Australian cinemas to stay shut for months even if COVID restrictions ease
The show will not go on for Australia’s major cinemas even after the government unveils its plan to relax coronavirus restrictions. But health fears are not the problem.
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Australia’s major cinemas will not reopen for months, even after the government relaxes coronavirus restrictions.
In a blow to movie buffs, the body representing major chains including Village Roadshow, Hoyts, Event and Reading cinemas has confirmed it “will not be possible to reopen” until big Hollywood studios release the films they have postponed.
Major films such as Wonder Woman 1984, Black Widow and the next James Bond movie, No Time To Die, have been pushed back until August and November due to COVID-19 shutdowns.
In a statement after a board meeting this week, the National Association of Cinema Operators (NACO) said it was “enthusiastic about the prospect of reopening” and hoped to do so by July.
“It will not be possible to reopen until the major Hollywood studios confirm the cinema releases that they have postponed or redated are available for the big screen, theatrical global release that they were intended for,” the statement read.
“NACO acknowledges that studios will not release new titles until the majority of cinemas are opened around the world.”
Odeon Star owner Terry Proud did not expect his Semaphore cinemas to open “for at least another five months, more for the fact we won’t have any products coming in”.
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He said Australian cinemas were “at the mercy” of big Hollywood studios.
Palace Nova Cinemas state manager Karen Karpinski, pictured, said Adelaide’s two Palace Nova cinemas – in the East End and at Prospect – intended to re-open when government restrictions lifted.
“Palace is lucky because we do show a lot of alternate content,” Ms Karpinski said.
“We’re known for showing the film festivals so it might be reaching out and getting the best of that.”
Family-owned SA chain Wallis Cinemas was hopeful it could reopen by the school holidays, but noted it would depend on access to films and restrictions on capacity.
A spokeswoman for Federal Arts Minister Paul Fletcher said the decision to reopen would ultimately be down to cinemas, subject to government restrictions.
“This obviously includes which movies they show and where they source these movies from,” she said.
