Less than a month out, AMC has finally put a firm date on its plans to reopen theaters across the U.S. The chain will resume service for 450 of its 600+ locations on July 15, lining up with its earlier promises of mid-July. Movie goers are no doubt a bit hesitate to return to theaters for reasons Anthony and I have already outlined, and new comments from CEO Adam Aron aren’t exactly bolstering confidence.
In an interview with Variety, the chief exec noted that theaters would not require guests to wear masks. He justified the decision — or, perhaps, indecision — with the odd claim that mask requirements were inherently political.
“We did not want to be drawn into a political controversy,” he told the outlet. “We thought it might be counterproductive if we forced mask wearing on those people who believe strongly that it is not necessary. We think that the vast majority of AMC guests will be wearing masks. When I go to an AMC feature, I will certainly be wearing a mask and leading by example.”
AMC joins fellow chains Cinemark and Regal in the decision, though all will have to require moviegoers to wear them in states like California where masks are mandatory in most indoor areas. How strictly such requirements will be enforced in theaters remains to be seen, though AMC says it’s requiring all employees to do so and will sell masks to attendees for $1 a piece.
Employees will also undergo temperature checks, but guests will not. Such screenings are largely seen as an important safeguard in the spread of COVID-19, though they’re ineffective for asymptomatic carriers. Other safeguards include electrostatic sprayers, HEPA vacuums and other technologies deployed to stop the virus’s spread.
As for what will be playing, many studios have already bumped major releases back to 2021. Though a handful of titles, including Christopher Nolan’s Tenet and Disney’s Mulan are due out in the coming months.
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June 19, 2020 at 09:43PM
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Masks will be optional when the largest movie theater chain reopens in the US July 15 - TechCrunch
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