Regal Cinemas has decided to close all 543 of its screens in the United States as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
What’s going on:
- Insiders told The Hollywood Reporter that the closure will be indefinite and no reopening date has been set.
- Regal, which is owned by Cineworld, will close beginning Tuesday.
- Cineworld CEO Mooky Greidinger told the magazine: “Any time, at any Regal, it’s our goal to provide a safe and healthy environment for our employees and guests.”
- He added: “At this time, we have made the difficult decision to close our theaters. We value our movie-loving customers and have no doubt we will be serving them again as soon as possible with a full slate of Hollywood blockbusters.”
AMC, Megaplex limit seating
- AMC Theaters announced it would limit crowds to 50 people per theater, according to the Associated Press. The announcement came after the Centers for Disease Control issued guidelines Sunday for people to not gather in gatherings for 50 or more people.
- Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres has decided to limit the amount of people allow to view movies to 75 people per theater, as the Deseret News reported.
The bigger picture:
- The theater announcements come as President Donald Trump called for Americans to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people in the immediate future. Trump said such guidelines are in effect for 15 days. The coronavirus, he said, could last until July or August.