Walmart will convert the parking lots of select stores across the United States into free drive-in movie theaters starting in late August.
Representatives with Walmart said the big-box retailer will partner with the Tribeca Film Festival to showcase a number of family-friendly films in a throwback theatrical-viewing experience as the coronavirus pandemic has made going to a movie theater nearly impossible.
“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,” Janey Whiteside, Walmart’s chief customer officer, said. “The Walmart Drive-in is one small way we’re supporting the communities we serve.”
Black Panther, Space Jam, and the Wizard of Oz are among the films slated to be shown at 160 different Walmart Supercenters between Aug. 14 and Oct. 21.
Gates for the events, referred to as “pop-ups” on Walmart’s official site, will open at 6 p.m., and the movies will start at 7:30 p.m. Hollywood celebrities, including Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Garner, will present virtual “real-life visits” to fans who turn out for the screenings.