Your summer guide to Iowa’s drive-in movies

Nothing says summer like seeing a drive-in movie. Check out what’s playing at Iowa’s drive-in theaters. 

Nothing says summer like pulling into a drive-in theater to watch the latest blockbuster movies. Fortunately, Iowans can relish this retro experience at four drive-in theaters scattered across the state.

Iowa drive-in movie theaters

Superior 71 Drive-In

Superior 71 Drive-In in Spirit Lake has two screens showing two movies each nightly (Wednesday through Sunday). For just $10 per person (ages 13 and up) and $5 for children, you can see two first-run movies. Don’t forget to stop by the concession stand and arrive early so the kids can play on the playground.

Valle Drive-In

Valle Drive-In in Newton was the first drive-in movie theater in Iowa and is still going strong. They show original old-timey movie teasers before screening a first-run double feature each evening. Gates open at 6:30, and the first movie begins at dusk. Tickets are $8 per person (ages 12 and up) with a $5 vehicle registration as well.

Blue Grass Drive-In

Blue Grass Drive-In, located in Blue Grass (just outside the Quad Cities), features a four-sided movie screen, allowing for multiple movie screenings on any given evening. Drive in any summer night to catch your choice of double features for $10. Order a pizza in advance, and you’re set for a memorable evening under the stars.

Voy 61 Drive-In

Voy 61 Drive-In in Delmar is known for its affordable admission prices. At just $7 per person (just $4 on Tuesdays!), you can enjoy two movies under the stars. Its grass field has built-in benches that allow guests to get a great “seat.” Tons of pre-movie activities to keep the kids entertained, including a children’s train, basketball, tetherball, sandbox, swing set, whiffleball, and volleyball. You can also bring your own food, which many guests appreciate.

Movies you can catch at a drive-in this summer 

There’s just one catch to planning your drive-in experience. You may not know the movies that are playing until just a week or two out. The drive-in owners negotiate which movies—often first-run movies like you could see in a traditional movie theater this summer—and secure the rights just before they are able to promote them. All the drive-ins offer double features, making it even trickier. Our best advice: Make sure you check the drive-in websites regularly or follow along on social media to see what is playing later this summer.

Here’s what we do know about a few blockbusters (a summer of sequels!) screening soon.

Jurassic World: Rebirth

Rating: PG-13

Starring: Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey

Overview: In this action/sci-fi adventure set five years after the last in this movie dynasty, researchers return to Jurassic World in the hopes of retrieving DNA from three species, only to find devastating prehistoric surprises.

M3GAN 2.0

Rating: PG-13

Starring: Jenna Davis and Ivanna Sakhno

Overview: Another sci-fi action film of the summer, this follow-up to the 2022 AI marvel M3GAN features the resurrection of M3GAN by her creator, Gemma, to track down and stop a military-grade weapon called Amelia.

28 Years Later

Rating: R

Starring: Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes

Overview: This horror film explores themes of survival, anger, fear, and love in a post-apocalyptic world destroyed by the rage virus nearly three decades earlier. One survivor living on a remote island makes a devastating discovery upon venturing to the mainland.

How to Train Your Dragon

Rating: PG

Starring: Mason Thames, Nico Parker, and Gerald Butler

Overview: This live action (and action-packed) remake of the beloved animated adventure movie enchants viewers as they travel to the Isle of Berk where an ancient threat endangers both Vikings and dragons alike.

Lilo & Stitch

Rating: PG

Starring: Sydney Agudong, Kaia Kealoha, and Zach Galifianakis

Overview: Another live action adaptation of a Disney favorite, this family-friendly (including plenty of laughs) movie follows the story of lonely island girl Lilo and the escaped alien experiment who falls into her life.

The Bad Guys 2

Rating: PG

Starring: Anthony Ramos, Sam Rockwell, and Awkwafina

Overview: One of summer’s big animated adventures, this sequel follows the reformed criminal crew as they try to adjust to life as “Good Guys,” but they end up pulled back into mischief by a new group of villains called “The Bad Girls.”

Elio

Rating: PG

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Brad Garrett, Remy Edgerly, and Zoe Saldaña

Overview: The latest Pixar animated movie follows the story of an 11-year-old boy named Elio, a space enthusiast whose wish to be abducted by aliens comes true.

The Smurfs Movie

Rating: PG

Starring: Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman

Overview: This animated musical will have you tapping your toes. Smurfette leads the other Smurfs on a mission to the real world to rescue Papa Smurf after the evil wizards take him.

Karate Kid Legends

Rating: PG-13

Starring: Jackie Chan, Ben Wong, Joshua Jackson, and Ralph Macchio

Overview: The Karate Kid legacy continues with a new story set in New York City, where kung fu and karate are blended as the story of kung fu prodigy Li Fong unfolds.

Superman

Rating: PG-13

Starring: David Corneswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicolas Hoult

Overview: This remake of the classic action-adventure superhero film follows Superman as he learns to reconcile his alien Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as reporter Clark Kent, making Superman more relatable than in previous versions of the film.

Zootopia 2

Rating: PG

Starring: Jason Bateman, Quinta Brunson, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Fortune Feimster

Overview: Bunny cop Judy Hopps and reformed con-artist Nick Wilde are back in this animated sequel from Disney Studios. In this adventure, the duo investigates a mysterious reptile named Gary De’Snake who is shaking up their animal metropolis (which now includes reptiles and marine animals!).

Freakier Friday

Rating: PG

Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan

Overview: 22 years after the first Freaky Friday accident that had mother-daughter duo Tess and Anna swapping places, the universe does it again, this time involving a four-way body swap that includes Anna’s daughter and step-daughter-to-be. Talk about multi-generational laughter!

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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