No Reopening in Sight for US Cinemas After Federal Guidelines Issued

THE GUARDIAN
By Andrew Pulver

A Regal cinema on New York’s 42nd Street remains closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Photograph: Erik Pendzich/REX/Shutterstock

US cinemas are no nearer reopening despite the publication of federal guidelines by Donald Trump at a coronavirus briefing on Thursday. The guidelines specifically mentioned movie theatres as among the types of venue that would be allowed to operate “under strict physical distancing protocols” in the first phase of the White House’s plan, titled Opening Up America Again. However, no timeframe has been set, and the president has reportedly said state governors will decide when and if to put the plans into operation. Box-office analysts also remain sceptical. [More

• Box-office analysts also remain sceptical. Jeff Bock, senior analyst for data agency Exhibitor Relations... has previously suggested that cinemas “will be closed until at least late June, possibly longer. Even then, they won’t be at normal capacity.”
• Cinemas in North America shut down almost entirely in mid-March, with only a handful of drive-in venues remaining open, albeit under strict distancing rules. 
• All major releases have been postponed, with audiences turning to streaming platforms during lockdown conditions. 
• Studios have experimented with video-on-demand releases, breaking the traditional window between cinema screening and home entertainment availability, but so far kids animation Trolls World Tour is the only putative blockbuster to have premiered on a streaming format. Its studio, Universal, has not released figures but said the release was a success, with trade publication Deadline suggesting it made $40m-$50m in its first few days.