Cinemark to Reopen Most of Its U.S. Movie Theaters By July 17

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterA group of movie theater companies — including AMC, Cinemark and Regal — have filed a lawsuit against the governor of New Jersey, claiming a First Amendment right to reopen during the pandemic.The companies, led by the National Association of Theatre Owners, is challenging Gov.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorLos Angeles County Director of Public Health Barbara Ferrer announced on Tuesday that the county was modifying its health officer order to comply with the guidelines announced on Wednesday by California Governor Gavin Newsom.“L.A.

Dave McNary Film ReporterAmid surging COVID-19 transmission rates, California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered the closure of dine-in restaurant service and movie theaters in Los Angeles County and 18 other counties for three weeks.Newsom announced the closures Wednesday, two days ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, and also said local officials should cancel fireworks shows, which are already prohibited in LA County.

NEW: @GavinNewsom announces 19 counties must cease indoor activities in the following industries for at least 3 weeks:Dine-in restaurants (take-out OK)Entertainment venuesMovie theatersZoos and museumsCardroomsImpacted counties: pic.twitter.com/FX2c3k9jLt— Scott Rodd (@SRodd_CPR) July 1, 2020Newsom made the decision to reopen much of the state’s economy in early June, but restrictions are tightening again as new cases are rapidly increasing in California and dozens of other states.

As we said yesterday, it was only a matter of time before AMC Theatres’ decision to delay the chain’s reopening until the end of July would impact the previously-announced dates for Regal Cinemas and Cinemark. And on cue, both of the other chains have revealed that their plans for reopening would also be delayed as studios try to figure out the best time to release films during a pandemic.

Cinemark on Tuesday announced plans to begin reopening its movie theaters on July 24 with a series of classic Hollywood movies.The nation’s third largest exhibitor based its plans on results from reopening five theaters in the Dallas area where the company is based.“Cinemark is pleased with the moviegoer response and key learnings from our initial five-theater test-and-learn phase in the Dallas area, and we look forward to welcoming movie fans back into our auditoriums across the country to

Los Angeles County health officials said Monday that there are "alarming increases" in positive COVID-19 cases and, as a result, the L.A. Mayor has ordered a "hard pause" on the reopening of businesses including movie theaters.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorJust one day after Texas and much of California again ordered the closure of bars and nightclubs, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey did the same. He also included waterparks, gyms and movie theaters.

Dave McNary Film ReporterReacting to a surge in COVID-19 cases, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has ordered all movie theaters closed for 30 days, along with bars, nightclubs, gyms and water parks.Ducey made the announcement during a news conference with the executive order going into effect at 8 p.m.

For motion picture exhibitors laid low by COVID-19, the resurrection of the drive-in theater is more an exercise in desperation than nostalgia, a back-to-the-future gambit seeking to dip into the only safe-space revenue stream for theatrical cinema. Of course, catering to moviegoers encased in vehicles has the added appeal of avoiding the nightmarish protocols that theaters under roofs must abide by: socially distanced seating, masking of moviegoers, and disinfecting the premises.

Jill Goldsmith New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has removed movie theaters, as well as malls and gyms, from the list of businesses that can reopen in Phase 4 of the state’s plan to study recent developments — mainly a surge in COVID-19 infections in other states.

Rebecca Rubin News Editor, OnlineAlamo Drafthouse unveiled plans to reopen its movie theaters during coronavirus, pledging that its venues will be “safer than a supermarket.”Those steps include dramatically increasing physical distancing measures, implementing enhanced cleaning protocols and temporarily altering its service model.

coronavirus.That meant reducing seating capacity to help ensure physical distancing, implementing rigorous cleaning procedures and encouraging contact-less payments when possible. It involved a splashy ad campaign, boasting A-list filmmakers, reminding consumers of the pleasures of enjoying an oversized Coke, a tub of popcorn and the latest Hollywood blockbuster.

Online movie ticketing service Fandango is launching a new resource guide as movie theaters begin to reopen across the country that will include information on safety and social distancing measures. The service, which launched Tuesday, will feature a rundown of mask and protective-equipment policies and enhanced cleaning measures being implemented at more than 100 theater chains.

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorBREAKING: Paramount is taking The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run off the theatrical calendar and sending it straight into homes for an early 2021 release. We heard sources talking about this earlier today. Sponge on the Run will go on PVOD before it hits CBS All Access.The movie was originally scheduled to play over Memorial Day weekend before COVID-19, but was rescheduled for Aug.

AMC Theatres is reversing the policy it announced yesterday and will now require all moviegoers to wear masks in their theaters.

AMC Theatres — the largest cinema circuit in the world — will open 450 of its U.S. locations on July 15 followed by the remaining 150 on July 24, in time for Disney's Mulan and Warner Bros.' Tenet.

video Wednesday that provides patrons with a detailed look at what movie theaters will look like when they reopen their doors under new safety guidelines.Cinemark is doing a phased reopening some of its theaters in Texas by Friday but will be targeting the reopening of more than 300 theaters by mid-July.

Exhibition giant Cineworld, which owns the Regal chain in the U.S., is set to reopen some of its European cinemas next week, with its U.S. and U.K movie theaters reopening on July 10.

Nancy Tartaglione International Box Office Editor/Senior ContributorRegal Entertainment owner Cineworld Group has confirmed it will re-open cinemas in some of its markets during the last week of June, with all theaters expected to be back online during the course of July.