LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
New York cinemas reopen, brightening outlook for pandemic-strained theaters, film industry
NEW YORK — After growing cobwebs for nearly a year, movie theaters in New York City reopened Friday, returning film titles to Manhattan marquees that had for the last 12 months instead read messages like “Wear a mask” and “We’ll be back soon.”
Shortly after noon at the Angelika Film Center on Houston Street, Holly Stillman was already feeling emotional coming out of the first New York showing of Lee Isaac Chung’s tender family drama “Minari.” “My mask is drenched,” she said.
But she was equally overwhelmed by being back in a cinema. Though Stillman feared the experience would be too restrictive because of COVID-19 protocols, she instead found it euphoric.
“It was just you and the movie screen,” said Stillman. “It was wonderful to smell the popcorn as soon as I got into the theater — even though I don’t eat popcorn.”
Less than half of movie theaters are open nationwide, but reopenings are quickening. Theaters in many other areas reopened last summer around the release of Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet,” but that attempted comeback fizzled. Throughout, theaters remained shut in the five boroughs. For a year almost to the date, one of the world’s foremost movie capitals stayed dark.
For a theatrical business that has been punished by the pandemic, the resumption of moviegoing in New York is a crucial first step in revival.
“It’s a symbolic moment,” said
Michael Barker, co-president of the New York-based Sony Pictures Classics, which on Friday released the Oscar contenders “The Father” and “The Truffle Hunters” in Manhattan theaters. “It says that there is hope for the theatrical world to reactivate itself.”
For some moviegoers who consider the big screen the only way to see a movie, the long-in-coming day had almost religious significance.
“Moviegoing for me is like going to church,” said JM Vargas, who had tickets Friday to “Minari,”
“Raya and the Last Dragon” and “Chaos Walking.” “I’ve been waiting a year to go back to church.”
Cinemas in the city are currently operating at only 25% capacity, with a maximum of 50 customers per each auditorium. As in other places, mask wearing is mandatory, seats are blocked out and air filters have been upgraded.
New York, along with Los Angeles — where theaters are still closed — is one of the top movie markets. For smaller films, it’s a vital epicenter of word-of-mouth. For
blockbusters, it’s a lucrative necessity. Without New York or Los Angeles open, Hollywood studios have pushed most of their larger productions until more theaters are open, or they’ve steered films to streaming services.
But at least on Friday, New York’s cinema lobbies were, if not crowded, again bustling. Sold-out signs for the evening adorned box-office windows. Even a little star power returned. Liam Neeson was to stop by the AMC at Lincoln Square to introduce “The Marksman.”