The impact of COVID-19 on the global cinema business (as at 4/5/20)
Norwegian government is allowing cinemas to open their doors from 7 May 2020 after shutting on 12 March. The maximum capacity per screen is 50 and social distancing of a one metre minimum is required. The first cinema to open will be Oslo cinema Ringen on Friday 8 May, followed by a further 11 cinemas at the weekend.
Norway follows Czech Republic in setting a date, in their case it is now 11 May, having been brought forward from 25 May. There must be one seat between clients and no food or drink is allowed to be sold.
In Spain, cinemas and theatres are due to open up again on 25 May according to the government.
In Portugal, cinemas will be allowed to re-open from 1 June if the preceding phases of re-opening go to plan.
In Cyprus, cinema could theoretically re-open on 14 July according to a phased plan set out by the government.
In Poland, cinemas could open on 1 June with strict capacity caps if other phases of the re-opening plan are upheld.
In Ireland, cinemas have a date of 10 August on re-opening, with social distancing measures to be in effect. This is the same for bars and restaurants.
In the USA, a small number of cinemas did open in Texas over the weekend just gone, such as Santikos Entertainment, which opened three of its nine sites. Circuit was showing older films for $5 a ticket and was serving popcorn. Austin-based EVO Entertainment is opening two sites today (Monday 4 May). Attendance is limited to 25% of capacity.
On the flip side, the Malaysian government is opening up many parts of the economy as of today but has said that cinema and entertainment outlets will remain closed for now.
Likewise, in the Philippines, cinemas fall under a category ‘Sectors to remain closed in all areas’ even though many parts of the economy have re-opened as from 1 May.
Singapore is also keeping cinemas shut until 1 June at the earliest.
Two cinemas in Taiwan that had remained open have also now closed down for two months minimum (Changhua Cinemas and Taiwan Cinemas in Changhua City) due to COVID-19.
South Korea has begun to open its cinemas, with lead exhibitor Cj CGV opening up 36 sites just before last weekend, and Lotte Cinema also opened six sites on 30 April. Megabox opened 11 sites over the weekend. There are social distancing and hygiene measures in place.
Lionsgate has put a few pieces of its distribution jigsaw in place. John Wick 4 has moved from 21 May 2021 to 27 May 2022, the Memorial Day slot. Taking the original 2021 slot on 21 May is Spiral, which was originally set for 15 May 2020. Also, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard has moved from 28 August 2020 to next 20 August 2021. Comedy Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar is now being released on 16 July 2021 from July 31 this year. In addition, American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story moves from 18 December 2020 to 10 December 2021. The Asset is also now dated to 23 April 2021. Thriller Fatale is now being released on 30 October 2020 from 19 June 2020. Lionsgate has also put sci-fi Voyagers up against Bond on 25 November 2020.
Warner is now releasing Matrix 4 on 21 May 2021, since Lionsgate’s John Wick vacated that slot.
Paramount has put a date on the next Transformers movie, as yet untitled, to be released on 24 June 2022. The studio has also said it is expanding its release of The Trial of the Chicago 7 on 9 October (was 2 October 2020) and then moving it wider again on 16 October 2020.
