Regal Theaters Closes United Artists IMAX Amarillo Indefinately

Just as the world seemed like it was slowly getting back to a little normal COVID-19 cases are on the rise again and the movie industry with few films to show, Regal Cinemas are closing all 536 of its US theaters. This includes United Artists Imax on Cinema Drive on the West side.

Some say its James Bond’s Fault. The 25^th James Bond movie was pushed back to 2021 and apparently theater chains were counting on Bond to be released and bail theaters out of slumping ticket sales. Disney/Pixar’s Soul is still slated for theaters in November, and both Wonder Woman 1984 and Dune were expected in December, but it seems even more likely that they’d be delayed if these theaters are going dark.

The closure will affect 45,000 jobs, with 40,000 of those in the US. Right now there are no clear plans for a reopening timeline. It "might be in two months, it might even a little bit longer," CEO Mooky Greidinger told reporters.

Regal began operations in 1989 and grew to become the second-largest theater chain in the world. Regal theaters grew, especially in the suburbs, and were known to be relatively upscale compared to competitors, with cafes selling cappuccinos and cookies inside. By 1995, Regal was the ninth-largest movie theatre chain in the US.