*Two of the nation’s largest movie theater chains are cutting theater capacity by half, selling only 50% of seats for any given screening over coronavirus concerns.
AMC and Regal Theaters will be implementing “Social Distancing” measures at every auditorium in every theater location across the country to help prevent the spread of the virus.
“AMC is proactively taking action to cut in half the number of tickets that we will make available at all our U.S. theatres,” AMC CEO Adam Aron told The Hollywood Reporter. “With this action, we are facilitating the ‘social distance’ between guests who still want to see movies on a big screen.”
AMC is reducing capacity in each of their auditoriums starting Saturday, March 14 and continuing until April 30, 2020.
Both chains will also work with the CDC on how best to respond as the COVID-19 crisis progresses.
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BREAKING: AMC Theaters commits to “Social Distancing”, capping auditorium capacity at 50% in EVERY auditorium in every theater location across the country.
Here is the official release: pic.twitter.com/8Ab1dGUR1r
— DR Movie News ? (@DRMovieNews1) March 13, 2020
A statement released to Deadline from Regal reads:
The health and safety of our customers and staff is very important to us. We are continuing to follow and monitor official guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health organizations.
As the situation surrounding Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, we are prepared to respond and ensure that Regal provides safe venues for our employees and our guests. We are paying extra attention to cleanliness practices with some of the following steps:
Educating our staff on prevention
Emphasizing frequent and proper hand washing
Cleaning high contact points more frequently
Providing hand sanitizing soap in all restrooms
Working with local health authorities
Additionally, we have reduced auditorium capacity by 50% and are complying, where applicable, with state mandates on social gathering limits. We welcome moviegoers into our theatres!
In related news, several upcoming films have been delayed amid concerns about coronavirus exposure at screenings, including “Fast & Furious 9,” which was originally scheduled to hit theaters over Memorial Day weekend, but is now being moved to April 2021, urbanhollywood411.com reports.
The Issa Rae romantic comedy “The Lovebirds” has also been delayed by Paramount Pictures, as well as the studio’s horror sequel “A Quiet Place Part II,” which will get a new release date “once we have a better understanding of the impact of this pandemic on the global theatrical marketplace,” Paramount said. The latest installment in the James Bond franchise, “No Time to Die,” has also been moved from April to November. Click here for a running list of delayed movie releases.
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