Movie lovers will have more theater options in April.
Regal Cinemas, the second-largest movie theater chain in the United States, will reopen for business beginning on April 2, its parent company, Cineworld Group, announced in a news release Tuesday.
Regal’s reopening follows that of AMC Theatres, the nation’s largest movie chain, which announced last week that it was reopening 98% of its theaters.
For the last six months, Regal’s 7,211 screens across 549 theaters nationwide had remained closed, according to The Associated Press. Attendance will be limited to 25% to 50% capacity, the company said.
Regal’s April 2 reopening will coincide with the release of Warner Bros.′ “Godzilla vs. Kong,” Cineworld said.
>> AMC reopening 98% of its US theaters by Friday
“We have long-awaited this moment when we can welcome audiences back to our Regal theatres and restore our essential role within the communities we serve,” Mooky Greidinger, CEO of Cineworld, said in a statement. “With the health and safety of our customers, staff, and communities as our top priority, we continue to take all the necessary precautions and abide by our CinemaSafe guidelines to confidently provide a safe and comfortable experience. With capacity restrictions expanding to 50% or more across most states, we will be able to operate profitably in our biggest markets.
“We will also be monitoring developments closely in the U.K. and across Europe as we set to gradually reopen across the world in line with local government guidance.”
Regal also said employees will undergo daily health screenings and will be required to wash their hands every 30 to 60 minutes, depending on their job. Theater employees also will be required to wear masks.
Cineworld also announced a new multiyear agreement with Warner Bros. Beginning in 2022, the studio’s releases will have a 45-day exclusive window at Regal Cinemas.
“We are very happy for the agreement with Warner Bros. This agreement shows the studio’s commitment to the theatrical business and we see this agreement as an important milestone in our 100-year relationship with Warner Bros.,” Greidinger said in a statement.