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AMC : Theatres In LA & NYC Ordered To Close Due To Coronavirus Concerns

By

David Mudd

AMC, the largest theater chain in the US, is the latest to feel the pressure of the coronavirus pandemic. One of the measures to quell the virus’ spread is a restriction on public gatherings. This has especially affected movie theatres. In light of this, the Mayors of both New York and Los Angeles ordered all theatres to close their doors.

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New York And Los Angeles Announce Restrictions(AMC)

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti made this decision. It would come into effect on March 17, 2020, from 9 am onwards. AMC, for their part, tried to limit movie screenings to 50% capacity.

However, the guidelines that the Centers for Disease Control has recommended are even tighter than that. They’ve recommended a limit of just 10 people at a time for public gatherings.

This has forced AMC to take the drastic measure of shuttering all theatres across the USA, not just in New York and Los Angeles. They will remain shut for a duration of 6 to 12 weeks.

Major Films May Be Delayed 

This is sure to throw a wrench into the plans of massive films that haven’t yet moved their release date. Marvel Studios’ Black Widow is the name that pops up immediately. It’s still set to come out on May 1, 2020.

These developments will surely force Marvel to move it, though. Warner Bros. also has a major superhero film coming this summer in Wonder Woman 1984. That film’s release date of June 5, 2020, may feel like it’s far away, but the indefinite nature of this theatre closure is sure to make them rethink that date.

Huge Impact Across The US (AMC)

Across the US and Canada, AMC runs a network of 634 locations, consisting of 11,000 screens. The AMC Empire 25, located in New York City’s Times Square, is in fact their highest-grossing location of them all. However, with numerous movie delays due to the spread of this virus, it has left AMC with no choice but to take this drastic measure.

Empty cinema auditorium. Projection screen is ready for adding a picture

AMC CEO Adam Aron said as much in a statement regarding this matter.

“We are ever so disappointed for our movie going guests and for our employee teams that the new CDC guidelines that Americans should not gather in groups larger than 10 people make it impossible to open our theatres,” he said.

He further went on to say, “Still, the health and well-being of AMC guests and employees, and of all Americans, takes precedence above all else.”

AMC isn’t the only theater chain to be making this kind of decision. Regal Cinemas, Alamo Draft house Cinemas and many more have closed their doors as well. Those that haven’t will most likely follow suit.