Lunchtime Poll: When will you go back to movie theaters?
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 1:20PM 
Yesterday they announced that movie theaters in NYC will be able to reopen on March 5th. That's just two weeks shy of one full year since they were closed down due to the pandemic. Seating will be at 25% capacity or 50 people in the room, whichever is less. But will that be enough to convince people to gather in indoor spaces again? If theaters have reopened in your town have you been back? Or are you waiting for the vaccine? Or do you have some other marker by which you'll venture out again? Do tell in the comments.
I'm sure I would feel safe once I get the vaccine but I dont qualify. Not the right age. Not an essential worker -- movie-blogging doesn't count, alas. (Here's what qualifies you in NYC if you're here and curious. If you're elsewhere your state or city probably has a similar page and you should definitely check. I have a friend who has asthma, for example, and he didn't realize he qualified but now he's scheduling his vaccination.)
Reader Comments (61)
Since I usually take my kids, I'll have to wait until they get the vaccine.
Here in Minnesota we’ve been back to the theater for about a month. I was able to see Nomadland in a nearly empty IMAX this weekend. It has been so wonderful to once again see films as they are intended to be seen. I am an essential worker and have been vaccinated, but they block the seats on either side of you and attendance has been low so I haven’t worried.
If good movies are released, I will support my local movie theater immediately (though I have zero interest in having to wear a face mask for 2-3 hours. I can easily watch/buy the movie at home and not be bothered with a face mask, Mr. Theater Owner.). If more people are freaked out about returning-that’s a good thing because that means less people chit-chatting to each other, checking their phones or pointing out something on the screen & commenting about it to whoever they came with. I usually go to the 1st showing which is lower in price and all the school kids are, hopefully, back at school. Also, usually the movies that I support has a 10% seating capacity in there anyways.
as soon as they re-open here and they show something of my interest...
In Puerto Rico movie theaters have been opened for months. Nonetheless, I have not been. I might venture to go when I am vaccinated (I don't yet qualify for a vaccine, hence I expect to be back to the movies at the end of the year).
NOMADLAND was my first film back in theaters in just about a year. Like Julian, I was in an "IMAX" (fake IMAX) theater, and there were maybe 15 of us all together. Reserved seating blocks off the area around you anyway, but social distancing was really easy even without that precaution. Everyone wore masks. It was great, and you shouldn't have a problem under these conditions.
Here in Chicago, the theaters have been open for several weeks. I went back for the first time since September (when a small group of us went to the cinema to see Psycho on the big screen) this past Saturday to see Nomadland. What a rush! Everyone was masked and relatively quiet. The seating was cordoned off. They did a great job following safety guidelines. There is nothing like seeing a movie in the theater. Nothing. Sigh.
Also, Nomadland is sublime. It's going to be hard to beat for Best Picture.
I'm going to support the theaters as much as possible. I feel very comfortable as all the precautions are being taken.
Once I get vaccinated, with a mask, but I'm a long way down the list.
I’m vaccinated, thankfully, and theaters near me have been open for a few months. I was lucky enough to see Promising Young Woman, News of the World, and Nomadland in theaters so far. (All films that benefit from the big screen). Hopefully The Father and I Carry You With Me soon.
In my city, in Brazil, theaters were opened in December. I had the chance to watch Mank, Hillbily Elegy, and Wonder Woman 1984.
After that, almost two months later, they had to be closed again for two weeks.
Problem 1: almost no one is going. People are afraid or are not aware that that cinemas are open.
Problem 2: no relevant films have been sent.
Some cinemas decided to stay closed.
I am worried. But I will keep hope.
A few theaters in Austin are open and of all films available to see only The Mauritanian seems appealing. Definitely hope theaters open up again.
Ah, I also watched Tenet.
I've been back at the movie theaters since about November. I've been going with a friend as part of our Friday night ritual. The theaters are empty! Normally it's just us 2. Sometimes there will be another person or couple; no more than 4 usually. However, when we saw Minari, there were a whopping 6 people! Everyone is distanced and they clean the theater after every show. I don't feel unsafe.
I'm glad to be back. Now to open some of these smaller movies in my market so I can see them. (I'm looking at you The Father and French Exit). THAT would be fantastic.
My only movie going experience was for my birthday in November where my husband was able to rent out the theatre so we could watch Scream. Our relationship was bonded by those movies and Scream 4 coming out (when we started dating). The theatre down the street from us was advertising private viewing packages, it was so fun.
Once I get both vaccines I'll be going back. I'm in Chicago and am essential as 1b, but its going so slow that other (younger) essential workers have had to get creative finding a shot-slot.
Essential worker already vaccinated. Chicago movies are and we’re already opened since end of January. Whenever I see something that I want to see in theaters. Weather has been pretty bad.
Have no idea. Last movie I watched was Knives Out in january 2020.
Here in Brazil our genocidal president refused to buy 70 million vacines and I have an aunt living with me and she's doing chemoterapy so no way I Will be going to the movies.
If theaters are open where I am likely to be in April (Southern California), I would start going to the movies again, as I'm //probably// receiving my second dose of the vaccine soon (on or about March 1).
I’m from Israel and just yesterday I got my second Pfizer vaccine.
So as soon as they open here (they have been closed since March 2020).
The last time I go to the movies I went to the Cineteca Nacional in Mexico City to watch El Gallinero in December, the theatre was receiving the 30% of the capacity but even with that, the cinema was almost alone which was great for me,
I was planned to go again to watch El Baile de los 41 but since December 19th movie theatres are closed until now.
When movie theaters open "normally", I will wait at least another month to decide when to go back to the movies because unfortunately some people I know have become ill or even died from Covid, so I don't want to take high risks.
Also in Minnesota. Went a lot in the summer and early fall when theatres opened again. Have been going again for the last month or so since theatres closed for most of the holiday season. Theatres are empty, cases haven't been traced back to them, people are good about wearing masks. I feel safe and have got to go to some really nice screenings. (The Lady From Shanghai, Night of the Hunter, Pillow Talk recently)
You couldn't pay me to go back into theaters in a hot zone covid area. Supremely irresponsible to even have them open at present.
Sigourney Weaver in Alien 5 is the only thing that would get me back sat in a cinema seat at the moment.
I am hoping that production companies will find sufficient profit from streaming and movies theaters will go the way of record albums.
I like the technology. I like watching in my own home. I like my clean bathroom. I like choosing my start time and pausing for an intermission if desired. I like the quiet undisturbed by unruly patrons.
As much as I miss it, and live theater, and live music, probably not anytime soon. I'm not in the age bracket or ill or a front-line worker in line for the vaccine until at least mid-summer.
Sadly, they've closed some independent cinemas in the area, so people in places like Portland, Maine, will have no where to see films.
I miss watching movies with other people, but I do NOT miss people in cinemas on their PHONES.
We have had them open (in a little european country), except for last year between March and July. The pandemic numbers are rising, but we haven't had a single case proven that the affection took place in theaters. Everybody wears masks and as we have 50% rule, then this I guess works. In november/december we even had our (2 and half weeks long) film festival in the movie theaters (showing Nomadland, The father, The world to come etc on big screens). And stage theaters are open also. Have been tens, or I guess more than a hundred times (no vaccine yet). Everything seems to work smoothly.
Love to go back to the movies- but might wait until I have the vaccine- part of the fun of going to the movies is popcorn and soda- how is that going to be done now?
Once I get my second shot I will, though I’m still young enough it’ll be a while here. I’m taking a day off work & just spending the full day at the theater.
When I'm vaccinated. I'm from the Philippines..... so that means 2022?
Here in Hollywood, Los Angeles, there are still no movie theaters open (that I know of.) But whenever they are back, I will BE. THERE!!!
I suppose I could go to the movies again now that I'm fully vaccinated (I work in healthcare field) but I just don't know, I want to wait until my husband and a few friends are also vaccinated and we could all go together. In the meantime, I can watch most stuff online, some for just the cost of our Netflix or Prime subscriptions.
I think once I get vaccinated and it's safe enough. I'll hopefully go back to the movie theaters as I really miss it.
I’ll never get the vaccine as they haven’t seen if there are any long term effects. Never get a flu shot and i’ll Never get this - and I’m still alive. If people know the risks to go to the movies, they shouldn’t have to wear masks. People smoke knowing it might give you cancer. Everything should be at your own risk. If you’re that afraid, then don’t go! No one is making you.
A couple of weeks after my second vaccine shot, I guess, but I'll only be going to off hour screenings for a while even after that.
I miss movies so much. Used to go at least twice a week in the before times. Watching them at home is not at all the same. This is the first year I haven't seen the majority of the films in the Oscar conversation by this time in over 20 years. Still, there's absolutely no way I'm going to a movie until the vast majority of people (including myself) are vaccinated and until new daily cases are a small enough number as to not pose any threat. I love seeing actresses on the big screen but not enough to risk long-term COVID effects. No, ma'am.
I've been 3 times since cinemas re-opened about 6 months ago in my Australian state There were only a few people there.
The issue is lack of product of interest. When the top 5 at Australian box office consists of 4 Australian and 1 Chinese films, it shows the usual supply is just not available.
I will get a vaccine when it is a requirement for something I want to do such as plane travel.
You tell me when. I'll give you a welcome back handie in the back row. ;)
Sucks that you have to wait for a vaccine Nathaniel. Just double check with any chronic conditions, t-cell counts, etc, you never know. Stay safe and thanks for TFE to get us through these trying times!
*Wise words R. Hudson*. Cinemas here have been open for months, but I only went once with a friend. Moderate crowd, mask worn and contact details left as buying the ticket. I have physical comfort issues so prefer home viewing these days in general, but I wouldn't hesitate going again if a friend wanted to go see something.
Since L.A. County has erred on the side of closure, I will be at a theater the second they open. I was rarely in a crowded theater anyway due to the fact that I’m usually not watching a blockbuster and not going Friday or Sat night. If I feel unsafe in the theater, I’ll simply leave.
As much as I do miss the movie theater going experience, I’m going to wait. The theaters here in San Diego re-opened a few months ago but then had to close again once our positive cases here rose again. The last time I saw a movie was at the drive-in, which I guess I’ll stick to if something really good is showing. Otherwise, I’ll see movies on VOD/streaming. I live my parents who are in that critical age group (and have already gotten their first vaccine dose), but still, I’d rather minimize my exposure as much as I can for their safety.
I have been indoors working in retail since June. At this point, I am not overly concerned about returning to the theaters. Since I'm in LA, the theaters have been closed since March so I will go as soon as they're open.
Thankfully cinemas are all open back here (barring an occasional snap lockdown) and they're doing relatively well given the general dearth of content. Australian titles are doing well - THE DRY (with Eric Bana) has become one of the highest-grossing local films of all time. PENGUIN BLOOM is doing well, too, as is something like HIGH GROUND which probably wouldn't have made as much as it did without audiences going to see it out of lack of choices (it's very good though, so I'm glad people are going). Even stuff like that WRONG TURN reboot has done well for itself at the box office considering it probnably would've been direct-to-streaming if distributors weren't eager for titles to release and hope they can make some money.
I haven't been to a movie since seeing Birds of Prey in early March of last year. They've been open here plenty of times since then, but the idea of risking my life to see a movie is asinine. Can you imagine your spouse having to tell your kids someday, "too bad that your dad didn't get to watch you grow up, but he just had to see that movie." Or possibly worse, you having to tell them "Sorry you had to grow up without a mom, but I just had to see that movie. How could I know I was going to bring COVID home to her?"
There are no precautions that make sense there. COVID is airborne. Distancing is fairly effective (not perfect, but fairly effective) for short time periods, they're enough to keep you from taking in major viral loads. Sitting in the same room with people for 2 hours though, while high powered air conditioning systems circulate the air all over the place? Its insane and the height of irresponsibility right now. Theaters should not be open. Period. I don't even care if I'm the only person in the theater, I don't know who is in the next one over, and how their air systems work.
Then again, I don't go anywhere. Since March of last year I've been inside a building that isn't my home a grand total of 8 times and 4 of those were extremely important doctors appointments and one was to pickup a prescription after my pharmacy had their drivethru system break down. The only people I've allowed in my home (outside of my wife and family) are my parents, twice, after they agreed to completely isolate for two weeks ahead of time.
Once I'm vaccinated, which based on where I am in line I expect to be by the end of March, I'll definitely start easing up a bit. I plan to visit with friends and family who are also vaccinated, go to stores not only for absolute emergencies but when I need to shop (albeit for mostly short trips and while still masking/distancing), but I still can't imagine going to theaters again right away. Once I'm vaccinated and a decent chunk of the population as a whole are vaccinated (like say, 50%) I'd probably be okay with going as things are now (most viewings being completely empty, serious distancing, etc) but I have a feeling by the time we get to that point theaters are going to be packed again with tons of people rushing back. If that happens, I doubt I visit one again before late summer or next fall. It will depend on both how many people are vaccinated and how the case counts are doing though.
Never :-(
In Spain we don't have enough vaccines or freedom of speech but the movie theatres are open!
My answer: As soon as they open here and there’s something worthy screening. I’m actually lucky enough to live within walking distance of a movie theater. So I can easily walk and not have to commute to get there. The theater is also rather large with high ceilings. When theaters open, they’re planning to have a 25 to 50% maximum capacity and they’re also banning eating so masks will stay on. In addition to that, when I go, I plan to go in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday so there will be very few people in the theater. So the risk is relatively low. I’ve been going to work since June and I live in a country where 99% of people wear masks and I don’t think I have been infected (I never got tested so I’m not 100% sure but I am fairly confident I haven’t gotten it).
I've discovered how enjoyable it is to watch films without people coughing/talking/chewing behind me. That probably won't change even when I no longer have to be conscientious of people who actually have to be out there to pay their rent or provide essential service.
Just enjoy those screeners and keep healthy Nathaniel. Don't put off appointments, bloods and the like because of a pandemic. We need you to live a lengthy life and provide us with joy. Xo
I'm vaccinated and am considering the return to NYC cinemas... I would go if they show something that is quality and that demands to be seen on a big screen. I would probably wear an N95, at least the first time, and try to attend the first screening of the day.
Honestly, the film out right now that I most wish I could have seen with others is Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar... but even if theaters had been open, there's no way that enough people would have been in the room to have that communal experience of an entire theater laughing at the same bits.
Movie theaters in Milwaukee have been open since fall. I have seen Minari, Tenet, Ma Rainey, Promising Young Woman, One Night in Miami, and Sound of Metal all on the big screen.