AMC Location In Tysons Corner, Others Could Reopen In Summer

TYSONS, VA —Just last week, AMC Theatres said it had “substantial doubt” that the company could keep operating if pandemic-related closures continued. However, the company announced Tuesday it expects to reopen almost all of its locations worldwide by mid-July.

AMC will welcome guests back as soon as it is safe and allowed under health and social distancing guidelines, the company said in its first-quarter earnings report Tuesday. AMC has 1,000 locations across the globe, with more than 11,000 screens, according to its website. One of its theaters is located at Tysons Corner Center.

The theater company added that it expects to be “fully open globally in July,” although it did not provide specific dates.

In Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam ordered the closure of theaters and other entertainment centers on March 24. It is unclear when theaters will be allowed to open in Virginia; the governor's phase one and two reopening guidelines kept theaters closed. Phase two starts on June 12 in Northern Virginia and Richmond, and the rest of the state started on June 5. A timeline and guidelines for phase three will be announced at a later time.

All AMC locations are closed through June, and the company said it has enough money to reopen theaters this summer. However, if not allowed to reopen, the company said, it may be unable to borrow the funds needed to continue operating.

In Virginia, Gov. Ralph Northam ordered the closure of theaters and other entertainment centers on March 24. While restrictions were eased on some kinds of businesses during phase one reopening, theaters remain closed. Phase two, expected to start in Virginia on June 5 with the exception of Northern Virginia and Richmond, keeps indoor theaters closed.

The reopenings are set to align with the releases of Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” and Disney’s “Mulan” in July.

“We are confident we are taking the necessary steps on a broad array of fronts to ensure AMC’s future success as we navigate these turbulent and uncertain times,” AMC CEO Adam Aron said in a statement.

The announcement comes despite AMC painting a grim picture in its most recent earnings statement, reporting a $2.2 billion loss as a result of coronavirus closures.

The moviegoing experience will look vastly different when theaters reopen.

AMC anticipates enacting a number of safety measures for moviegoers, including personal protection equipment, cleaning protocols, limited theater capacity and blocked seating.
Even when theaters are allowed to reopen, AMC predicts it will still have problems if entertainment companies decide to delay the release of new films.