Drive-in cinema Zagreb returns to movie nights under the stars: Free screenings and content

Cult classics, popular hits, and Croatian film titles, including Dirty Dancing, Twilight, The Hangover Part II, Iron Man, and Koko and the Ghosts, are coming to the Tržnica Borongaj parking lot in Zagreb from April 25 to May 17 as part of the Drive-in Cinema Zagreb project. Over three weekends, audiences under the open sky can look forward to six evenings of programming that combines the cinematic experience with the atmosphere of a shared event. This year's 14th edition is organized by the Croatian Student Association, with Eventim as its main partner.

Drive-in cinema has long since grown beyond the boundaries of a simple film screening. Since its beginnings in the 1930s, it has evolved into a format in which films are experienced collectively, yet from one's own perspective—from inside a car, under the open sky, surrounded by other people. This is precisely why the concept is gaining renewed popularity today. At a time when films are available with just one click, drive-in cinema offers something a screen cannot: a social ritual, a shared moment, and the feeling of attending an event that stays with you beyond the screening itself.

Zagreb's version of the format has been running for 14 years and has, during that time, become a recognizable part of the city's cultural scene. It is precisely the combination of film and the atmosphere surrounding it that attracts audiences of different generations and fills the Borongaj parking lot year after year.

What sets drive-in cinema apart from a traditional screening is its unique experience. Each car functions as its own private space, with the company you have chosen and a level of comfort that a standard cinema cannot offer. At the same time, the entire parking lot shares the same film, the same moment, and the same atmosphere. It is this combination of the private and the communal that makes the format so distinctive.

More Than a Movie – Workshops, Quizzes and a Charity Drive

“Alongside the film screenings, there will be a range of additional activities that are completely free for ticket holders,” the organizers emphasize. “Each weekend, in addition to the films, will feature creative and entertaining programs, from dance, children's, and creative workshops to prize quizzes covering general knowledge and film culture, with valuable prizes provided by partners. Visitors will also receive gift packages upon arrival containing snacks, drinks, and more. A special feature of this year's program is a charity drive organized in cooperation with the Krugovi donation center, which will collect toys for children with cancer. Visitors who wish to participate can bring washed and cellophane-wrapped toys, stuffed animals, puzzles, picture books, board games, or dolls.”

A Cinema That Is More Than a Movie

Drive-in Cinema Zagreb demonstrates that the film experience does not have to end with the closing credits. The combination of familiar films, an open-air setting, socializing, and additional activities transforms an ordinary screening into an event that appeals to different generations and creates memories beyond the traditional cinema experience.

That is precisely the greatest value of this format. At a time when we can watch a film anytime and anywhere, drive-in cinema brings back the sense of anticipation, shared experience, and a special evening. With free screenings, workshops, and a charity drive, this year's program shows how a cultural event can entertain audiences while also bringing them together around a good cause.

Because sometimes simply watching a movie isn't enough – what matters is having a reason to remember that evening.

Free Tickets, but Limited Capacity

“Tickets for Drive-in Cinema Zagreb are free, and one ticket is valid for one vehicle. For each weekend, a limited number of tickets will be released through the Eventim system every Monday for the upcoming weekend. Due to high demand, early reservations are recommended. All current announcements are published on the official Facebook page of Drive-in Cinema Zagreb,” the organizers say, adding that the parking lot opens at 6 p.m., while film screenings begin at 9 p.m. The event takes place over three weekends: April 25–26, May 2–3, and May 16–17.

Source: jutarnji.hr