Your Favorite Theater Is Closing: Regal and AMC Theaters Announce Shutdown
This news affects all theaters nationwide: Regal and AMC Theaters will be closed for 6 to 12 weeks in accordance with federal suggested isolation guidelines. With some studios releasing their first run movies at home, it was bound to happen. Here’s what we know about the fate of the movies.
Your Favorite Theater Is Closing: Regal and AMC Theaters Announce Shutdowns
In an effort to keep people from going places they shouldn’t be going to, Regal and AMC made the decision to close all theaters nationwide for six to twelve weeks.
This decision came as governors around the country enacted mandatory closures of certain businesses including bars, restaurants, and theaters in some states.
Earlier this month, AMC who is one of the largest theater chains in the US attempted to remain open by enacting a 50% capacity cap; only half the available tickets would be sold for any showing.
With the CDC stepping in and recommending gatherings limited to 10 people or less, this was the clear next step.
Regal Cinemas is closing as well, stating their closure would be “indefinite” and starting on Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
Regal operates over 540 theaters nation wide.
“At this time, we have made the difficult decision to close our theaters,” said Cineworld CEO Mooky Greidinger.
“We value our movie-loving customers and have no doubt we will be serving them again as soon as possible.”
What Does This Mean For The Movie Industry?
Studios started by delaying the opening of movies this spring, and the closure of theaters might mean more Video on Demand releases.
“We are ever so disappointed for our moviegoing guests and for our employee teams that the new CDC guidelines that Americans should not gather in groups larger than 10 people make it impossible to open our theatres,” CEO Adam Aron said in a statement.
“Still, the health and wellbeing of AMC guests and employees, and of all Americans, takes precedence above all else. We will continue to monitor this situation very closely and look forward to the day we can again delight moviegoers nationwide by reopening AMC movie theatres in accordance with guidance from the CDC and local health authorities.”
AMC has over 630 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
How Does The Closure Affect Your A-List Subscription?
AMC will pause all A-List subscriptions and will not process billing at this time.
Payments will not be collected during the course of this closure.
How Does the Closure Affect Your Regal Unlimited Subscription?
Regal will also pause all Regal Unlimited subscriptions at this time.
Patty Holliday is a parent movie reviewer, writer, and podcaster living in the Washington, DC area. Her goal is to bridge the gap between casual fandom and picky critic with parent movie and television reviews. As a lifelong fangirl and pop culture connoisseur, she’s been creating online since 2009. You can find her work at No-Guilt Disney.com, No-Guilt Fangirl.com, No-Guilt Life, and as host of the top-rated No-Guilt Disney Podcast.