AMC Theatres will open 70% of its US locations by the end of this week in preparation for Tenet. Like all movie theater chains, AMC closed down back in mid-March when the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States especially hard and made public gatherings very dangerous. While the chain hoped to reopen within two weeks, its closure lasted for months as the situation remained tenuous. Many theaters struggled financially as a result of their shutdowns, but AMC in particular found itself on the brink of bankruptcy and even seemed to be in danger of closing down for good. Much like other theaters, however, AMC finally set its reopening for select locations in late August.
While US theaters have seen a few new movies in the past few weeks, they'll receive their first major test this weekend with the arrival of Christopher Nolan's Tenet. Even before the pandemic brought moviegoing to a standstill, Tenet was one of the most anticipated movies of 2020. The film debuted in select markets overseas last week and has already raked in a whopping $53 million in its first few days, a positive sign for the very high-budget project. It remains to be seen how it will perform in the United States, but AMC is prepared to help its prospects.
Per The Wrap, AMC will open 70% of its locations this week for Tenet, including some in California. Starting Thursday (Tenet's first day), 140 new locations will open its doors once more, bringing AMC's total to 420 theaters. Seven theaters will be in California's San Diego County and will be operating in accordance with Governor Gavin Newsom's reopening system. This means they will only work at 25% capacity, while other theaters throughout the country are still operating at 50%.
Last weekend, The New Mutants topped the box office with $7 million, though Tenet will likely earn more. Presales for Tenet are already beating Nolan's previous films, suggesting there's a healthy interest in the film. However, the continued concern over the safety of movie theaters could impact Tenet's performance, as well as the already decreased number of people allowed per screening.
Still, if any film could revive the struggling US box office, it's Tenet. There's a lot of interest surrounding the film simply because it's a Nolan project, and the mysterious plot has been the topic of countless theories and thinkpieces. Early reviews were a bit mixed, but it's hard to deny that Tenet's position as the first major film to arrive amid the pandemic will likely work in its favor. This weekend will give a better indication of Tenet's long-term prospects in the United States.
Source: The Wrap
