Disney is finally releasing The New Mutants in theaters - here's why Screen Rant won't be reviewing the movie for the time being. 2020 was once predicted to be a slower year for films, coming after the many cinematic events of 2019 (Endgame, Frozen II, The Rise of Skywalker, and so forth). It turned out to be one alright, but for completely different reasons: the COVID-19 pandemic took a turn for the worse in March, forcing movie theaters to shutter their doors and public events like sports games, music concerts, and comic conventions to either abandon their plans for 2020 or take place virtually instead.
While movie theaters has since reopened in many parts of the world, they're still shut-down in other countries over health concerns. Major exhibitors like Regal have similarly reopened for business in select U.S. cities, yet theaters in densely-populated regions like New York and Los Angeles (our key markets) remain closed for the time being, with no plans to reopen in the near future. There's a good reason for that, too: COVID-19 numbers are still very much on the rise domestically and movie theaters are, unfortunately, an environment that makes it all too easy for those carrying the virus to transmit it to others (and in large amounts).
Given the conditions and select locations of our feature film reviewers across the U.S. and worldwide, Screen Rant is not asking or expecting any of our team members to feel pressured into going to see films in non-drive-in theaters and/or non-virtual cinemas right now. For the same reason, we won't be assigning any of our employees to theaters to cover/review the latest releases for the time being, including this weekend's The New Mutants. While we are willing to review theater-only releases whenever possible, in the case of The New Mutants, Disney has informed us they are "only doing screenings in markets that are open," which is why we're forced to pass on an official review.
As excited as many are to finally watch The New Mutants after the film's numerous delays - especially us, having interviewed the cast and director Josh Boone numerous times over the years, and visiting the set in 2017 - no movie is worth feeling unsafe or comfortable in order to see it in the markets where we primarily screen films. It ought to go without saying, but we at Screen Rant are all supporters of the theatrical experience and look forward to watching films on the big screen again.
Fortunately, there are a lot of movies heading directly to streaming or, in the case of this weekend's Bill and Ted Face the Music, bowing in theaters and on-demand on the same day in the months ahead (though, even in the latter case, we strongly encourage those interested to check out these films at home). As we've done in the months since the COVID-19 lockdowns began in March, we will continue to review as many of those non-theatrical or day-and-date releases as possible, in addition to keeping you up to speed on the daily movie and TV news. Sadly, however, our discussion of The New Mutants (the good, the bad, and everything in-between) will have to wait for another day.
Update: Article updated to reflect our coverage of New Mutants.
