- Gets dark6:35 pmGates open 6:00 PM Fri/Sat, 6:30 PM Sun (box office/concessions open; first movie 7:50 PM)
- Google rating4.70123456789,012345678901234567890123456789reviews
- Screens2
- Price$10per adult
- Outside food$8permit per car
- DogsOn a leash
- Sit outsideYes
- FM87.9 FM, 91.3 FM
- Car spots375
- This week's moviesOn Facebook pageWeekly
- Opened2003
Stardust Drive-In is at 310 Purple Tiger Drive in Watertown, Tennessee.
It runs two screens Friday through Sunday nights, March through November in 2026. Admission is per person, and kids five and under are always free.
There is a full-service kitchen and a concession stand on site.
Location
Where is Stardust Drive-In Theater?
Stardust Drive-In Theater is at 310 Purple Tiger Dr, Watertown, TN 37184. The entrance is at Tennessee Boulevard. The closest highway is US-70 (Sparta Pike).
Loads Google Maps when you tap it
Where to eat nearby
If you would rather eat before the movie than at the counter:
- La Cocina
- Depot Junction Cafe
- Sparta Greek Grill
Start time
What time does the movie start at Stardust Drive-In Theater?
What Stardust Drive-In Theater says: The theater says the movie itself starts at the posted time, and the pre-show and previews play before it. Late arrivals park in the back rows.
In October the sun sets around 6:09 pm and it gets dark around 6:35 pm.
Dark means full dark, about 25 minutes after sunset. It is not a time Stardust Drive-In Theater 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 March to November, on the 15th.
| Month | Gets dark |
|---|---|
| March | 7:17 pm |
| April | 7:44 pm |
| May | 8:11 pm |
| June | 8:33 pm |
| July | 8:31 pm |
| August | 8:02 pm |
| September | 7:18 pm |
| October | 6:35 pm |
| November | 5:04 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 Stardust Drive-In Theater costs
- Adult$10
- Child$8Ages 6-11
- Under 6FreeKids 5 and under
Amenities
Food, restrooms and rules
- Full kitchen
- Outside food is allowed with a $8 permit, bought at the gate
- Restrooms in a building
- You can bring your dog, on a leash
- You can sit outside your car
- Admission is per person only, the site explains it declined carload pricing because film-company splits are calculated per paid ticket
- A ticket covers one screen's double feature only, moving to the other screen mid-show requires a second ticket
- Minors under 17 need an accompanying parent or guardian, and the site requires photo ID for every vehicle occupant
- The theater agreed with the City of Watertown not to show NC-17 films as a condition of its rezoning for construction
- The concession stand can text a guest's phone when a food order is ready so they can wait in the car
- An on-site fire pit exists but marshmallow and hot dog roasting over it is not allowed
- Smoking: allowed outdoors on the grounds, banned inside the concession lobby and restrooms
- No re-entry once admitted without paying again
- Refunds are given only for a mechanical failure that prevents the first movie from showing
- Guests watching outside their vehicle must sit between the vehicle and the screen, not in walkways or other spaces
Showtimes
What's playing at Stardust Drive-In Theater this week
Stardust Drive-In posts this week's movies and start times on its Facebook page, usually weekly. Check there for tonight's show.
Reviews
What visitors say about Stardust Drive-In Theater
From 1,329 visitor reviews, 4.7 stars.
FM radio sound and clean restrooms
- A recent Google review (edited a month ago) says "you have to hear the movie through your radio" and calls the bathrooms "super clean."
- The same review flags fire ants in the grass parking areas after getting stung getting back into the car.
Before you go
Know before you go
- The box office opens 6:00 PM Fri/Sat, 6:30 PM Sun (box office/concessions open; first movie 7:50 PM)
- On a busy summer night, get there about 60 minutes early
- Vans, trucks, hightops and SUVs must park in designated areas (Screen 1's are marked with red-topped posts), generally back rows, most sides and some front rows; small cars are not allowed in large-vehicle areas and vice versa.
- Rain or shine, the movie plays
- Bring a portable FM radio in case your car's radio has trouble; nearly all portable FM radios work well here.
- Watch for fire ants in the grass parking areas (from a 2026 Google review).
History
The history of Stardust Drive-In Theater
The Stardust Drive-In is a relatively new drive-in that opened in August 2003. It originally had a capacity for 225 cars. A second screen was added in 2005.
FAQ
Questions about Stardust Drive-In Theater, answered
How many screens does Stardust Drive-In have?
Stardust Drive-In 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 FM frequency does Stardust Drive-In use?
Stardust Drive-In broadcasts its soundtrack on 87.9 FM, 91.3 FM. The audio comes through your own car stereo rather than a speaker on a post. If your car cannot run its radio with the engine off, bring a portable one.
What time does the movie start at Stardust Drive-In?
What Stardust Drive-In says: The theater says the movie itself starts at the posted time, and the pre-show and previews play before it. Late arrivals park in the back rows. In October it gets dark around 6:35 pm. Check with the theater on the day you go.
When is Stardust Drive-In open?
For the 2026 season, Stardust Drive-In is open from March to November, 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 Stardust Drive-In cost?
Admission to Stardust Drive-In is $10 per adult, $8 per child 6-11. Two adults and two children come to $36. Children 5 and under get in free.
Can I bring my own food to Stardust Drive-In?
You can bring your own food to Stardust Drive-In once you have bought a permit for $8 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 Stardust Drive-In?
Dogs are welcome at Stardust Drive-In 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
Other drive-in theaters in Tennessee
- 32 miles awayMacon Drive-InSee this theater
- 39 miles awaySparta Drive-InSee this theater
- 55 miles awayMontana Drive-InSee this theater
- 56 miles awayHi-Way 50 Drive-InSee this theater