New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that the state will be easing up on some COVID-19 restrictions, with movie theaters able to expand their capacity starting Monday, April 26. While many movie theaters around the world were shut down throughout 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic, those in metropolitan hotspots like Los Angeles and New York City were hit particularly hard. Many cinemas around the United States began reopening in the summer and fall of 2020, but New York City theaters remained closed for the rest of the year. The ripple effect of theaters in big cities staying closed caused the delay of many tentpole films. However, in March of 2021, it was announced theaters in New York City could reopen at 25% capacity.
Now, Governor Cuomo has revealed New York will be expanding indoor theater capacity to 33%. The capacity increase will go into effect next Monday, April 26. It was also announced that museum and zoo capacity will be increased to 50%.
Based on Governor Cuomo's announcement, it's unclear what the other safety precautions will be. While the pandemic is far from over, recent signs have shown that the movie industry is setting up for a comeback. The massive success of Godzilla vs. Kong proved that people are ready to go back to the cinema, and more individuals are getting vaccinated every day. This could lead to a summer box office that's bigger than ever seen before. It may still be a while before some independent theaters feel comfortable opening their doors, but the expansion of New York's theater capacity is certainty a good thing for the industry.
Source: Governor Andrew Cuomo