The Milky Way Drive-in in Franklin sets its 2024 opening date; 'Barbie' among early movies

The Milky Way Drive-In in Franklin reopens for the 2024 season on May 17.
The Milky Way Drive-In in Franklin reopens for the 2024 season on May 17.
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The Milky Way Drive-In in Franklin is back for another season.

The outdoor movie theater, which launched during the first summer of the COVID-19 pandemic and has held its own since, will begin its fifth season May 17 in the parking lot next to Franklin Field in Ballpark Commons, 7035 S. Ballpark Drive.

The 2024 lineup starts with an old favorite and a new one: "Back to the Future" at 5:30 p.m. and "Wonka" at 9:15 p.m.

When the Milky Way opened in 2020, it was the first new drive-in theater in the Milwaukee area in nearly 20 years. It shows second-run and older movies from May through October. With a 40-foot LED screen, the theater is able to show movies before dusk.

Admission is $35 per carload per movie, except for double features (typically on Thursdays).

Other movies scheduled for the Milky Way so far this season:

  • May 18: 5 p.m., "PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie"; 7 p.m., "Barbie"; 10 p.m., "Saw X"

  • May 19: 5 p.m., "Migration" and "Trolls Band Together" (double feature)

For updates, check the Milky Way's website: milkywaydrivein.com.

The Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre reopens May 10; other Wisconsin drive-ins opening, too

Southeast Wisconsin's other drive-in movie theater, the Highway 18 Outdoor Theatre at W6423 Highway 18 in Jefferson, reopens for the season May 10.

The Highway 18 theater, which has been listed for sale since it closed for the season last fall, kicks off its 2024 season with "Kingdom for the Planet of the Apes" and "Star Wars: Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace." For details and updates, go to highway18.com.

Thanks to the warmer than usual weather, some of Wisconsin's other drive-in movie theaters are also opening for the season May 10, including Big Sky Drive-In in Wisconsin Dells and Chilton Twilight Drive-In.

Skyway Drive-In in Fish Creek beat them all: It's set to open May 3. The Starlite 14 Drive-In in Richland Center is scheduled to open May 4.

RELATED: Here's a guide to drive-in movie theaters in Wisconsin, and a look at the history of outdoor theaters here

RELATED: New movies in theaters this week

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milky Way Drive-in in Franklin sets its 2024 opening date