It’s summer in Southwest Florida, and there’s hardly a blockbuster in sight.
Or even a movie theater to show one.
Five months into the pandemic, most Southwest Florida movie theaters remain closed. And Cape Coral’s Coralwood 10 — one of only two movie theaters that reopened in June — announced Friday that it’s gone dark again.
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Theater chain Marquee Cinemas closed the Cape theater due to a lack of summer blockbusters.
Many movies have been postponed or taken off the schedule due to the increase in COVID-19 cases nationwide. That includes tentpoles such as Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” (now expected Sept. 3), “Wonder Woman 1984” (Oct. 2), the James Bond movie “No Time to Die” (Nov. 20) and Disney’s “Mulan” (postponed indefinitely).
“Due to the recent shift in new releases, we have decided to temporarily close all locations,” Marquee Cinemas posted Friday on the theater’s website and Facebook page. “We will continue to evaluate the situation as it evolves and make adjustments accordingly."
Another local theater, Luxe 8 Flix in Fort Myers, had announced June 5 that it would be “opening soon." But now the theater’s voicemail message says it’s closed until further notice.
Meanwhile, AMC and Regal Theaters have pushed back their reopening plans yet again. Both theater chains had expected to open this week, but now that won’t happen until well into August.
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AMC — which operates AMC Merchants Crossing 16 in North Fort Myers — announced last week that it was delaying reopening until “mid to late August."
As with Marquee Cinemas, the decision was based on a lack of big summer movies.
“This new timing reflects currently expected release dates for much anticipated blockbusters like Warner Bros.' TENET and Disney's MULAN, as well as release dates for several other new movies coming to AMC's big screens,” the theater chain said in a July 23 news release. “Looking abroad, approximately one-third of all AMC cinemas in Europe and the Middle East are already open and are operating normally.”
Regal Cinemas announced Monday that it’s planned reopening of U.S. theaters won’t happen until Aug. 21. The company operates four cinemas in Southwest Florida: Regal Naples 4DX & IMAX in North Naples; Regal Coconut Point in Estero; Regal Gulf Coast & IMAX in south Lee County; and Regal Belltower and ScreenX in south Fort Myers.
“Welcoming theatergoers back to our cinemas will be a celebration for not only our team and our industry, but most importantly for the fans who have been anxiously awaiting the year’s upcoming releases,” said Mooky Greidinger, CEO of Regal owners Cineworld, in a statement. “With the health and safety of our staff, customers and communities as our top priority, we are happy to invite audiences to return to the timeless theatrical experience that we have all dearly missed.”
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On its website, Regal posted details about what customers can expect when its theaters reopen. The many changes include:
- New contact-less payment options, such as the ability to buy tickets and concession items using the Regal mobile app.
- New sanitizing procedures and methods, including ULV Foggers. “Employees will sanitize every auditorium and seat after each movie using new electrostatic ‘fogger’ equipment,” the website says. “This form of deep sanitization is highly effective in disinfecting all materials with a non-toxic formula that is fast drying.”
- Daily health screenings for employees, including “temperature checks where mandated.” Employees must also wear masks and wash their hands every 30 to 60 minutes, at least, “dependent on job role.”
- Guests required to wear face masks in the lobby, hallways and restrooms. They can remove them inside the auditorium while eating and drinking.
- And limits to concessions and self-service options, including no refills on drinks and popcorn, a reduced menu and the closing of self-serve condiment stands.
At the moment, there appears to be only one movie theater operating in Lee and Collier counties: Prado Stadium 12 in Bonita Springs. It was also the first theater to reopen after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the second phase of Florida’s economic reopening on June 3. All theaters were allowed to operate at half capacity.
Prado 12 didn’t respond to a voicemail requesting comment, and co-owner Mark Clement didn’t respond to an email and voicemail message.
In a news release before its June 5 reopening, Prado 12 said it would be taking the recommended safety and cleaning precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Each theatre has been sanitized with a hydrogen peroxide disinfectant fog that has been recognized by the CDC as an effective way to kill the coronavirus and is safe for moviegoers,’ the news release said. “Seven of the 12 theatres will be open, and each theatre will be sanitized after every show.”
Most Southwest movie theaters closed in March and haven’t reopened since then.
Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells (Facebook), @charlesrunnells (Twitter), @crunnells1 (Instagram)
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July 30, 2020 at 03:02AM
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