Cinemark confirms multi-phased re-opening beginning June 19

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Today brings some promising news if you were a moviegoer that frequented Cinemark locations before the COVID-19 closures. In the company's earnings release reported via "Deadline", Cinemark CEO Mark Zoradi confirmed they have shifted their attention to a domestic re-opening.

Zoradi says that employees have "shifted our attention to domestic re-opening, which we plan to initiate in a multi-phased approach beginning June 19." This is great news considering the recent report that the box office is expected to drop by 50% in 2020 and it also appears that Zoradi seemed to exhibit some optimism about re-opening. Some of that confidence has to do with the Warner Bros. release of TENET on July 17 which Zoradi is "optimistic" will keep its planned release date:

"We’ve been in close contact with Warner Bros. and they remain optimistic and positive as well as Christopher Nolan about the July 17 opening. Of course, it depends on the continued positive movement due to the decline of COVID-19 and government restrictions being reduced."

The chain’s phased re-opening plan, which is expected to take place between June 19 and July 10, can be shifted and is “flexible”, and there won’t be any negative financial impact should the exhibitor be required to pivot and delay re-opening by 4-5 weeks. Also, according to Zoradi, even with reduced auditorium capacities at 50%, “we can operate profitability with all the (safety) techniques we put in place.” That being said, Cinemark seems to really be looking at what Warner Bros. does with TENET and seem willing to shift their re-opening if TENET does move its date within that 4-5 week window. If there’s any release change with the film Zoradi expects that decision “in the not distant future." He went on to say "I can't speak for them, but it will be before June,” and that’s because the studio has to push the button and spend on hard media for the Nolan movie."

Cinemark is the No.3 U.S. exhibitor so it is significant that they are moving forward with a plan to open their doors again. The rollout that Zoradi presented will occur with five theaters opening in the first week around the chain’s Dallas Fort Worth area HQ followed by a third of the chain’s theaters in the second week, another third in the subsequent week, and the remaining theaters leading into the July 10-12 weekend. After this, the chain will be testing its systems, and programming studio catalog titles at reduced ticket prices which will run $5 for adults and $3 for children. Zoradi also pointed to the safety protocols that will be in place at Cinemark locations including, but not limited to, disinfecting seats and high touch areas, providing ample amount of seat and hand sanitizers, screening the health of employees; guests and employees’ wearing of masks, seat buffering technology, and the reduced use of paper tickets.

It should be noted that, while this multi-phased re-opening is a step forward, Zoradi doesn't believe that business will get to a pre-COVID 19 level until 2022:

"The reality is I don’t think we’re going to be able to get into a full-on rhythm again of product cycles and all that we had prior to COVID-19 until 2022. That’s more production-related than our operation-related because as studios have had to adapt to not being able to do filming and do post-production, they’ve had to move their schedules. Therefore, we’re going to adapt as well."

I have to say it's nice to see one of the chains making moves to get back to business. They're very much aware that this will be an uphill battle but they know that they have to get started in order to eventually get back to a place where the business will flow like it once did before the pandemic. It will be interesting to see what AMC and Regal does now that Cinemark has made their plans public because it might give them some confidence to get their ball rolling as well.

Do YOU frequent Cinemark? Will YOU feel safe going to their chains?