CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The curtain will rise again at movie theaters starting June 10 after Gov. Mike DeWine gave the go-ahead Thursday for them to reopen.
Atlas Cinemas, which has locations in Euclid, Mayfield Heights, Shaker Square, Elyria and Mentor, said it will open its theaters on that first day Wednesday.
“We will have some new releases, some features that had recently had come out at closure, lots of kid and family pictures like ‘Trolls World Tour,’ ‘Onward,’ ‘Jumanji: The Next Level,’ and some retro oldies like the ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Jurassic World’ series, and also some alternative content such as ‘Capone’ (with Tom Hardy),” said Atlas Cinemas Vice President Gabriel Saluan.
The company, the largest independent theater chain in the region, hopes to entice moviegoers to return with $5 admission throughout June and free popcorn during reopening week.
Atlas might have a corner on the market from the jump as no other theater has announced it will open next week.
Cleveland Cinemas, the owner of the Cedar Lee, Capitol Theatre, Tower City Cinemas and Chagrin Cinemas, said it’s still finalizing plans so it “can meet and exceed” safety guidelines put forth by the state.
“As soon as we have our official reopening date we will let you all know,” Cleveland Cinemas Director of Marketing Dave Huffman said in a statement. “We can’t wait to see you and we know you are excited to get back to the movies!”
The Cleveland Cinematheque hasn’t announced when it will reopen either, only to say it won’t be on June 10.
Cinemark, which operates cineplexes in Valley View and Strongsville, Macedonia, Cuyahoga Falls and Aurora, said the earliest it would open is June 19.
Silverspot Cinema at Pinecrest is planning to reopen in early July for such highly anticipated summer films as “Unhinged” with Russell Crowe on July 1, Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” on July 17 and Disney’s live-action remake of “Mulan” on July 24.
Regal Cinemas, with theaters at Crocker Park, Great Northern, Richmond Town Square and in Middleburg Heights, Akron, Hudson, Willoughby, said in a statement last month it anticipates to open all locations in July in time for the release of “Tenet.”
AMC Theatres, the chain behind the Westwood Town Center 6, Ridge Park Square 8 and Solon Classic 16, hasn’t announced reopening plans yet, though the company expressed “substantial doubt” about its future in a SEC filing this week.
Movie theaters have been closed since March 16.
When they come back, moviegoers will find the same safety measures they’ve already become accustomed to in stores, restaurants and at drive-in movie theaters. Employees must undergo health screenings before reporting to work and wear masks and gloves. Theaters are required to undergo more frequent and thorough cleanings, make hand sanitizer readily available to customers and implement measures to enforce social distancing.
So, expect movie houses to reduce capacity by staggering showtimes and blocking off seats, leaving at least two seats between parties just as many theaters were already doing prior to the shutdown. Theater chains are also likely to lean more on cashless systems and mobile ordering for tickets and concessions to reduce contact between employees and customers.
But besides the three July releases mentioned, don’t expect to see many of the big-name blockbusters like “Black Widow,” “A Quiet Place Part II,” “Top Gun: Maverick” or “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” on the silver screen anytime soon, as each of those films have been pushed back to at least the fall. “Wonder Woman 1984,” however, remains on track for an August 14 premiere.
If you’re still wary about watching a movie indoors, drive-in theaters have been open since May 12.