AMC Theatres Aims For July Opening With New Health Rules

Despite reporting a devastating loss during the first quarter of 2020, AMC Theatres continues chugging along. The chain said Tuesday it expects to reopen 97-98 percent of its theaters worldwide by mid-July. The announcement came on the same earnings call where a $2.2 billion loss was reported as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, which shut down movie theaters around the world.

AMC painted a grim picture in its 8-K filing, released last week before its earnings call with analysts Tuesday. The chain expressed "substantial doubt" about its future and indicated it might need to rely on its cash balance — $718.3 million as of April — to carry its operations through the summer or later.

CEO Adam Aron said the situation is "fluid," but the company is "confident we are taking the necessary steps on a broad array of fronts to ensure AMC’s future success as we navigate these turbulent and uncertain times."

Reopening would come as major blockbusters like Christopher Nolan's "Tenet" and Disney's "Mulan" are slated for release. Aron said conversations with studios about both movies hitting their July release dates have been "reassuring," the Associated Press reported.

The movie-going experience will look vastly different when theaters return. AMC anticipates enacting safety measures like filling theaters to 25-50 percent capacity, blocking out seats and having customers order concessions from an app. The chain also plans to regularly clean theaters after showings.

But the question remains whether people feel safe returning to theaters, as health experts have cautioned against large indoor gatherings. AMC has dipped its toe in the water by reopening 10 theaters in Europe; Aron said three theaters in Norway sold 83 percent of available tickets.

AMC has theaters in Boston, Somerville, Dorchester, Framingham, Tyngsboro, Burlington, Braintree, North Dartmouth, Danvers and Methuen.