AMC Theaters will close in the United States for up to 12 weeks
AMC Theaters, the largest theater chain in the United States, will be closing nationwide for six to 12 weeks.
The move is in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines to help combat the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. In recent days, several states and cities have declared that locations such as cinemas, bars and restaurants should close. The federal government has also recommended that public gatherings should not exceed 10 people, making movie theaters impossible to function.
“We are ever so disappointed with our moviegoers and with our employee teams that the new CDC guidelines that Americans are not allowed to collect in groups of more than 10 people make it impossible to open our theaters,” CEO Adam Aron said in a press release. “We will continue to monitor this situation closely and look forward to the day when we can again surprise moviegoers across the country by reopening AMC movie theaters in accordance with the CDC and local health authority guidelines.”
AMC is not the only chain to shut down its operations for several weeks as the company struggles with the pandemic. Regal, another popular theater chain in the US, is also closing its doors. Independent theaters such as Alamo Drafthouse and Nitehawk Cinemas in New York City have also decided to close. Prior to closings, checkout saw the worst weekend of the past 20 years, which hit an all-time low, reaching a total of $ 55.3 million between March 13 and March 15. Even before AMC and Regal made the choice for the public, people didn’t go to the movies. Movies like Forward, Disney Pixar’s latest joint, would typically raise more than $ 100 million domestically in a few weeks. The film has grossed only $ 60 million domestically and another $ 40 million internationally.
It’s been a scary time for the entertainment industry, one that has caused several movies to slow down, including Mulan, New Mutants, F9, No Time to Die, and Peter Rabbit 2. Unprecedented movements, such as Universal and Warner Bros. who break through the theatrical window to offer films Birds of prey, The hunt, and Emma for people at home via VOD rental options on iTunes and Amazon, have also occurred.