Popcorn conundrum: When movie theaters reopen, will they ban concessions?

Jill Goldsmith Co-Business EditorThe Dow reversed its losses for the year and the Nasdaq and S&P 500 hit records at close as investors saw a possible tempering of COVID-19 spread and liked a policy speech by the Federal Reserve chief the day before.Shrugging off continued high unemployment and the ongoing pandemic, the DJIA ended the week up 161.6 points, or 0.57% — less than 1,000 points away from a record high in February.Among showbiz stocks, Roku led, hitting a new all-time high and closing

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorOn Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom modified the reopening guidelines for counties in the State of California.

similar state guidelines issued in June.Also Read: Nearly Half of US Movie Theaters Will Be Open This Weekend Even Without New York, CaliforniaAccording to the state’s county status tracker, the counties that can reopen indoor theaters with these modifications include Alpine (minimal), Calaveras (substantial), Del Norte (moderate), El Dorado (substantial), Humboldt (moderate), Lake (substantial), Lassen (substantial), Mariposa (moderate), Modoc (minimal), Mono (moderate), Napa (substantial),

Dave McNary Film ReporterGov. Gavin Newsom has announced strict guidelines for indoor movie theaters in California to reopen in the coming months.The guidelines, announced Friday, were contained in a new color-coded reopening system for counties based on coronavirus prevalence and testing rates.

Tom Tapp Deputy Managing EditorLast week, California Governor Gavin Newsom said he would release modify reopening guidelines for counties in the state of California.On Friday, he made good on that promise, revealing a new framework with four tiers with colors attached to them to indicate severity.The governor described the new framework as “simple, stringent and slow.”Case rates and test positivity rates will be the metrics that will determine movement within the tiers which, in terms of

tested positive for the coronavirus in Australia while filming their Elvis Presley biopic. The couple isolated themselves and are keeping their spirits up, sharing their experience on Instagram.Former Bond Girl Olga Kurylenko posted on Instagram Sunday that she was self-quarantining after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Nancy Tartaglione International Box Office Editor/Senior ContributorIn an effort to rein in resurgent coronavirus cases in Seoul, Korean authorities last week tightened restrictions on public gatherings. This dealt a blow to the local box office which has seen strong performances over the past several weeks with titles like Peninsula and Deliver Us From Evil.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaAs cinemas welcoming back audiences this summer, the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is introducing a set of health protocols that it claims will keep customers safe from COVID-19.Dubbed “CinemaSafe,” the standards include asking patrons to social distance and wear masks, encouraging the purchase of tickets online, and making hand sanitizer more readily available.

AMC Theatres has re-opened select locations around the United States and we have photos from inside some of the socially distanced movie theaters.

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards, Features EditorCaren Pistorius can only describe her experience on “Unhinged” as wonderful but “surreal.” The actor was working at a fabric store in Sydney when she got the call to audition for the road rage thriller starring Russell Crowe.Within hours, she found herself in New Orleans for a screen test. She ended up staying in the city as she quickly landed the role, and the film began shooting a week later.

Adam B.

Also Read: AMC Theatres Lays Out 'Safe & Clean' Plan for Reopening Cinemas (Video)“By closing only indoor movie theaters, Defendants are leaving open ‘ample alternative methods of communication’ in the form of outdoor movie theaters and at-home streaming options,” Martinetti said in the 33-page ruling.The ruling also includes the many protocols laid out by the theaters in order to attempt to provide a safe environment should they be allowed to reopen their doors, including new employee safety

Jill Goldsmith Co-Business EditorA federal judge Tuesday upheld New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s closure of movie theaters in the state, dismissing a motion for an injunction by the National Association of Theatre Owners and five cinema chains that would have allowed them to open their doors.Judge Brian Martinotti ruled that the state is not infringing on the theaters First Amendment rights in enforcing its pandemic-related closure.

Mackenzie Nichols Staff WriterIt would seem that popcorn, America’s favorite concession stand snack, has taken a hiatus as movie theaters across the country have closed due to the coronavirus.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterA judge on Tuesday upheld an order closing movie theaters in New Jersey, finding that the state is not infringing on theaters’ First Amendment rights in its pandemic response.Judge Brian Martinotti denied a motion for an injunction, which had been sought by the National Association of Theatre Owners, the industry’s main lobbyist group, and six cinema chains.

Mackenzie Nichols Staff WriterNew York Gov. Andrew Cuomo addressed the prospect of reopening movie theaters during a news conference in Manhattan on Monday, saying they’re “not that high on the list of essentials” and pose a higher risk of spreading COVID-19.“I am sure there is a whole group people who say, ‘I cannot live without going to the movies.’ But on a relative risk scale, a movie theater is less essential and poses a high risk,” Cuomo said.

Jill Goldsmith Co-Business EditorNew York Governor Andrew Cuomo Monday gave gyms a green light to reopen August 24 following recent nods to bowling allies, museums and malls but is still leaving movie theaters, which he called less essential and higher risk, in the dark.That’s both literally and figuratively. He gave no indication of a reopening timetable for the key movie going market.“It’s the level of risk.

Adam B. Vary Senior Entertainment WriterConsumers believe movie theaters and live music concerts have been among the hardest hit industries by the coronavirus pandemic, according to an exclusive new survey from Performance Research in partnership with Full Circle Research.And yet, despite that understanding, they are also much less eager to support federal relief for theaters and live music venues compared to other sectors.According to the survey of over 1,000 people in the U.S.

MEXICO CITY -- The few, the brave — those were the people returning this week to movie theaters in Mexico City that had been closed for four months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Yes, there was popcorn.

Andreas Wiseman International EditorThe UK economy suffered its biggest slump on record between April-June as the effects of the pandemic triggered an official recession for the first time since the economic crisis of 2009.According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the economy shrank a record 20.4% compared with the first three months of the year.