Movie theaters in the U.K. aren’t expected to open until at least July 4, according to government officials. Earlier this year, the growing coronavirus pandemic caused the closure of countless movie theaters around the globe. In the U.S., it came after the box office saw a twenty-year low. In China, theaters closed all the way back in February to combat the increased spread of the disease. The closures, while smart for public health, have impacted the theaters themselves financially, with many unable to survive until their reopening. Making matters worse is the uncertainty regarding exactly when they will get to reopen, as it varies from place to place.
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Chinese theaters attempted to reopen in late March with older blockbusters, but ended up closing again after just one weekend. Now June seems like a possibility. Meanwhile, in the U.S., some states have already begun to open up a handful of theaters, including Texas and Georgia. However, they are not open at full capacity and require health checks to get in. Other states, like California, have stated movie theaters are still months away from reopening, either because they are unable to coordinate the necessary health checks, they have no new movies to show, or because of a general concern over reopening too early.
With the U.K. government approaching their reopening with caution, movie theaters won’t be allowed to reopen until at least July 4. According to Variety, the government has developed a plan for rebuilding that includes movie theaters among “high-risk” businesses that will be among the last to open. This factors into Step Three of their plan, though they noted theaters still might be unable to open by July 4 if they are unable to meet the government’s regulations, or if the situation worsens. The chief executive of the U.K. Cinema Association, Phil Clapp, issued this statement:
We have made clear to the U.K. government — and the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — that, on the basis of our understanding of the safeguards that will need to be in place before cinemas can safely open, most venues will be ready to do so by the end of June. Today’s suggestion that this might be considered around 4 July is therefore welcome.
But we recognize that there are a host of wider public health considerations which mean that that may not be possible, and we will of course respond accordingly. Whenever cinemas are able once again to re-open, it is clear that all venues will need continued government support until such time as business returns to something approaching normal levels of activity.
By their nature, movie theaters can be crowded places that could drastically worsen the situation if they reopen too soon, even if it is with a lowered capacity. Despite the handfuls of theaters attempting to reopen in select states, much of the theaters in the U.S. are aiming to reopen in July, with the hopes that movies like Tenet and Mulan can be shown. If not, there’s a plan for some to show older movies to draw hesitant crowds in again.
While there’s a deep desire to return to normal life, it’s important that businesses like theaters don’t reopen too soon. If it could impact the situation negatively, then it isn’t worth it. Waiting a couple more months seems like the smartest option right now. As July gets closer, it’ll be easier to tell if movie theaters will get to reopen at the proposed time, or if they’ll have to wait even longer.
Source: Variety
