Regal Cinemas is hoping to reopen theaters in New York City and Los Angeles by March 2021. For a nearly a year, the theater industry has faced an unprecedented challenge due to the coronavirus pandemic. In March of last year, theaters across the country began closing their doors in response to COVID-19. While some have been able to reopen since, theaters continue to deal with a lack of blockbuster films. Countless movies still intended for theatrical release were pushed to this year. Tenet and Wonder Woman 1984 were the only big films to release to theaters in 2020. Tenet's performance proved moviegoers weren't ready to return to theaters. Wonder Woman 1984 was more of a success, but its box office numbers were affected by Warner Bros.' decision to release it on HBO Max the same day.
Streaming generally proved to be a thorn in the side of theater owners last year. A few major movies, including Hamilton and Soul, released to Disney+ instead of waiting out the pandemic. This means audiences became accustomed to watching new, premium content at home, which will directly affect the theater industry going forward. Warner Bros.' decision to apply Wonder Woman 1984's release strategy to all of its 2021 movies exacerbates the problem. All told, it's likely movie theaters will never be the same after the coronavirus.
However, right now, companies are focused on getting theaters open across the country. This week, Regal shared its plans for New York City and Los Angeles on Twitter. The theater chain stated "Big movies are made for the big screen," before expressing its hope theaters can reopen in NYC and L.A. by March.
Considering the dire state of movie theaters right now, it's no wonder Regal is hoping for a March reopening in two of the U.S.' biggest cities. Both Los Angeles and New York City are major markets for the theater industry. The increased COVID-19 cases in those areas have played a big role in theaters' struggles over the last year. Additionally, as the entertainment industry's two hubs, reopening theaters there would be a big step for the film world at large.
Regal is smart to say it hopes to reopen in March instead of guaranteeing it. The coronavirus has proven to be wildly unpredictable and has lasted much longer than many anticipated. Safety is the most important factor in reopening anything right now, and it seems Regal is wisely taking a measured approach in deciding when to open its doors in Los Angles and New York City.
Source: Regal