When Can People Return To Movie Theaters? Regal, Cineworld Set Date For Opening In US, UK Amid Coronavirus

After mass closings due to coronavirus lockdowns, the movie theater industry is close to opening its doors again. On Tuesday, Cineworld, the parent company of major chain Regal Cinemas, announced that its locations in the U.S. and U.K. will, pending any new developments, reopen on July 10.

Theaters shut down in the U.S. in mid-March, prompting a wave of new releases to delay their dates or move over to streaming services like Netflix. As the U.S. began to move towards reopening, exhibitors became hopeful for a mid-July return date, when blockbuster releases like “Mulan” and “Tenet” awaited.

Some of Cineworld’s European locations will begin opening for business next week. The July 10 date is subject to change, especially in the U.S., should a second wave over coronavirus cases crop up.

“We are thrilled to be back and encouraged by recent surveys that show that many people have missed going to the movie theatre,” Cineworld CEO Mooky Greidinger said in an official statement.

While Regal, the second-largest chain in the U.S., is set to make a return, a return date for the biggest chain, AMC Theaters, remains up in the air. As theaters shut down, AMC, already struggling with debt before the pandemic, was dogged by speculation about bankruptcy.

Cineworld operates over 11,000 locations globally. Prior to the pandemic, it was in talks to acquire Canadian-chain Cineplex for $2.1 billion. The company backed away from this deal last week.

Warner Bros. recently delayed “Tenet” to July 31, opting instead to put a 10th-anniversary release “Inception” on its previous July 17 date. This is likely meant to help test the waters of post-lockdown moviegoing with a much less risky release. “Tenet” is estimated to have cost at least $225 million, making global box office returns essential.

Also set for release soon is “Mulan” on July 24 and “The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run” on August 7. Major anticipated blockbusters like “Wonder Woman 1984,” “Black Widow,” and “No Time to Die” await in the fall season.