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NYC Movie Theaters Can Reopen At 25% Capacity On March 5th

By

Jen Chung

Published Feb 22, 2021

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A Regal cinema in Times Square has its marquee say "Temporarily closed"

 

Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock

By

Jen Chung

Published Feb 22, 2021

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New York City movie theaters will be able to reopen at 25% capacity—or a maximum of 50 people—on March 5th.

Governor Andrew Cuomo made the announcement Monday during a press conference, keeping with his recent trend of trying to reopen as much of the economy as possible amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. By mid-March, NYC will have indoor dining at 35% capacity, sporting event attendance at 10%, and wedding receptions of up to 150 people.

Movie theaters have been shut down in NYC (though not other parts of the state) since last March, when the pandemic started. While some pop-up drive-in theaters emerged, movie studios have mostly delayed tentpole releases, including Black Widow, the Marvel superhero film; the latest James Bond flick, No Time To Die; and Top Gun: Maverick until next year. But with a 50-person maximum attendance per screening, it's unclear whether studios will adjust their release dates again. Warner Bros. has controversially opted to premiere its highly-anticipated films, like Matrix 4, Dune, and In The Heights, in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously.

Smaller chains and independent movie theaters have been offering virtual screening rooms throughout the pandemic.

Cuomo said movie theater patrons will need to wear masks and socially distance, and theaters will need to comply with Department of Health recommendations for filtration and other safety standards. Moviegoers will not have to be tested prior to attending, however (unlike sporting events and wedding receptions, which will require people to be tested ahead of time).

Tagged

reopening

governor cuomo

movie theaters

Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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