Drive-In Theater Finder

Drive-in movie theater · Malta, New York

Malta Drive-In Theatre

Also called Malta Drive-In

Updated

  • Gets dark6:41 pmGates open Varies by date/showtime, typically 5:00-6:45 PM, posted with each weekend's lineup*
  • Google rating
    4.5
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  • Screens2
  • 2026 seasonApril to October
  • Price$12per adult
  • Outside food$7permit per car
  • DogsOn a leash
  • Sit outsideYes
  • Car spots550
  • Opened1949

Malta Drive-In Theatre is at 2785 State Rte 9, Malta, NY 12020.

Location

Where is Malta Drive-In Theatre?

Malta Drive-In Theatre is at 2785 State Rte 9, Malta, NY 12020. The entrance is at Malta Ridge Road. The closest highway is I-87 (Northway), Exit 13S.

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Where to eat nearby

If you would rather eat before the movie than at the counter:

  • The Gallery Bar and Grill0.3 miles
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Start time

What time does the movie start at Malta Drive-In Theatre?

What Malta Drive-In Theatre says: The theater posted 7:00 pm for the first movie on Screen 1 on October 9, 2026. Full dark that night was 6:51 pm, so the movie started about 9 minutes after dark. Screen 2 was posted at 7:05 pm.

In October the sun sets around 6:13 pm and it gets dark around 6:41 pm.

Dark means full dark, about 25 minutes after sunset. It is not a time Malta Drive-In Theatre promises, and some drive-ins start the movie before it. Plan to be parked by sunset.

Here is when it gets dark in each month, from April to October, on the 15th.

MonthGets dark
April8:06 pm
May8:43 pm
June9:11 pm
July9:06 pm
August8:29 pm
September7:34 pm
October6:41 pm

For more on what time it gets dark and when drive-ins really start their movies, read our start-time guide.

Prices

How much Malta Drive-In Theatre costs

  • Adult$12
  • Child$7*Ages under 12

Buy tickets on formovietickets

Amenities

Food, restrooms and rules

  • Snack bar
  • Outside food is allowed with a $7 permit, bought at the gate
  • Restrooms in a building
  • You can bring your dog, on a leash
  • You can sit outside your car
  • Boom box rental: $10 in the concession stand for FM sound, limited availability, driver's license held until return
  • No re-admittance: leaving the lot means paying again to re-enter
  • No deliveries: walking past the box office to meet a delivery counts as leaving, re-entry fee applies
  • Jump starts: snack bar staff will assist with a jump start
  • No fires or grills: campfires and BBQ grills are prohibited
  • No roof-sitting: sitting on vehicle roofs is banned; hoods and truck beds are allowed
  • Historical marker: town of Malta erected a marker out front in 2007 noting founders Sarto and Leona Smaldone (1949) and the Caro brothers' 1988 purchase

Reviews

What visitors say about Malta Drive-In Theatre

From 1,093 visitor reviews, 4.5 stars.

  • Snack bar is the most-mentioned feature

    • 36 mentions of the snack bar in recent reviews, with deep fried oreos named repeatedly (5 mentions) and a funnel cake/pretzel recommendation.

  • Bathrooms called out as clean

    • Clean bathrooms mentioned in 9 of the last 20 reviews.

  • Double features valued

    • Double feature format mentioned in 14 reviews as the draw.

  • Occasional food and picture quality complaints

    • One July 2026 review: "Food is terrible. Stale popcorn and over cooked dried out cheeseburger."
    • Screen brightness mentioned as an issue in 3 reviews.

Before you go

Know before you go

  • The box office opens Varies by date/showtime, typically 5:00-6:45 PM, posted with each weekend's lineup*
  • Trucks, vans, SUVs and other large vehicles must park next to silver poles only (not red poles) on Fri/Sat/Sun of a holiday weekend; hatchbacks/lift-gates may not be raised higher than the vehicle roof (twine available at the snack bar).
  • No re-admittance. If you leave the theatre at any time you must pay at the gate again to re-enter (this includes stepping past the box office to meet a delivery).
  • Arrive about an hour early for the best parking spot
  • Bring bug spray, mosquitoes are commonly reported
  • Bring lawn chairs or a blanket if you want to sit outside the vehicle
  • Bring cash if packing your own food, the $7 outside food permit is paid at the ticket booth

History

The history of Malta Drive-In Theatre

Opened July 1, 1949 by Sarto and Leona Smaldone with a double bill of "The Noose Hangs High" and "The Old Spanish Trail." The Caro brothers (Ed and Tom) bought the theater in 1988. A second screen was added in 2008, and it converted to digital projection over the 2012-2013 offseason. The town of Malta erected a historical marker on site in 2007.

FAQ

Questions about Malta Drive-In Theatre, answered

How many screens does Malta Drive-In Theatre have?

Malta Drive-In Theatre has two screens. Each one shows a different film on the same night, so you choose which screen you want as you pull in and park facing it. Ask at the gate what is playing on each.

What time does the movie start at Malta Drive-In Theatre?

What Malta Drive-In Theatre says: The theater posted 7:00 pm for the first movie on Screen 1 on October 9, 2026. Full dark that night was 6:51 pm, so the movie started about 9 minutes after dark. Screen 2 was posted at 7:05 pm. In October it gets dark around 6:41 pm. Check with the theater on the day you go.

When is Malta Drive-In Theatre open?

For the 2026 season, Malta Drive-In Theatre is open from April to October, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. It closes for the winter and reopens in the spring, so a trip outside those months is not possible.

How much does Malta Drive-In Theatre cost?

Admission to Malta Drive-In Theatre is $12 per adult, $7 per child under 12. Two adults and two children come to $38.

Can I bring my own food to Malta Drive-In Theatre?

You can bring your own food to Malta Drive-In Theatre once you have bought a permit for $7 a car. The permit is worth it if you were going to spend more than that at the counter anyway. Without one, outside food is not allowed in.

Are dogs allowed at Malta Drive-In Theatre?

Dogs are welcome at Malta Drive-In Theatre as long as the leash stays on. Keep it short near other cars, bring water, and clean up afterwards. A nervous dog is worth leaving at home, because sound carries across a lot.

Nearby

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Accuracy

How we check this page

Last checked

Prices and rules can change during the season. If we are not sure about a fact, we leave it off the page.

The asterisks

An asterisk means the number may have changed. Ask the theater before you go.

The start times

Malta Drive-In Theatre starts the movie when it gets dark, so the time moves through the year. The times here are close, not exact.

Prices, hours and radio channels change. Double-check on Malta Drive-In Theatre's website before you go. Spot a mistake? Tell us and we will check it.

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