ap

Skip to content

Surprise! The 88 Drive-In Theatre returns this weekend in Commerce City

The 48-year-old exhibitor had first said it would not come back in 2024

Movie lovers watch the first in a double feature at the 88 Drive In Theatre in Commerce City. The theater owners in 2023 announced their intentions to close the business and allow a developer to build a warehouse, pending rezoning approval by the Commerce City Council. (Denver Post file)
Movie lovers watch the first in a double feature at the 88 Drive In Theatre in Commerce City. The theater owners in 2023 announced their intentions to close the business and allow a developer to build a warehouse, pending rezoning approval by the Commerce City Council. (Denver Post file)
John Wenzel, The Denver Post arts and entertainment reporter,  in Denver on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...

The historic 88 Drive-in Theatre in Commerce City will reopen this weekend despite owners saying it would close for good in 2023.

The 48-year-old drive-in — the last of its kind in the metro area — posted on Facebook on May 4 that it would return on Friday, May 10, for the summer season with the double-feature of “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.”

“Mark your calendars ’cause we’re back on May 10th!” .

The drive-in’s owners could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but Commerce City spokesman Travis Huntington said a deal to sell and develop the drive-in had seemingly stalled, leaving the original owners of the 8780 Rosemary St. property still in charge.

He was not aware of any current plans to rezone or sell the property.

The owners of the Irondale neighborhood site had originally said they were getting out of the business to make way for a potential 80,500-square-foot industrial warehouse on the property. The theater, which opened in 1972, has been owned since 1976 by the same family — including current owner Susan Kochevar.

Tickets for 88 Drive-In shows are only sold at the box office for $10 per person. The box office opens at 7:30 p.m., with this weekend’s Friday-Sunday starting at 8:15 p.m. (“Godzilla”) and 10 p.m. (“Ghostbusters”).

The best part? Kids 12 and under still get in for free. Call 303-287-7717 or visit for more.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.

RevContent Feed

More in Entertainment