After several delays, AMC is reopening theaters next week. To celebrate the reopening of more than 100 theaters, AMC is offering prices straight from the 1920s. Moviegoers can watch a movie and spend just 15 cents for a ticket on August 20.
Why 15 cents? The number is a temporary return to AMC’s 1920 ticket prices, a tribute to the chain’s founding.
The chain closed theaters across the US in March as the coronavirus pandemic spread. AMC plans to open more theaters in the coming weeks, expecting two-thirds of its US locations to open for new releases like The New Mutants and Tenet at the end of the month.
What Does Reopening Look Like?
From restaurants to schools, reopenings have been under heavy scrutiny as many states are still experiencing rises in coronavirus cases. Many are wondering just how safe going to the movies amid the pandemic is.
In a statement released this week, AMC detailed their new health and sanitation program, which is called AMC Safe & Clean:
AMC Safe & Clean components include significant reductions in the maximum tickets available for each showtime and seat blocking in reserved seating auditoriums to allow for appropriate social distancing between parties, enhanced cleaning procedures that include extra time between showtimes to allow for a full, thorough cleaning and nightly disinfecting utilizing electrostatic sprayers, use of high tech HEPA vacuums, upgraded air filtration efforts including the use of MERV 13 filters wherever possible, new guest and associate safety protocols that include mandatory mask wearing by all guests and associates, hand sanitizing stations throughout the theatre, and the availability to guests of disinfectant wipes
AMC Theaters
The discounts aren’t limited to just August 20. Due to a lack of new releases, AMC is re-releasing older films for audiences: Black Panther, The Empire Strikes Back, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, and Grease. The tickets for these movies will cost $5.
In addition to discounted movie tickets, select concessions food and drinks will be sold at a lower price. Through the end of October, items like popcorn, drinks, and KidPacks will be available for $5.
AMC’s CEO Adam Aron released a statement this week. “We are thrilled to once again open our doors to American moviegoers who are looking for an opportunity to get out of their houses and apartments and escape into the magic of the movies.”