Cineworld made plans to reopen its Regal cinemas in the United States for the first time in six months. The phased process will begin with a limited number of cinemas opening for WB / Legendary’s Godzilla Vs Kong on April 2nd. Regal locations will open more widely on April 16, in time for New Line’s Mortal combat. Cineworld and Warner Bros. have also struck a multi-year deal that will have the second largest global exhibitor display the studio’s 2021 film titles and HBO Max in the United States from their theatrical release. Then, starting in 2022, Warner Bros. theatrical films will have a 45-day window of theatrical exclusivity on Cineworld’s Regal network.
With cinemas in New York and Los Angeles reopened, and Covid capacity restrictions expected to increase from 25% to 50% in the near future, Regal’s return is great news for the industry. Cineworld CEO Mooky Greidinger also said it was “a great moment for us – the US market represents 75% of our business – and it will soon be followed by all of our markets. We strongly believe in the theatrical experience, which just a year ago (2019) generated US $ 43 billion worldwide ”.
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As for the UK, Cineworld’s second largest market, Warner Bros and Cineworld have agreed to an exclusive window for the cinema 31 days before PVOD, and an extended window of 45 days for films that open to an agreed box office limit. . Cineworld expects to resume operations in the UK in May, in line with current government guidance.
Regarding the WB deal, Greidinger, who has been a staunch supporter of the theater window, said: “We are very happy with the deal with Warner Bros. This agreement shows the studio’s commitment to the theater business and we see this agreement as an important milestone in our 100-year relationship with Warner Bros. “
In October last year, Cineworld said it was temporarily closing 536 Regal cinemas in the United States and 127 Cineworld and Picturehouse in the United Kingdom. Later that month, she reopened 11 locations in New York that joined the seven Regal multiplexes that were still operating in California at the time. Then, in early November, he revamped those sites. And in late November, Cineworld secured significant additional liquidity to help secure its future, despite the continuing challenges created by the pandemic. The company will announce preliminary results for the entire year on Thursday.
Greidinger told Deadline last year that the reopening of Cineworld cinemas would depend on a “clear picture of the studios’ programming … It can’t be just a movie”. The chain chose not to reopen the Warner Bros. date and date Christmas release. Wonder Woman 1984, making today’s deal with the WB even more notable.
Greidinger also commented today: “We have long waited for this moment when we can welcome the public to our Regal cinemas and restore our essential role in the communities we serve. With the health and safety of our customers, employees and communities as our top priority, we continue to take all necessary precautions and comply with our CinemaSafe guidelines to confidently provide a safe and comfortable experience. With capacity restrictions expanding to 50% or more in most U.S. states, we will be able to operate profitably in our largest markets. We will also be closely monitoring developments in the UK and across Europe, as we plan to gradually reopen around the world in line with local government guidance. “