As more and more movie releases get postponed due to the global coronavirus pandemic, the film industry is in a bit of a slump.
Monday, the parent company of Regal Cinemas, which operates a movie theater in Kingstowne and hundreds of other locations throughout the United States, announced it was suspending operations "until further notice."
In a statement, Cineworld (which owns Regal) explained:
"As major US. markets, mainly New York, remained closed and without guidance on reopening timing, studios have been reluctant to release their pipeline of new films. In turn, without these new releases, Cineworld cannot provide customers in both the US and the UK — the company's primary markets — with the breadth of strong commercial films necessary for them to consider coming back to theatres against the backdrop of COVID-19. These closures will impact approximately 45,000 employees."
Cineworld officials said they will continue monitoring the global pandemic and the movie market in determining when the company will reopen its theaters.
Movie fans have until Thursday evening to see movies on the big screen there.
Regal Cinemas started opening in select states and locations in July, following extensive health and safety protocols called #CinemaSafe, including CDC guidelines for physical distancing, mask requirements and enhanced cleanings.
But, without blockbuster movies coming out due to smaller audience sizes, it has been tough for movie theaters to stay in business.
The new James Bond film, “No Time to Die,” is now postponed until April 2021.
The new Wonder Woman movie, "Wonder Woman 1984," part of which was filmed at Landmark Mall in Alexandria, is postponed until at least late December.
The Regal Cinemas at Potomac Yard closed early this year and did not reopen due to the coming start of construction for the new Virginia Tech Innovation Campus.
The AMC Hoffman Center 22 near the Eisenhower Metro station is open, but that company announced last week that it would run out of liquidity in the next six months, according to Hollywood Reporter.
