Theater chain AMC Theaters announces a delay to its planned re-opening date. This is the second major change that AMC Theaters has made to its planned re-opening after reversing a decision on whether viewers would need to wear masks to showings.
In a statement, AMC Theaters confirmed that its reopening date has changed from July 15, 2020, to July 30, 2020. AMC Theaters CEO Adam Aron said that general managers across the United States have now begun to work full time again and are "gearing up to get their buildings fully ready" for the July 30 reopening date. "Most" of the chain's theaters in the United States will be re-opening on this date, said Aron, suggesting that some movie fans will have to wait a little longer for their local theater to start selling tickets again.
Those concerned about the number of cases of COVID-19 in the United States and any potential outbreaks that could come with theater re-openings will sure be glad that AMC Theaters has chosen to delay its re-opening date. With more than 2.5 million confirmed cases and more than 127,000 confirmed deaths from COVID-19, the United States is one of the countries hardest hit by the disease. Social distancing and face masks at AMC Theaters locations may help to contain the spread but not as much as just staying at home.
However, it's unlikely that AMC Theaters has made this decision purely from a health-conscious standpoint. Warner Bros. decision to delay Tenet's release date and Disney's decision to delay Mulan to August meant that AMC Theaters would re-opening without two of the summer's biggest blockbusters if it re-opened on July 15. Delaying the re-opening will help to keep movie fans and AMC Theaters' profits safe.
Source:Â Collider
Image source: Flickr Paul SablemanCreative Commons license