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AMC Entertainment disclosed on Tuesday that it expects all of its theaters to reopen worldwide in July. The move will come just in time for the release of Christopher Nolan's "Tenet" in the United States and UK, scheduled for release on July 17, and Disney's "Mulan" on July 24.
Along with other safety protocols, AMC plans to open its theaters with reduced capacity and blocked seating. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the world's biggest movie theater operator closed down its cinemas in middle of March.
Overall, cinemas in around 90 percent of international markets will be operating again by middle of July, based on an update by the National Association of Theater Owners, a trade body for cineplex exhibitors in 98 locations overseas.
In only three weeks, Hollywood is poised to reopen its supply inventory of new flicks, including the $33 million thriller "Unhinged" starring Russell Crowe set to hit movie houses on July 1.
"The company is looking forward to welcoming viewers to its theatres as soon as it is safe and wise to do so, and as being permissible under local, state, provincial and federal guidelines," AMC said, as reported by Frank Pallotta of CNN Business.
The movie theater business has taken a heavy beating from the coronavirus. Just last week, AMC announced there were substantial worries regarding the group's capability to keep operating if the virus-related shutdowns continued.
AMC's earnings disclosure late Tuesday showed just how deep the cut was for the movie operator's bottom line. AMC posted a net decline of $2.17 billion in its first three months, and stated sales were down around 22 percent to $941.5 million, compared to $1.2 billion in the same period in 2019.
However, the question is whether people - even while viewing movies in well-cleaned movie houses with limited capacity - will feel safe from the disease, whose spread on Sunday rose to a global peak, as measured by new infections.
As the US has begun reopening its economy, new hotspots are emerging. In the coming weeks, mass protests against police brutality raise the specter of a coronavirus increase.
AMC pointed out that many things can change between now and July, but the operator outlined the measures it is carrying out to reopen safely amid the threats of the coronavirus.
The steps AMC is undertaking include cooperating with domestic, national and international authorities to coordinate the timing and requirements necessary for the reopening. AMC also disclosed it was working with Clorox, which will advise the company on how to best make its movie houses as safe and clean as possible.
