AMC Theatres reverses course — will now require face masks

AMC Theatres will reopen this summer with social distancing, cleaning, and cash-less requirements in place. The company originally didn’t require people to wear masks to avoid “political controversy” but reversed course on Friday.

CEO and president Adam Aron told Variety that theaters in 450 locations will reopen on July 15 and he expects locations to be “almost fully operational by the time Disney’s ‘Mulan’ debuts on July 24.”

The company’s “Safe & Clean” reopening plan will reduce theater seating capacity to 30% or less and there will be routine cleanings, including between movie screenings, throughout the day. Cash won’t be accepted at concession stands and drink and popcorn refills will be temporarily unavailable.

The original plan required that AMC employees wear masks but didn’t make it mandatory for guests unless it’s required by local municipalities. Instead, guests were just “recommended” to wear masks.

On Friday, the company said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter that guests will now be required to wear masks.

“This announcement prompted an intense and immediate outcry from our customers, and it is clear from this response that we did not go far enough on the usage of masks,” the statement read. “At AMC Theatres, we think it is absolutely crucial that we listen to our guests. Accordingly, and with the full support of our scientific advisors, we are reversing course and are changing our guest mask policy. As we reopen theatres, we now will require that all AMC guests nationwide wear masks as they enter and enjoy movies at our theatres.”

“We did not want to be drawn into a political controversy,” Aron told Variety. “We thought it might be counterproductive if we forced mask wearing on those people who believe strongly that it is not necessary. We think that the vast majority of AMC guests will be wearing masks.”

Aron doubled down on his mask comments, telling CNN, “...what we’re committed to at AMC is the cleanliness of our theaters and the safety of our guests. That’s our focus, and we want to keep the politics out of our theaters.”

Aron said he will wear a mask even though he didn’t originally require movie-goers to wear them.

“And I can tell you this, on July 15, when we start opening our theaters, I’m going to be going to a movie theater and on the very first day,” he continued. “I might go to a double feature, and you can be sure that I’ll be wearing a mask, leading by example.”

AMC Theatres shut down locations in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, Verge reported.

The CDC started recommending people wear face masks in public in early April.

The World Health Organization, which previously didn’t tell people to wear face masks in public, said last week that masks should be worn “in light of evolving evidence,” according to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO.

More than 2 million people have confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of June 19, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 118,000 people in the country have died from the virus.

This story was originally published June 19, 2020 at 6:59 AM with the headline "AMC Theatres reverses course — will now require face masks."