9 Illinois Drive-In Movie Theaters Still Alive in 2025

Do you have a soft spot in your heart for drive-in movie theaters? I do and that's why I'm happy there are still some of these vintage movie places still hanging in there in 2025 including 9 in Illinois.

How many drive-in movie theaters does Illinois have that are still active? That last part is key as there are some that have decided to call it a day as recent as last year. I asked for help from Google and this is the list it came up with. I have done everything I can to verify these drive-in movie theaters in Illinois are still open for business.

Why have so many Illinois drive-in movie theaters closed?

In the contact I've had with a few theater operators over the years, the simple answer is the cost to convert a drive-in over to the technology that powers newer digital movies is prohibitive. Think easily six figures to get a drive-in modernized and you're close to the hurdle these theater owners face. That's why many have thrived playing retro movies at a reduced cost which makes sense considering the nostalgia these old drive-ins bring to mind.