Area Movie Houses Begin Reopening

With COVID-19 restrictions loosening for most indoor businesses this week, several movie theaters in the area are opening their doors for the first time in months and, for some new cinemas, the first time ever. “It was exactly one year ago that we closed all AMC locations in the United States,” Adam Aron, chief executive and president of AMC, said in a press release. “It gives me immense joy to say that by the end of next week we expect that 99 percent of our U.S. locations will have reopened.”In addition to reopening all 27 locations in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, two new AMC theatres in the region will be serving guests for the first time. AMC Porter Ranch 9 at the Vineyards at Porter Ranch will have its grand opening today. In the Inland Empire, AMC Dine-In Montclair Place 12 will open for the first time on Monday.“As we have done at all of locations around the country, AMC is reopening and operating with the highest devotion to the health and safety of our guests and associates through our AMC Safe & Clean policies and protocols,” Aron’s statement read. Red-tier restrictions for Los Angeles and Ventura counties dictate that theaters may reopen at 25 percent capacity, with reserved seating so patrons from different households sit at least six feet away from each other. Additional protocols for indoor operations include increased ventilation “to the maximum extent possible,” face mask requirements for staff and guests (except while eating) and more frequent sanitation practices. Theaters in the area are prominently displaying safety procedures on their websites, in hopes that the stringent measures will lead to increased audience confidence and a quick return to in person entertainment as summer blockbusters prepare for release. For more cautious guests, Cinemark is still offering complete auditorium rentals to allow smaller groups to see movies in theaters. “Cinemark is thrilled to once again offer Los Angeles movie lovers the chance to see a movie on our big screens with sight and sound technology that truly cannot be replicated at home,” Mark Zoradi, Cinemark CEO, said in a statement. “Los Angeles is one of the most meaningful moviegoing markets in the world, and we look forward to providing moviegoers the entertainment experience they have been craving with the health and safety protocols they can trust.”