Ah, the drive-in movie! It's been decades since the Milwaukee area has had them. Memories still linger of the 41 Twin and other places where you could pull up and watch a movie (or not) from the comfort of your own car. And now the drive-in is making a comeback!
The Milky Way Drive-In is a new "pop-up" outdoor movie theater at Ballpark Commons in Franklin, right next to where the Milwaukee Milkmen baseball team plays when there isn't a pandemic going on. The Milky Way opens this Friday, May 22nd, and will show movies on a 40-foot LED screen in a parking lot that accommodates up to 150 cars. Admission is $35 per car per movie, and they plan on showing two per evening on average, with three showing on select weekends.
You'll find the Milky Way Drive-In in the north parking lot at Ballpark Commons in Franklin, next to the Milwaukee Milkmen's home stadium. The address is 7900 Crystal Ridge Drive, right off 76th & Loomis.
Ticket sales are online only, at milkywaydrivein.com. The first movie of the night will be family-friendly, with movies geared towards grown-ups showing after. You can listen to the movie from their outdoor speakers or on your FM radio; there's also an app you can use. Concessions will be available; you can order food and drinks from an app and car hops will bring it to you. Of course, you can bring your own food and drink in, too. No need to hide stuff in a purse!
Here's the movie schedule, so far:
The titles will all be second-run features or "classics." Friday, for example, the drive-in is showing "Onward," the Pixar action-fantasy movie, at 6 p.m., and "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbes and Shaw," the spinoff action comedy with Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, at 8:45 p.m
Friday, May 22nd: Onward, 6pm; Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, 8:45pm
Saturday, May 23rd: Dolittle, 5pm; Jumanji: The Next Level, 7:45pm; The Gentlemen, 10:30pm
Sunday, May 24th: Frozen II, 3pm; Sonic the Hedgehog, 6pm; Knives Out, 8:45pm
Monday, May 25th: Toy Story 4, 3pm; Men in Black: International, 6pm; 1917, 8:45pm
Tuesday, May 26th: Onward, 6pm; The Gentlemen, 8:45pm
Wednesday, May 27th: Sonic the Hedgehog, 6pm; Knives Out, 8:45pm
Thursday, May 28th: Jumanji: The Next Level, 6pm; Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, 8:45pm
Friday, May 29th: Dolittle, 6pm; Goonies, 8:45pm
Saturday, May 30th: Frozen II, 5pm; Men In Black: International, 7:45pm; The Lodge, 10:30pm
Sunday, May 31st: Toy Story 4, 3pm; Mamma Mia!, 6pm; Ted, 8:45pm
More showtimes into June and beyond will be available on their website.