Struggling Movie Theaters Brace for Blockbuster Drought, Pandemic Second Wave: ‘October Is Going to Be Ugly’

The release of Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” and the subsequent reopening of American movie theaters did not provide the cinema industry with the kind of rebound it had hoped.

Now, with a threadbare October release slate ahead and the prospect of a second wave of pandemic spread that could slow or roll back theater openings, some very difficult decisions await cinemas trying to manage operating costs.

“October is going to face noticeable regression,” Boxoffice analyst Shawn Robbins warned.

“The industry is facing a perfect storm of studios wary to release or market major films, and governments struggling to balance containing the virus, conveying consumer safety and preserving the economy.” Approximately 70% of theaters nationwide have reopened since the end of August, but a combination of a lack of several strong titles and fears of contracting Covid-19 has kept audiences away.

“Tenet” led the September box office charts this past month with just $41.2 million,

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