Throughout the US, a number of states are preparing to lift their stay-at-home orders and give nonessential businesses the go-ahead to resume operations. These include cinemas like AMC Theaters, but despite that, the chain announced that it will be staying closed for the time being, at least until the release of Christopher Nolan’s time-bending thriller Tenet.
While AMC could definitely stand to start making money again as soon as possible, an official company statement on Friday stated that it will take its time reopening. One reason is that it’s prioritizing the “health and safety” of its employees and customers during the coronavirus pandemic, and another is simply because it currently lacks “a regular schedule of new theatrical blockbusters that get people truly excited about returning to their favorite movie theaters.”
Assuming no further COVID-19-related delays occur, that regular schedule should resume in mid-July with the release of Tenet, which is currently the first post-quarantine blockbuster set to come out in theaters. It will be followed a week later by Disney’s live-action Mulan remake, as well as other high-profile films like Wonder Woman 1984 and A Quiet Place Part 2 in August and September.
AMC did state that it hopes to be able to reopen its theaters a few weeks ahead of these movies by “utilizing creative programming of immensely popular previously released films.” Of course, whether those plans pan out will depend on whether it will be able to guarantee “an environment that’s safe and welcoming for moviegoers” in the coming weeks.
Tenet is slated to release in theaters on July 17.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
