The impact of COVID-19 on the global cinema business (as at 5/5/20)

In Texas, as reported yesterday, Santikos Entertainment opened three sites and attracted around 3,000 people to screenings of a range of movies, including Trolls World Tour.

Vue Cinemas has re-iterated the hope that its UK cinemas will be up and running for mid-July, with Christopher Nolan’s Tenet as the first major blockbuster of the summer. Vue has also asked its landlords across its European estate for a rent waiver while closed and a turnover-based rent for a year once they re-open, as social distancing is likely to curtail revenues at some periods.

In Switzerland cinemas may open on 8 June, if all goes well with the plan to re-open the economy. The decision will be confirmed or not on 27 May.

Cinemas in Finland and Kosovo could open on 1 June. Finland will start to re-open its economy on 1 June, and may extend this to groups of 50 or less into which cinemas may fall.

In Kosovo, a plan has been outlined under which the third phase should start on 1 June. This allows the restaurant sector to open as well as cinemas and theatres.

Cinemas in France are not to open in the first phase of re-opening, but will be evaluated after 11 May. Festivals and gatherings of over 5,000 people will not be allowed until at least September.

Cinemas in Hong Kong will be allowed to open from this weekend (8 May), having shut them down on 28 March as part of measures against a second wave of imported cases. The cinemas will have social distancing measures in place. Other actions taken include re-opening schools, gyms, bars and restaurants, all with measures in place.

Focus Features comedy The High Note is now moving straight to VOD on 29 May 2020, foregoing its theatrical run which meant to start on 8 May 2020.