/11,” says Jane Rosenthal, CEO and Co-Founder of Tribeca Enterprises and Tribeca Film Festival.
"But now, the Tribeca Drive-In is much more than a fun, retro way to see movies — it’s one of the safest ways for communities to gather. We are thrilled to partner with Walmart to bring more people together around the shared cinematic experiences that Tribeca is known for."
Other states that are scheduled to participate include Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.
Social distancing will apply at each location and viewers will need an FM radio to listen to the film.
Ahead of each screening, Walmart is allowing movie-goers to order food and other essentials online for curbside pickup on the way to their movie.
“Through our digital means and vast footprint of stores, we’re hoping to bring some summer fun to families across the country,” Whiteside said. “We know Walmart plays a role in our communities that extends far beyond getting them necessary supplies, and we see that now more than ever.”