Cinemark Holdings is the latest major movie theater chain to adjust its phased reopening dates after the delay in the releases of Mulan and Tenet.
Cinemark said it will start reopening most of its circuit July 24, with additional theaters also relaunching in the following weeks amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Also Tuesday, the movie theater chain reversed its face mask policy and said some form of protective face covering must be worn by patrons in its venues.
“For the safety of our guests, employees and communities, Cinemark will require that face masks be worn throughout our theatres. Masks may be removed when eating and drinking inside the auditorium,” the company said on its website as part of an updated safety protocols policy. Previously, Cinemark encouraged guests to wear a face mask in its theaters.
The country’s third-largest exhibitor as part of a staggered reopening strategy opened a handful of Dallas locations June 19, while most of its cinemas were to have opened for business between July 3 and July 17.
The latest dates move comes after the release of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet was pushed back — for the second time — and is currently set for Aug. 12. In the wake Tenet’s shift, Disney’s Mulan, which was due for launch July 24, is now being held until Aug. 21.
Elsewhere, indie company Solstice Studios has moved the thriller Unhinged from July 10 to July 31, and Sony has shifted The Broken Hearts Gallery release date again, this time from July 17 to Aug. 7.
“Our multi-phased reopening plan was thoughtfully designed with multiple contingencies in place that enable us to efficiently adapt to today’s ever-changing environment,” Cinemark CEO Mark Zoradi said in a statement Tuesday.
