Coronavirus News
Plano-based Cinemark launches reopening plan with 5 DFW movie theaters
Plano-based Cinemark is getting ready to reopen its movie theaters in the U.S. with a four-phase plan that will begin on June 19.
According to theater trade publication Box Office Pro, the plan's first phase will be a test run, with the reopening of only five theaters in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. (The exact locations of those five theaters are listed below.)
The chain's remaining locations will reopen in phases, beginning with larger markets, and concluding on July 17 by which all of Cinemark's nearly 350 locations will be open.
CEO Mark Zoradi said that the driving force was to meet the July 17 release of Tenet, the summer's first big blockbuster and the first movie of any kind being released in actual theaters since March. The phased reopening gives Cinemark time to get ramped up for that big debut.
Prior to July 17, Cinemark will screen older films and sell tickets at discounted prices of $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors.
Operators are anticipating that theaters will be running at 50 percent in most places by the time Tenet is released. Zoradi stated that their reopening plans may be adjusted if coronavirus cases do not decrease, or if there are further government regulations regarding social distancing and group gatherings.
There's also a chance that the release date of Tenet release may get bumped.
Cinemark will reopen with the usual precautions and sanitation measures, with social distancing and staggered showtimes.
Cinemark is the first of the big movie theater chains to announce its reopening. Upscale theater chain Ipic has begun a phased-in reopening, including its Fairview location which opened on June 4.
AMC Theaters, the world's largest chain, said on June 3 that it has "substantial doubt" it can remain in business. The chain, which is shuttered through June, said it has enough cash reserves to resume operations this summer but may not have enough money to continue.
UPDATE 6-17-2020: The five DFW Cinemark theaters and their opening dates are listed as follows.
June 19 opening – Tickets on sale now:
- Cinemark 17 + IMAX
- Cinemark West Plano + XD
- Cinemark North McKinney + XD
June 26 opening:
- Cinemark Legacy + XD
- Cinemark Allen + XD
