Regal Manahawkin Joins NJ Movie Theaters Reopening Friday

MANAHAWKIN, NJ — After nearly six months of movie-theater closures, you'll be able to see a film in Regal Manahawkin as early as Friday morning.

Regal will show four different flicks Friday: "Tenet," "The New Mutants," "The Personal History of David Copperfield" and "Unhinged."

Governor Phil Murphy closed "non-essential" businesses, including movie theaters, in mid-March to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Movie theaters have been among the last businesses to be able to reopen in New Jersey as state officials have gradually lifted restrictions.

Regal, which owns hundreds of movie theaters around the nation, joined a lawsuit with several other chains against state officials in an attempt to reopen their businesses. The plaintiffs said in their lawsuit that while churches and other venues have been permitted to reopen to the public was a violation of the businesses' right to due process and equal protection.

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U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti denied their request in July. But he ruled that Murphy and state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli must show why movie theaters must remain closed or why they must be treated differently from other venues. Read more: NJ Movie Theaters Lose Bid To Reopen Amid Coronavirus

But Murphy announced earlier this week that movie theaters could reopen Friday at limited capacity. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Movie Theaters To Resume Amid Coronavirus Crisis

Although movie industries have faced disruption during the pandemic, drive-in movies experienced a resurgence.

Several towns around Ocean County and New Jersey hosted drive-in movie nights. The Lighthouse International Film Festival on Long Beach Island converted to a drive-in format for this year.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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