So you know how we’ve been sorta kidding, sorta not-kidding about Tenet controlling the fate of movie theatres? Well, that just got taken to a new level with the news that AMC is delaying its reopening plan. Why? Because Tenet moved out of July and into August.
Deadline reports AMC has changed the reopen date for 450 theaters from July 15th as originally intended, to July 30th, in response to Tenet moving to August 12th. The film was going to launch on July 17th, then when it became clear the coronavirus wasn’t going anywhere it moved to July 31st, and then again to its current date.
The other factor contributing to this was Disney’s moving of Mulan, which also moved a couple of times until it landed on August 21st. With no big movies opening for the entire month of July, what’s the point in opening? So people can swarm in to see The Broken Hearts Gallery? Oh wait, that just got moved today to August 7th.
“We continue to devote extraordinary resources into our plan to operate our theatres with a hyper commitment to the safety and health of our guests and associates, notably in the United States through our new AMC Safe & Clean initiative,” said AMC CEO Adam Aron. “Our theatre general managers across the U.S. started working full time again today and are back in their theatres gearing up to get their buildings fully ready just a few weeks from now for moviegoers. That happy day, when we can welcome guests back into most of our U.S. theatres, will be Thursday, July 30.”
Okay, so what happens when/if/probably when August isn’t far enough away and Tenet moves yet again? What does AMC do then? What about Regal and the other major theatre chains? If Tenet, Mulan, Bill & Ted 3, and other films don’t come out in due course, what happens to AMC which is on the brink of financial ruin? Here’s hoping they are considering some alternatives because COVID-19 isn’t really cooperating, is it?
