Update April 3: Regal has since updated its policy to confirm it has now suspended Unlimited payments until theaters reopen again. More details are available here.

The coronavirus outbreak has not only caused many public places to shut down, but also studios, resulting in delays across the movie industry. Not only that, but with the number of movie theaters also reducing or closing, you might be thinking about parking that Regal Unlimited subscription for now. Here’s an explanation on how to do it, but more importantly, whether you can cancel the subscription in the first place.

Back in 2019, Regal Cinemas announced its “Unlimited” movie subscription plan. Like most subscriptions, the premise is fairly simple. You pay one monthly amount and in return gain access to as many movies as you like. While this was touted as an unlimited solution, how many cinemas you could watch at determined the overall price, with the cheapest (and most limited) plan starting at just $18 per month.

Related: Coronavirus Fears Sends Box Office Plunging to 20 Year Low

For many people, going to the movies right now is probably fairly low on the priority list and that's unlikely to change while the threat of coronavirus remains. In fact, even if you wanted to, you might not be able to due to the number of movie theaters that have either shut the doors, or at the very least, greatly reduced the number of showings. Considering you’re paying a monthly fee for that access, you might be thinking of cutting the subscription out and saving those extra dollars each month. However, as the Regal Unlimited rules point out, things are not that simple. While you can easily cancel a subscription, there's the eligibility issue to deal with.

Regal Unlimited Subscription: What You Need To Know

The actual act of cancelling a Regal Unlimited subscription is fairly easy with subscribers able to do so by contacting Regal Customer Assistance at (888) 462-7342 or by emailing customersupport@regalcinemas.com. Even easier than both of those options, Unlimited subscribers can actually manage and cancel their subscription directly within the Regal smartphone app. However, the Regal Unlimited subscription plan comes with a number of caveats, including a one-year commitment. While this is advertised and billed as a monthly subscription, it is better to think of it as an annual plan - at least for the first year. Following the initial twelve months, subscribers are free to cancel whenever they like, but during that first year, all subscribers are expected (and committed) to maintaining the plan for the first twelve months without cancelling.

Essentially, Regal does not allow subscribers to cancel in the first year at all. There are a couple of exceptions to this rule, such as illness and/or moving home, but in both instances, they are at the discretion of the company and require proof. While it might be expected that Regal would be a bit more lenient during the coronavirus outbreak, the company has yet to announce any changes to its terms, suggesting the original limitation is still in effect. However, it still might be worth reaching out to the company and seeing if they will permit a cancellation (or even a pause) considering the unique circumstances of the coronavirus outbreak.

More: Coronavirus: Every Event & Convention Cancelled So Far

Source: Regal