Your handy guide to Denver movie theaters
What’s open, and what’s showing?
Here’s a question no one was asking at the start of the summer: What’s showing at the movies?
A few months ago, the response would have been “nothing, naturally.” And while the last couple of weeks haven’t exactly seen a record- breaking rush back to darkened theaters, the reopening of corporate chains at least gives us the option to see some movies the way they were intended.
Here’s what you need to know.
What’s playing?
The selection is more limited than usual, but exhibitors are almost exclusively showing would- be blockbusters and cheaper, fan- favorite classics, given that they want to reach the widest audience possible.
Director Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet,” another mind- bender in the tradition of “Inception,” is the biggie opening this week; preview screenings started before its official, Sept. 3 release. The long- suffering “The New Mutants,” an X- Men spin- off that languished on the shelf
prior to the pandemic, is getting surprisingly good reviews and audience scores.
“But I want something more down to earth,” you say? Try “Unhinged,” the Russell Crowestarring thriller about a homicidal maniac who stalks a young mother. “Too grim,” you say? “The Personal History of David Copperfield” recasts the Dickens classic as an ensemble dramedy, with the magnetic Dev Patel as the title character.
Some theaters, such as the Harkins chain, are running $ 5 movie specials and reviving recent releases like “Sonic the Hedgehog” in order to draw people back, along with tributes to the late Chadwick Boseman in the form of “Get On Up,” “42” and “21 Bridges.”
Theaters are also betting on upcoming titles such as “Wonder Woman 1984,” “Black Widow,” “No Time to Die” and “Soul” — although the events of the next few weeks will determine if they’re still open when those movies are ready.
Where can I see these movies?
• Aurora Movie Tavern, a location of Marcus Theatres, reopened Aug. 28 after surveying its diehard customers and finding that 98% of them felt comfortable returning to an auditorium. marcustheatres. com
• Harkins Arvada 18 and Harkins Northfield 18 also reopened Aug. 28 after a nearly six- month break. Given the number of
screens at its Front Range locations, the variety is a bit deeper than most theaters ( including subtitled films!). harkins. com
• Regal Cinemas, which owns United Artists theaters, has also reopened 11 of its Colorado locations, including its Denver Pavilion theaters, Colorado Mills and UA Colorado Center & IMAX theaters. See the full list, including locations in Grand Junction and Colorado Springs, at regmovies. com.
• AMC Theatres, with more than a dozen locations in Colorado, has also opened about 70% of its locations nationwide. Metro area locations now open include the AMC Flatiron Crossing 14, AMC Orchard 12, AMC Highlands Ranch 24, AMC Westminster Promenade 24, AMC Southlands 16 and AMC Arapahoe Crossing 16. amctheatres. com
• Cinemark theaters in Fort Collins and Pueblo began opening on Aug. 21, followed last week by locations in Aurora, Boulder, Greeley and Lakewood’s Belmar development.
• Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, the Texas- based company with aggressive Colorado expansion plans, is now showing movies again at its Sloan’s Lake location on West Colfax Avenue, although its Littleton and Westminster locations appear to still be shuttered. drafthouse. com/ denver
Notably absent from the list are the Landmark Theatres
properties of the Esquire ( now up for sale, but still leased by Landmark) and the Chez Artiste. While Landmark is screening films at its Mayan and Landmark Greenwood Village locations, the company has previously declined comment on when ( or if) its other metro- area locations will return. landmarktheatres. com/ denver
Iiat nind oh ptecautions ate involved?
Every exhibitor is touting its health and safety protocols, from deep- cleaned theaters and widely available hand sanitizer to no- contact ticket buying and new air filters. Deciding which one you feel most comfortable visiting will be the real challenge.
Generally, masks are required at all theaters unless you’re eating or drinking. But given that most of these theaters would love to sell you food and drinks, few people may be wearing masks at the start of any film.
Socially distanced lines and seats should be expected everywhere, given that all seats are now reserved, and that showtimes are being staggered to cut down on the number of people inside a building at any one time.
Beyond that, some theaters are allowing advance food and drink orders on their websites and mobile apps. But since none of these theaters appear to be mandating temperature checks, it’ll be up to guests to stay home if they feel sick.
Which is to say: Don’t be stupid and ruin it for everyone else, please.