AMC Theaters, the world’s largest exhibition chain, is delaying its reopening by two weeks.
The move comes as coronavirus rates continue to rise in the United States, where AMC has most of its operations, and after Hollywood blockbusters like “Tenet” and “Mulan” delayed its release for several weeks. . AMC said it now expects to open 450 of its more than 600 theaters on July 30. It is expected to be essentially fully operational in early August.
“Tenet,” a science fiction thriller by Christopher Nolan, is slated to open on August 12. “Mulan,” a live-action remake of the animated hit, will debut on August 21. AMC had originally planned to reopen on July 15. It is possible that those plans could be foiled once again. Major markets, such as New York City and Los Angeles, have not yet allowed theaters to reopen and studios are skeptical about movie distribution in theaters without those cities, which account for a large percentage of box office revenue. What’s complicated is the fact that states like Florida and Texas that have taken an accelerated approach to reopening their businesses have also experienced increasing rates of coronavirus infections.
AMC announced that it is implementing new security and cleanup procedures earlier this month, which it said would help keep its theaters COVID-19 free. However, the company inspired a fierce setback when CEO Adam Aron said he would not compel customers to wear masks in states where it was not legally required because he wanted to get involved in political controversy. The theater chain backed down later and said it would require ticket buyers to wear masks.
“We continue to dedicate extraordinary resources to our plan to operate our theaters with a hyper-commitment to the safety and health of our guests and associates,” Aron said in a statement.
AMC operates in 14 countries in Europe and the Middle East. It expects its approximately 1,000 global locations to come back online in early August.
