Regal Cinemas Lincolnshire Re-Opens To The Public

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. - The Regal Cinemas Lincolnshire 15 & IMAX has re-opened to public moviegoers after being closed since March. Regal Cinemas, the second largest theatre chain in the United States, had shut their doors nationwide due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The theatre chain, which is owned by the British corporation Cineworld, announced in a press release last week that they would be reopening the majority of their locations across the country.

The Lincolnshire location officially re-opened on Friday, Aug. 21. The site, which boasts fifteen house screens and an IMAX theatre, will start off showing older movies from the past five years, and gradually begin showing newer features as Hollywood begins to slowly release movies again. One notable film, Christopher Nolan's Tenet, will have a mass release on Sep. 3. In order to attract customers, adult tickets are $5 and children's tickets are $3 for the time being.

As part of a campaign that Regal is calling Cinema Safe theatres, there have been numerous safety measures put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. Masks are required for all guests and employees, and all employees will undergo temperature checks. The concessions offerings have been greatly reduced, and free refills have been suspended. In addition, auditorium capacities will be reduced by up to 50%, and the reserved seating system has been updated to accommodate social distancing guidelines. The theatre has also installed sanitizing dispensers on the walls outside the entrance.

Regal Cinemas and the Cineworld Corporation will have to try hard to recoup lost revenues. The movie theatre industry has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the inability to seat patrons and the near total shutdown of Hollywood filmmaking having a direct effect. In June, AMC Theatres, the largest cinema chain in the United States, reported losses of up to $2.4 billion in the first quarter of 2020.