Most California-based movie theaters aren’t ready to re-open this month

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Yesterday in what was deemed by many to be good news, the California Department of Public Health stated that a number of businesses can reopen as early as this Friday, June 12. However, despite being given the green light to allow their doors to swing wide, several theater chains plan to remain closed to the public.

While health and safety conditions are an ever-present concern for those who choose to flip their CLOSED sign to OPEN, movie theaters are facing a number of changes to how they do business due to their close-proximity seating and communal concessions setups, among other things. One reason that major movie houses are reluctant to reopen is because of a lack of marquee titles, which don't really get going until July 1st, when Solstice Studios unleashes their road rage thriller UNHINGED, starring Russell Crowe. After that, you've got the premiere of Christopher Nolan's TENET, which is expected to land in theaters on July 17. For either of these movies to be seen by cinephiles, theaters will need to bring their A-game to theater sanitation, food preparation, safety measures, and socially-distant seating layouts, among several other measures.

Understandably, while a 30%-50% capacity auditorium level is financially sound for most theater owners, a 25% cap has certain chains fearful that the risk is not worth the reward.

Included in the list of California chains that've chosen not to reopen on Friday include AMC, Regal, Cinemark, Alamo Drafthouse, Arclight Cinemas, Laemmle, Cinepolis and Landmark. That said, Cinemark does indeed have a three-phase plan to resume business, which is poised to be put into action during a June 19-July 10 window. It should also be noted that Californian Drive-In theaters have been given the go-ahead to reopen as well. Among the Golden State's Drive-In locations that are now operational include the Mission Tiki in Montclair, the Roadium in Torrance and the Paramount in Paramount.

In commenting on the slow and steady plan to allow Californian theaters to reopen, one exhibition consultant said, “The significance of the California opening date and guidelines is that it gives confidence that within a couple of weeks we will likely be allowed 50% and lets Warner Bros. proceed with marketing Tenet.“

Are you willing to return to theaters as early as the end of this week to experience whichever films they have on offer? Is seeing Christopher Nolan's TENET on the big screen worth risking your own health as well as the safety of others? It's a given that we'll have to move on from the effects of coronavirus at some point, but has enough time passed already? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.