Movie theater owners reveal the biggest challenge with reopening (and it’s not COVID-19)

A Regal Cinemas movie theater is closed during the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, in New York. | Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press

National Association of Theater Owners has revealed the biggest challenge to reopening

The National Association of Theater Owners recently revealed what might be the biggest problem when reopening theaters amid the coronavirus pandemic, and it’s not the virus itself.

What’s happening:

• Ellis Jacob, chairman of the National Association of Theatre Owners, said waiting on bigger cities and states to allow reopenings presents a major issue for studios and movie theaters.
• New York City and Los Angeles — two of the biggest markets for moviegoers — remain unsure about reopening theaters. These two markets are needed “in terms of box office revenue required for a meaningful return of the domestic theatrical movie industry this year,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
• Jacob said: “The challenge has been some states like New York, New Jersey and certain cities in California, and we at NATO are working to make sure those cities and states get the final okay to reopen and people can then come in and have a safe experience and those movies can open on the dates they are committed to.”
• This is why we’re seeing Cinemark and AMC delay their reopenings.

What’s next?

• Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said there will be a “hard pause” on reopening businesses, which will delay movie theaters in the market to reopen, according to Deadline.
• New York did not include movie theaters, gyms or malls in its fourth phase of reopening, either, according to the New York Post.

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