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Van Buren Drive-In Theatre
Rating Details »
3035 Van Buren Blvd
Riverside, CA 92503
(951) 688-2360
Riverside, CA 92503
(951) 688-2360
- Hours:
Mon-Sun. 7:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
15 reviews for Van Buren Drive-In Theatre
I totally agree with Esther P!!! Pee before you go!!
I remembered going to the drive in many, many years ago as a child with my parents and in fact, even saw the old photos displayed in the snack bar. Memories! Of course back then you paid by the car load so for my parents it was a bargain for a party of 6....pop your own popcorn and bring it in the large brown paper bags from the grocery store, no drinks to avoid having to use the potty and pray that the 4 kiddies were going to fall asleep half way during the movie for some mom and dad smooching time!!
My hubby and I had to laugh because we weren't sure how our dog was going to react to all the cars and people. We were worried that he might start barking (dog NEVER barks!), but we were pleased that he just perched himself out the window and people watched. (Of course the little girl in the car next to us screamed throughout the movie causing us to roll our windows up....but dog NEVER barked)
They have defintely improved this place and it is so worth the 7 bucks for a cheap movie night! The people next to us are probably STILL laughing because when the first movie was over I asked if there was another one since people weren't leaving and they explained how you could stay for the second one and if you missed the first one they replayed it! WOW!! What a bargain I said.....and I of course explained that I hadn't been since, um, before they were born!!
So, yes, worth the money and if you play your cards right....makes for some great smooching time with your hubby!!
We don't have drive-in theaters in Florida anymore, so when I found out there was one still open in SoCal, I wanted to go. Van Buren Drive is a little over thirty miles from where we were staying for the holiday.
It's very easy to find. Pick the screen you want to see and get in line. Lights in the parking lot prior to the movie(s) starting would be helpful, but we found our spot and parked it. We didn't visit the concession stand and I didn't visit the restrooms. Echoing the sentiment in the other reviews, my bf agrees you should try to avoid them if you can.
I didn't date a lot as a teenager, but I've now had my turn to makeout in the car.
New studies have found that a plethora of bacteria and human bodily fluids hang out on the seats in movie theaters, including but not limited to semen, vaginal fluids, fecal matter...
Now that I've thoroughly grossed you out, love love love! Van Buren Drive-In Theatre is my new favorite place! $7.00 for 2 movies? Awesome quality? Plenty of parking? I'm sold! I came here to watch District 9 and Gamer, both of which were very good. I turned my car into a mini snack bar, and my [very CLEAN] backseat into a bed and spent a Saturday night as movie date night with my bf & my dog! He appreciated being able to sleep in the car while we enjoyed 2 awesome movies!
What's awesome is that they'll show movie 1 twice, before & after movie 2 so if you miss the first showing, you'll have the second. You just tune your car's radio station to the one they give you on the receipt and enjoy a good old drive in movie. And if things get a little heated... ;)
It's cash only so don't forget to stop by the ATM. Try to get there early so that you can get a good spot clear of high trucks and bad angles, and definitely go pee before you go! The bathrooms usually have a long line and are pretty nasty... for example, they have powdered soap. Who uses powdered soap anymore?! I appreciate the attempt at exfoliation but still. No thank you!
Happy watching!
This place was fantastic! $7 got me and my date 2 movies. the food is cheap and the sound quality is pretty good! I was very impressed and will go back for sure.
Bring a bottle of wine with you ;)
I got some Regal Theatre gift certificates for Christmas 2008. Suffice to say, they have yet to be used, because I always see my movies here.
I suppose I could always get a babysitter, pay $11 dollars for a movie, pay $7 for a candy bar and small soda, jostle for uncomfortable seats, deal with the teenagers throwing popcorn/cell phones ringing/ people talking loudly/ sound system making me half deaf/crying babies/ couple next to me macking with uncomfortable intensity....or.....
I could load up a cooler with fresh fruit and cheese, water bottles, and the wine of my choice, put some pillows and blankets in the car, put the baby in the carseat with her blankie (where she will fall asleep for the night), pick up some yummy takeout on the way, pay $7 dollars for not one, but two movies, and then chill in the comfort of my car, where I control the volume, with all my favorite things, for 4 hours.
Um, I'll take the latter.
And if you are new to the drive-in and you arrive when it is dark, please, please, please turn off your headlights while you find parking? You are blinding me.
You can always enjoy a three dollar carne asada burrito from concessions if you forget your takeout. Delicioso. Just get there early, the line gets long fast.
By the by, pee before you go. The only reason that this place isn't getting five stars from me is the DISGUSTING bathrooms. I know they probably don't make too much of a profit, so maybe they are growing a new form of bacteria for the pharmacuetical companies for extra cash? Stop looking at me like that. It's possible, isn't it?
I've always, always wanted to go to a drive-in theater. It's so '50s Americana. I guess it's my own way of going back into the future. It was everything I had expected and more. I was giddy just driving up to the ticket booth.
-- Tickets are only $7 and it's for two movies. And they're recent, too!
-- The concession stand had everything from popcorn to carne asada burrito, and the prices were cheap. $2 for a cheeseburger? That's cheaper than a candy bar at the regular theaters.
-- Sitting in the comfort of your own car. The station is listed on your ticket, just switch it on, sit back, relax, and grub. No need to worry about making crackling wrapper noises, stressing about the stupid kid hitting the back of your chair, or getting annoyed with unnecessary outbursts.
-- The bathrooms were surprisingly not bad at all. Clean toilet, check, toilet paper, check, soap, check.
Although everything was good, there was one minor flaw. There were two cars that parked with their headlights facing us. And for some reason, they had the need to turn on their lights during the movie (not simutaneously.) Uhh, the first time, yes, annoying, but I'll let it pass. But a second time? Really? Like I said, minor flaw. It didn't ruin the whole movie experience. But, people, please be considerate and contain your urge to flash!
Oh I am on a Riverside reviewing kick tonight.
This place is quite simply a lost treasure in the shithole that is Riverside. I remember going to the drive in as a little kid and this place brings back the memories.
The only difference is you can listening to the movie through your radio instead of having the stupid box connected to your window.
The other thing that really makes this a 5 star is the snack bar. They make some of the best carne asada burritos I have ever had. As soon as the first movie ends run to the snack bar because sometimes it takes a little bit for them to make yours, as hella people go in to get them.
Seriously though, two movies and a burrito make Carl a happy person.
Being in riverside, doesn't.
the boyfriend and i went here for Valentines Day this year and we had a great time! Packed some sandwiches, sparkling cider and brownies and had a great time.
I was worried that we would be stuck at the same screen for the second movie (wasn't into the second feature on that screen but i was on a different screen) but it's really easy to see any of the screens and you just have to scan your radio to find the needed radio station for that screen. It was $7 per person for a double (possibly triple if you work it right) feature which is a great price considering 1 ticket at an AMC is $11 now!
I personally didn't try the snack bar or the bathrooms but the bf tried the bathrooms and they weren't great (lots of tagging) but not too icky to where they weren't usable.
All in all it was a nice night to be able to hang out without crying babies, people taking on their phones, kicks to the back of your seat or sticky floors AND more than 1 movie without cheating and theater hopping! Well worth the trip and the money.
This is one of the reasons Southern California will always be better than up here. I went to this theatre once and had a blast.
Okay, I am an avid people watcher. I had to pee really bad so I made my way to the snack shack. As I approached, I saw groups of people wearing cut off dickies with white knee socks...it was some VATOS! YES YES YES.... Then, as I get closer to the snack shack, this scent was overwhelming and almost trance like....
I walk in and you would not believe what was happening in there. A Got Dayum Taquiera at the drive in. They were grilling up Carne Asada tacos and even had Chorizo burritos. Or, if you wanted (yeah right) milk duds and pop corn.
This place was great and the Bay needs to kick it up a notch. Sure, we have some pretty good taco trucks but nuthing like this.....
I had one of my top three movie viewing experiences at the Van Buren Drive-in, second only to my first EVER movie theater experience (Aladdin, DUH) and Snakes on a Plane.
I'm not just saying I had a good time because I went with my boyfriend ... sure, I'll admit it, there was some snuggling and cuddling, but mostly it was awesome to not have to deal with
a. obnoxious teenagers
b. that disgusting unholy fusion of spilled soda, jujubes and teenage hormones that immediately binds to your shoes.
c. loud whisperers (you know who you are. you are incapable of whispering, it is completely lost on you. you whisper in CAPS and in BOLD. font size 24. in bright orange.)
d. the most annoying cell phone ring tones (this is when I hate VCAST)
e. air conditioning permanently stuck on EXTRA FRIGID, and lastly,
f. that yucky stinky fart smell of artificial butter. hate it.
Instead, it's just you, people whose company you actually want, and greasy goodness at prices that allow you to keep both your kidneys.
I kind of like this place. I've been here a lot of times, and I really like that you can watch a movie in the comfort of your car. They give you radio single when you pay for your SUPER cheap ticket, and the best part is you can turn the radio as loud or low as you want, which is neat! They also have a concession stand, or you can just bring your own food with you, lol. This theatre is pretty cool, check it out for a whole new different movie experience.
Don't go expecting the best movie experience, but rather go expecting a whole new experience. The drive in really does cater to many types of experiences. Sit in your car and crank the stereo or sit outside your car with lawn chairs and a boom box. Its great for kids as you can let them be a little noisy in your car without having to worry about disturbing other movie goers.
$6 a person and you get to see two movies. As long a you can sit in your car for that long its totally worth it.
On the down side, I don't recommend seeing movies that are on the darker side. It can be hard to see detail in the shadows on the screen making it hard to see everything for the darker movies.
I've been very skeptical about going to the drive in. Mostly cause when I lived in Riverside years ago this place was known to be ghetto. My Mom also fell into hole in the drive-in parking lot and broke her ankle. I know. Anyway, finally decided to go Sunday night, movies started at 8:30 so we got their at 8:15, HOLLY CRAP! Get their early cause it was packed all the way down the street from the freeway. We paid the $7 per person, the attendant at the window saw that we had our dog but didn't care or say anything. Watched our movie while sipping our fav brewsky! Bathroom lines were ridiculous! My girlfriend ended up going to the guys bathroom cause my line was halfway around the building while hers was all the way around the building. When you buy tickets, it comes with a double feature, but after the first movie we had to pee and after walking to the bathroom which is a little journey we both did not want to wait in the line let alone we both had broken the seal so we left. All around it was a cool place though. Deff recommend if your on a date.
drive in movie theatres are a dying breed. i grew up going to the drive in as a kid and it's sad that there's very little of them left. this isn't the best theatre in the world. but you can't beat the price...for less than 10 bucks you can see 2 (sometimes 3) blockbuster movies! you just relax in your car/truck/van/suv, turn up the radio, and watch the movie! forget about the snack bar, though their food is decent. bring your own food! my only concern is the bathroom. a lot of times, the movies all end at the same time and the lines for the bathrooms get crazy long! it's a fun thing to do with friends or with your family. it's totally enjoyable on a nice hot summer night. and yes, you can take your date to a drive in and totally make out in the privacy of your vehicle but that's so cliche.
had a super awesome time here. there's 3 screens playing a double feature starting at 7:30pm. the first movie is played again after the second movie finishes. $6 per person.
i'd bring a car with a good stereo system since you're going to be tuning into the theater's radio station. it's pretty easy to drive around to the other screens and watch whatever's playing there so long as you know the station number. so potentially you could see many movies for $6. and if you were to throw people into the trunk .....
nice not having to hear cell phones go off (besides your own), kids crying, people gossiping about who's slept with who, etc. we brought pizza, cheese bread, booze and coke. once we finished all that good stuff, we opted to get cozy in the backseat. goooood times
