AMC Theaters Has Announced They Are Closing Down for Six to Twelve Weeks

AMC Theaters is the latest major movie theater chain to shut down their theaters nationwide due to the coronavirus outbreak. These theater shutdowns are happening in an effort to help keep the virus from spreading faster.

The chain attempted to remain open by limiting theater capacity by 50%, then by limiting each screening to only 50 tickets in accordance to the CDC’s social distancing recommendations. However, now that the CDC guidelines have cut the recommended limit on gatherings to just 10 people, the theaters really have no choice but to shut down.

AMC CEO Adam Aron said in a statement:

“We are ever so disappointed for our moviegoing 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. Still, the health and wellbeing of AMC guests and employees, and of all Americans, takes precedence above all else. We will continue to monitor this situation very closely and look forward to the day we can again delight moviegoers nationwide by reopening AMC movie theatres in accordance with guidance from the CDC and local health authorities.”

AMC operates in 634 locations in the U.S. and Canada, and they will remain closed for 6 to 12 weeks. They went on to say that they would “remain flexible on reopening, in accordance with CDC recommendations and governmental directives.”

Those enrolled in their A-List ticket subscriptions will not be billed during the hiatus.

Other movie theater chains that have closed include Regal, Cineplex, Landmark, and Alamo Drafthouse.

Source: Deadline