Black-Owned Movie Theater In Newark Thrives Amid Pandemic

NEWARK, NJ — At its most basic, the Moonlight Cinema, a drive-in movie theater in Newark, offers a nostalgic trip down memory lane. But to many local residents, the Black-owned theater is also a symbol of hope, enterprise and community spirit amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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Moonlight’s owners, Siree Morris and Ayana Stafford-Morris, are no strangers to the power of the silver screen.

“This is a dream come true,” said Stafford-Morris, an award-winning filmmaker and founder of Leopard Stripes Productions. “I’ve always wanted to open a movie theater in my hometown. I’m happy that [we’re] able to offer a safe, family-friendly throwback experience for all, even amid a pandemic.”

For Siree, a real estate developer and principal at MCI Developers, Moonlight Cinema is the very reason he left his former job and took at stab at entrepreneurship.

“I love to create,” he said. “Now I look forward to my community creating lasting memories with their loved ones.”

Last month, Moonlight Cinema opened at the site of the former Newark Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium at 54 Bridge Street. It’s the first time that New Jersey’s largest city has seen a drive-in theater since the late 1980s.

Since its launch, business has been booming. The seasonal “pop-up” theater, which occupies 7.41 acres and utilizes a 55-foot screen, can accommodate more than 300 cars and 1,500 guests nightly – all while adhering to COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Only one movie is shown per night. Guests are encouraged to arrive early when gates open at 7 p.m. Visitors use a smartphone app to order snacks, which arrive at their vehicles, negating the need to exchange cash. Masks must be worn at all times when visitors are outside of vehicles and unable to maintain social distance.

Due to the city’s recently instated “Sit Still Sundays” coronavirus policy, which asks local businesses to close down at 8 p.m. on Sunday, the regular schedule at Moonlight Cinema has been moved to Thursday through Saturday.

Tickets are sold online only via the Moonlight Cinema website, which updates the featured movies weekly (learn more or purchase here).

The theater has also been a boost for local residents seeking a job; it employs a team of about 20 workers, including several local teens and young people.

For now, Moonlight Cinema will continue to operate until Oct. 4, when it is slated to shut down for the season. But according to a spokesperson, it’s working on extending the schedule, as well as offering other types of entertainment on the lot.

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CELEBRATING MULTI-CULTURAL VOICES

Part of the formula behind Moonlight Cinema’s success has been its efforts to put the spotlight on minority-created films featuring African American actors.

Recent offerings have included “The Wiz,” “Friday” and “Do The Right Thing.” Upcoming films will include “The Last Dragon,” “Queen and Slim,” “Us” and “The Best Man.”

Have a favorite movie you’d like to see on the big screen? Moonlight Cinema “heavily considers” the suggestions of guests and has made changes based on those suggestions in the past.

The theater has gained the attention of Newark native Michael B. Jordan, a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement who has starred in movies such as “Creed,” “Black Panther” and “Fruitvale Station.”

A nationwide film series curated by Jordan and Amazon Studios – which focuses on celebrating multi-cultural voices in cinema – recently brought Spike Lee’s beloved movie “Do the Right Thing” to the Moonlight.

Another film in the series, “Coming To America,” will play on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 9 p.m.

As part of the concessions for the screenings, all attendees will receive refreshments provided by Black and brown-owned businesses: Path Water, Pipcorn Popcorn and Partake Cookies. Organizers are also partnering with Audible and Newark Working Kitchens, a free meal delivery service that enlists local restaurants to prepare nutritious meals to residents in need.

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