Update: Alamo Drafthouse has also closed all of its locations. The post has been updated with info and statements from all three chains.
Update 2: AMC Theaters announced all locations will be closed for at least six to twelve weeks and Odeon, Cineworld and Picturehouse in the UK are closing indefinitely
Update 3: Cinemark Theatres announced all U.S. theatres will be closed indefinitely beginning March 18.
Regal Cinemas, Showcase Cinemas, and Alamo Drafthouse have officially announced all of their U.S. locations will be closing indefinitely. As the coronavirus continues to spread around the country, business and local governments are taking necessary precautions to slow the outbreak and reduce the size of crowds in any given place. Last weekend, Regal and Showcase were among the movie theater chains who announced they would be limiting the size of crowds allowed into auditoriums. However, the two major chains are now taking things a step further.
The coronavirus outbreak has greatly impacted the entertainment industry over the past few weeks, with events, sports, and films being either delayed or cancelled altogether. Film and television productions, such as those for the fourth season of Stranger Things and Marvel's Disney+ shows, have been put on hold. Major releases expected to flood multiplexes over the coming weeks have been postponed, such as Mulan and A Quiet Place Part II. Some studios have found ways to work around this, such as Universal. Universal announced today that films like The Invisible Man and Trolls World Tour would debut earlier than expected on VOD for those self-isolating at home.
We have confirmed that all Regal Cinemas nationwide will be closed starting tomorrow, March 17, 2020. Regal has 542 theaters across the United States. They will all remain closed until further notice as the public awaits the end of pandemic. Cineworld CEO Mooky Greidinger issued this statement when announcing Regal's (Cineworld acquired Regal in 2017) closures:
Any time, at any Regal, it’s our goal to provide a safe and healthy environment for our employees and guests. At this time, we have made the difficult decision to close our theaters. We value our movie-loving customers and have no doubt we will be serving them again as soon as possible with a full slate of Hollywood blockbusters. The Cineworld Group and Regal Theatres are strong, standing on solid ground and our continued goal is to be The Best Place to Watch a Movie!
Not long after, Showcase announced their closing . Instead of being closed indefinitely, however, Showcase hopes to reopen on April 7th. Just last night, the mayors of New York City and Los Angeles announced all movie theaters (in addition to restaurants, bars, and nightclubs) will be closed as of tomorrow morning. The precautions have been put in place to try and limit the places where people gather in public, as the virus can spread easily in larger groups. People have been advised to stay home as much as they can. Schools have started closing all over the country, and offices have allowed their employees to work remotely when possible.
And following that, Alamo Drafthouse also posted an emotional statement after having to make the same difficult decision:
We are deeply saddened to announce that all Alamo Drafthouse Cinema corporate-owned locations, and all but one* franchise-owned locations, are now closed until further notice. All shows have been canceled, and all tickets will be refunded.
This news – this situation – is devastating.
When we re-open after this unprecedented and indefinite hiatus, it will be in a dramatically altered world, and in an industry that’s been shaken to its core. We’ll be in close contact over the coming days and weeks with our teams, suppliers, and colleagues on what these closures mean and what we plan to do next.
The full statement can be read here.
With the lack of new releases in the coming weeks, plus the danger posed by large gatherings, it's not surprising that Regal and Showcase have opted to shutter their doors for the time being. AMC Theatres could end up doing the same in the coming days, as it's the next step towards keeping people safe. For those disappointed they cannot go to the movies, there are lots of options on home entertainment to help pass the time. For example, Frozen II was just added to Disney+. Until the outbreak is contained, moviegoers will have to be content with sticking to their television screens.
Sources: Regal, Showcase, Alamo
Update Sources: Mirror, AMC Theaters, Cinemark Theatres