AMC Theatres,the largest cinema chain in the world, announced on Thursday that it would start to reopen Aug. 20 with more than 100 locations nationwide, including six in Colorado.
The chain also released an . In a video on the website, CEO Adam Aronsaid he’s worked with officials at the Harvard School of Public Healthand partnered with Cloroxto safely reopen.
The safety plan states that theaters will have upgraded air filters and disinfectant supplies. Staff will block off every other row at locations with traditional seating, and customers are asked to “leave an empty seat between yourself and other guests.” Staff will block off every other row at locations with traditional seating, and customers are asked to “leave an empty seat between yourself and other guests.” Theaters will operate at 30% capacity or less.
Customers will also be expected to abide by social distancing requirements, stay home if they’re experiencing symptoms and wear masks — but they can still pull them down to eat and drink in theaters.
AMC also announced that it would offer 15-cent movie tickets for its 100th anniversary on opening day, for “Movies in 2020 at 1920 prices,” showing fan favorites like “Black Panther”and “Grease.”The chain plans to premiere Disney’s “New Mutants”on Aug. 28, and Warner Bros, “Tenet”on September 3.
Since closing in March, AMC has pushed back reopening plans as coronavirus numbers continued to rise through the summer. And though the chain opened locations in other countries, theaters in the United States have remained closed. AMC’s main competitor, Regal Cinemas, also announced last week that it will open on Aug. 21 with similar safety precautions.
At this point, the 100 locations opening across the country are only a sixth of AMC’s theaters, but several states, including New York and California, will not have any locations opening next week.The announcement on Thursday said AMC also anticipates opening two-thirds of its locations by the “Tenet” release. The other seven locations in Colorado plan to reopen by Sept. 3.
