Corona Virus Effect On Theatres In The USA

[Marcel Birgelen]

It's still Disney, so if they actually get around into executing this, you never know what kind of terms they come up with. Still, given the situation, maybe they'll be reasonable for once? I mean, to quote former Disney executive Michael Eisner: "What if the engine of an airplane falls out in full flight? What are the options? Anything is possible today..."

I guess we've got a multi engine stall in full flight right now...

Of course I was being facetious about the whole earthquake, volcano thing. But you have to admit it would be better for the movie industry to die an instant fiery incineration than to be slowly starved to death.

It's probably a personal thing, but I think a little bit of cynicism is a good way to deal with an otherwise pretty dire situation.

For something as complex as the movie industry, I think "crash and burn" has never been a realistic option, all "end-case-scenarios" would probably feature a long-winded decline into oblivion. But, the movie industry has gone south before. It's possibly as resilient as cockroaches, you can greatly diminish the population, but they'll never go entirely extinct, unless the entire planet gets utterly and completely atomized in an instant. It will even survive this whole pandemic in one form or another...

[Martin McCaffery]

Given Alabama and Montgomery are currently virus hotspots, this is, at best, wishful thinking.
(as far as I know, they do not have DCI, so these are all Blu Ray screenings)

Montgomery Advertiser
July 28, 2020


It's movie time! Montgomery Performing Arts Centre offering films, food and more
Shannon Heupel
Montgomery Advertiser

The River Region's movie theater experience is making a comeback this weekend at the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre.

On Monday, MPAC announced it was launching a movie series starting Friday that goes through the end of August. The timing is right, since the touring music industry that usually fills MPAC's stage is currently out of commission because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Along with that, MPAC general manager Allen Sanders said he wanted to give people a safe outing experience. It's a chance to get out of the house and go watch a movie.

"Everybody has been kind of locked up for quite a few months," said Sanders.

MPAC kicks the series off Friday at 7:30 p.m. with "Just Mercy," a 2019 film shot in Montgomery. Based on Equal Justice Initiative founder and attorney Bryan Stevenson's memoir, it stars Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson.

On Saturday at 8 p.m. they'll show this year's long-awaited "Bad Boys" sequel "Bad Boys for Life," starring Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and Vanessa Hudgens.

Sunday, MPAC has two films planned: "O Brother Where Art Thou?" at 3 p.m., and "Just Mercy" at 6:30 p.m.

There will be plenty of room to social distance in the theater, which has 1,800 seats. The movies will allow less than a third of that to be in attendance.

"We can put 516 people in, which is a lot," Sanders said. "All the COVID-19 protocols and social distancing is in place."

Protocols include temperature checks for guests as part of the security walk through.

"We just want to make sure everybody is safe," Sanders said.


Other movie selections for August include classics like "Casablanca" and "The Wizard of Oz," and thrillers like "Jaws" and "Jaws 2." There are cartoons for kids ("Trolls World Tour," "Frozen 2," and "Onward"), "Sonic the Hedgehog," two Godzilla flicks, and a couple of classic Michael Keaton "Batman" films. MPAC has even thrown in the 1977 Burt Reynolds comedy classic "Smokey and the Bandit."

"There's something there for everybody," Sanders said.

Ticket packages start at $10 each, which includes a box of popcorn and a drink.

"That's a pretty good deal," Sanders said.

Larger packages include other food offerings (chips, hamburgers, hotdogs).

But it goes beyond snacks. Some packages include valet parking. There are a couple of packages for groups of four.


For those who really want to make a night of it, there's even a $190 VIP package for two that includes all the movie's offerings, plus a one night stay at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa at the Convention Center and breakfast for two.

Tickets are only available through the MPAC box office. Reach them by phone at 334-481-5100.

Depending on ongoing virus conditions and how August goes, the MPAC movies could continue into September. Sanders said he's already starting to look at movies for then.

"You can watch it at home and all that, and I get it. And you probably have. Me too," Sanders said. "But it's nothing like getting out of the house and watching something on the big screen."

Movie schedule

Friday - Just Mercy - 7:30 p.m.

Saturday - Bad Boys for Life - 8 p.m.

Sunday - O Brother Where Art Thou? - 3 p.m., and Just Mercy - 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 5 - Trolls World Tour - 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Aug. 9 - Casablanca - 3 p.m.

Aug. 12 - Frozen 2 - 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Aug. 14 - Jaws 1 - 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 15 - Jaws 1 4:30 p.m. and Jaws 2 8 p.m.

Aug. 16 - Wizard of Oz 3 p.m., and Jaws 2 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 19 - Onward - 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Aug. 21 - Godzilla 2014 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 22 - Godzilla 2014 4:30 p.m., and Godzilla King of the Monsters 8 p.m.

Aug. 23 - Tombstone 3 p.m., and Godzilla King of the Monsters 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 26 - Sonic the Hedgehog - 10 a.m and 1 p.m.

Aug. 28 - Batman 1989 - 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 29 - Batman 1989 4:30 p.m., and Batman Returns 8 p.m.

Aug. 30 - Smokey and the Bandit 3 p.m., and Batman Returns 6:30 p.m.

Ticket options

$10 - Show, popcorn and drink

$15 - Show, popcorn, drink, chips, burger or hotdog

$20 - Show, popcorn, drink, plus valet parking

$25 - Show, popcorn, drink, chips, burger or hotdog plus valet parking


$45 - Family 4 pack: 4 for show, 4 popcorns, 4 drinks, plus valet parking

$65 - Family 4 pack with food: 4 for show, 4 popcorns, 4 drinks, 4 chips, 4 choice of burgers or hotdogs, plus valet parking

$190 - VIP for 2: 2 movie, 2 burger or hotdog, plus valet parking, 1 night stay at hotel and 2 breakfasts

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel at sheupel@gannett.com.