It seems as if the film and exhibition industries have entered the mid-pandemic stage. The initial shock of March transitioned into the summer of the drive-in, and we are now in a phase of two steps forward, and one step back as theatres re-opened for the release of Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, only to have some of them close down again after the grosses disappointed and studios got spooked and retreated on their plans for a holiday season filled with new releases.
Thankfully, improvement in 2021 is almost assured, as the widespread availability of an effective coronavirus vaccine seems assured and studios have a cornucopia of blockbusters waiting in the wings.
Variety takes the temperature of exhibitors at the onset of the holidays. Many are trying to stay relevant in their communities by offering private screenings rentals, curbside popcorn and other concessions, and pop-up drive-ins. Some exhibitors are even offering at-home screenings to their loyal movie-goers.
In parallel, NATO is enlisting the support of Hollywood luminaries such as Steven Spielberg and James Cameron to lobby Congress to provide the financial assistance necessary to see exhibitors through the winter of 2020-2021.
See also: Cineworld Considers CVA in Struggle to Survive (Financial Times) and Hollywood To Get Its Own Drive-In Movies At Egyptian Theatre Parking Lot (Deadline)