After nearly a year of being closed in the greater Los Angeles area due to the coronavirus, theaters will finally be allowed to reopen again in the City of Angels.
According to Variety, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health announced that theaters can reopen at 25 percent capacity between Monday and Wednesday of next week. The news comes as California reaches a major vaccine milestone, distributing two million doses to underserved populations.
However, due to the short notice of the announcement, many venues don't expect to be operational until Friday, March 19, as they need time to rehire staff and implant health and safety measures. There is also no guarantee that the limited capacity seating will generate profits. Major chains like AMC and Cinemark are expected to reopen their doors, while Regal is not expected to open until May. TCL is still debating the prospect of reopening.
"Cinemark is excited by the prospect of once again welcoming Los Angeles moviegoers to the immersive, cinematic experience of seeing a movie on the big screen at our theatres," a representative for the company said. "We are optimistically following local mandates and look forward to sharing a reopening update once government restrictions are announced. All Cinemark theatres reopen with The Cinemark Standard, enhanced cleaning and safety protocols at every step of the moviegoing experience. Since beginning our phased reopening in June, we have consistently received 96% guest satisfaction ratings with Cinemark protecting their health and safety."
All seats will have to be reserved beforehand, and groups will have to be spaced six feet apart from each other. Indoor dining is also expected to return to the city next week under the same 25 percent capacity guidelines.
The news is sure to be a welcomed relief for both theaters and studios, as Los Angeles represents a significant market for moviegoers. Many executives are expecting to have something resembling a summer movie season, with major blockbusters like Black Widow, Cruella, A Quiet Place Part II and F9 on track to premiere in May and June. In the meantime, the decision is bound to help Warner Bros. Godzilla vs. Kong, which will open in theaters and premiere on HBO Max on March 31.
New York City also recently reopened its theaters with 25 percent capacity limits and strict mask requirements.