As NYC Movie Theaters Open, Don't Count On Concessions

Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that New York City movie theaters, which have been closed since March 2020, will be able to reopen at 25% capacity—or a maximum of 50 people—starting on March 5th. Although not every cinema or chain was ready, or even enthusiastic about opening immediately, many of them will be doing so this Friday. But since we're still in a pandemic, your moviegoing experience may be a bit less salty and buttery than you remember.

Some independent movie theaters are choosing to forgo concessions and snacks initially while the city is still under heightened coronavirus guidelines. That includes IFC Center, who announced today that they will have no concession sales, and no eating and drinking allowed in theaters (they will also have mandatory mask-wearing at all times). For some people, it may be a welcome change of pace not having to deal with the distracting crunch of popcorn all around them. But it also seems inevitable that plenty of people will just sneak in their own snacks and "fancy juice."

Here's where other major movie theaters and chains in NYC stand on snack sales as of Tuesday:

• AMC is reopening all 13 of their cinemas in New York City this week, and you should expect their concession stands to be open (including their contact-free drinks QR code).
• However, Regal Cinemas has not set a reopening date at this time. They said in a statement last week, "We are encouraged by the recent announcement regarding the opening of theatres in New York City. Big movies are made for the big screen and once LA opens, we are confident in the studios holding their release dates for new movies allowing us to reopen our theatres."
• Nitehawk Cinema Williamsburg and Nitehawk Cinema Prospect Park are reopening this Friday with concessions available. They say that moviegoers will receive an "individual order packet" after getting there "which includes a sanitized pen and order cards. We are only accepting written orders to limit verbal interactions." In addition, they're also giving free popcorn to anyone who flashes a health care worker ID.
• Angelika Film Center & Village East Cinema are reopening Friday as well, and they are encouraging people to place their food & drink orders on the Angelika Film Center mobile app.
• Film Forum isn't planning to reopen until April 2nd, and as of now, it will do so WITHOUT its concession stand open. IPIC in the Financial District is planning to reopen March 31st, and will have "menu items."
• Cinema Village in Greenwich Village, Alpine Cinema in Bay Ridge and Cinemart in Queens are hoping to reopen around the start of April as well.
• Cobble Hill Cinemas say they are hoping to reopen on March 19th for weekends only at the moment, and their concessions stand will be open as well. They are also planning on opening Williamsburg Cinemas starting March 12th on weekends.
• Metrograph says they are still evaluating all the "safety & logistical" details before announcing a reopening date.
• Film at Lincoln Center will also remain closed for now: "We continue to monitor the situation closely and will share further information about our plans to reopen when possible."
• Alamo Drafthouse and Quad Cinema have not set reopening dates yet.

But here's the question that is probably most heavily weighing on your mind right now, if you are the kind of pioneer inclined to venture to a cinema this weekend: what can you see? A few potential Oscar nominees, including Nomadland, Judas & The Black Messiah, The Father and Minari will be screening at Nitehawk and Angelika, while AMC will have a mix of family-friendly films (including Tom & Jerry, Raya & The Last Dragon), a couple of films released late in 2020 (News Of The World, Wonder Woman 1984) and some newer ones.

But most importantly, Tenet will finally be screening in NYC at five locations: AMC Lincoln Square, AMC Empire, AMC Kips Bay, Village East by Angelika in 70mm and Showcase Cinemas Jamaica (it'll also open on IMAX screens on March 12th at AMC Lincoln Square). Christopher Nolan's overly-convoluted spy thriller may not have been able to singlehandedly save the movie industry in the middle of the pandemic, but it would sure make a fun first film to see on a big screen again.