Movie buffs can rejoice as movie theaters begin to reopen for the first time since COVID-19 forced widespread shutdowns across the U.S. in March.
Regal Cinemas is among the major chains opening their doors in select locations starting today.
Andy Stone, regional director of Regal, said the company has been gearing up for its return and has added a few enhancements to take the viewing experience to the next level.
"Our philosophy is about the best place to watch a movie. So that means bringing everything that we can, that's out on the market, to really offer that to the public," Stone told Cheddar.
Some of those enhancements include a 4DX viewing theater that imitates environmental surroundings by incorporating moving seats and elements like simulated rain and wind.
While theaters received tech upgrades to heighten the viewing experience, Regal also has implemented a number of safety measures in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic that goes beyond social distancing and mask enforcement.
"We've also used technology. We've introduced a concession app. So for individuals who aren't confident in going up to that concession stand to make their order, they're now able to do so on an app from their phone when they arrive at the cinema," Stone said.
While 200 theaters are open today nationwide, and an additional 100 are set to open next week, locations in New York City remain closed as Gov. Andrew Cuomo has deemed the movie business as non-essential. Stone disputed that and said the theater experience is important to human socialization.
"We've had enough of being locked up in our homes watching movies on handheld devices [and] TVs," he said. "It's all about going out, socializing, and sharing an experience."
For Regal Cinemas, the ability to open its doors and welcome not only customers but its valued workers are essential to the continued growth and success of the chain, Stone said. With New York City locations still shuttered, he noted many workers there will remain on furlough.
"So many of us started off as 16-year-olds popping corn behind a concession stand and [have] grown through the business and developed. Individuals are missing out on that," he explained.
A big-screen adaptation of the anime “Chainsaw Man” has topped the North American box office, beating a Springsteen biopic and “Black Phone 2.” The movie earned $17.25 million in the U.S. and Canada this weekend. “Black Phone 2” fell to second place with $13 million. Two new releases, the rom-com “Regretting You” and “Springsteen — Deliver Me From Nowhere,” earned $12.85 million and $9.1 million, respectively. “Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc” is based on the manga series about a demon hunter. It's another win for Sony-owned Crunchyroll, which also released a “Demon Slayer” film last month that debuted to a record $70 million.
The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted briefly due to a staffing shortage at a Southern California air traffic facility. The FAA issued a temporary ground stop at one of the world’s busiest airports on Sunday morning soon after U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted that travelers would see more flights delayed as the nation’s air traffic controllers work without pay during the federal government shutdown. The hold on planes taking off for LAX lasted an hour and 45 minutes and didn't appear to cause continued problems. The FAA said staffing shortages also delayed planes headed to Washington, Chicago and Newark, New Jersey on Sunday.
Boeing workers at three Midwest plants where military aircraft and weapons are developed have voted to reject the company’s latest contract offer and to continue a strike that started almost three months ago. The strike by about 3,200 machinists at the plants in the Missouri cities of St. Louis and St. Charles, and in Mascoutah, Illinois, is smaller in scale than a walkout last year by 33,000 Boeing workers who assemble commercial jetliners. The president of the International Association of Machinists says Sunday's outcome shows Boeing hasn't adequately addressed wages and retirement benefits. Boeing says Sunday's vote was close with 51% of union members opposing the revised offer.
