Two major movie theater chains in the United States—AMC and Regal—are reopening this week after being closed for nearly five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but doctors are warning that a trip to the cinema might not be a good idea. New film releases have been delayed for months as the industry has struggled to respond to the virus. Still, three new films will be released in theaters over the next two weeks; the Russell Crowe action thriller Unhinged will open on August 21, and The Personal History of David Copperfield and Marvel's New Mutants will both open on August 28. Christopher Nolan's Tenet is still set for a September 3 release as well.
Theaters across the country shut down in masses in March as COVID-19 spread quickly. The film industry has been struggling to adapt; most major releases have been pushed to late 2020 or early 2021. Some films have been released on VOD, but it's clear that studios want to get their movies back in theaters as soon as possible.
As they reopen, theaters are implementing safety protocols and social distancing guidelines, but The A.V. Club spoke to two epidemiologists who believe going to the movies is still unsafe. Dr. Anne W. Rimoin, a professor at the University of Californa, Los Angeles, and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, host of the America Dissected podcast, said they would not currently go to a theater. Dr. El-Sayed said:
"From what we understand, the virus is transmitted through through aerosolized droplets that come out of our mouths, oftentimes when we talk or when we laugh or when we sing. And so, being in a room for two hours with a bunch of folks who are laughing at a movie, and where air is not being circulated in an efficient way, and where you don’t know who has been in there before you, that’s really hazardous exposure."
Even wearing a mask throughout the film and not consuming any food or drinks isn't enough to stay safe. In a dark theater, it's impossible to tell if everyone else is wearing a mask. Still, Drs. Rimoin and El-Sayed agreed that, if you're dead set on going to the theater, you should, at the very least, avoid the concession stand and make sure all transactions and interactions are contactless.
While it might not be a good idea to return to indoor film screenings yet, Dr. El-Sayed said outdoor theaters and drive-ins are a safer alternative. Some large retailers, like Walmart, are even hosting drive-in screenings in their parking lots. As the industry grapples with the pandemic, drive-ins could make a comeback. Traditionally, drive-ins rarely show new film releases, but with uncertainty about the safety of indoor theaters, studio distribution models could change.
Source: The A.V. Club