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

The release of “Tenet” and the subsequent reopening of American movie theaters did not provide 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.