Safety guidelines around the country vary widely.
When it comes to theaters, the status of movie theaters depends on the state where they’re located, or even the city. Per CDC guidelines, fully-vaccinated individuals can start resuming pre-pandemic group activities without masking or social distancing, but must also adhere to state and regional guidelines.
The Center for Disease Control keeps a daily update of reported cases across the United States, which can further be broken down by state and county.
Though the COVID-19 vaccine has been rolling out, outbreaks continue across the country. Here’s what to know before deciding whether you want to see a movie in theaters. We encourage our readers to follow guidelines provided by the CDC, health authorities, and theaters to determine whether attendance is right for them. At Polygon, we will continue to cover weekly theatrical releases only to the extent in which our writers feel comfortable, but will not require anyone writing for us to attend a general screening at a movie theater in instances where studios were unable to provide home screening options. So with vaccination becoming more common, and films like Black Widow and F9 hitting theaters… is it finally safe to go?Īs with everything in life during uncertain times, the answer boils down to a personal choice made by an informed decision.
As COVID-19 continues to be a prevalent issue in many parts of the United States and around the world, the safety, practicality, and availability of movie theaters remains in question. But as the disease recirculates in waves, chains like AMC, Regal, and Cinemark have struggled, with some theaters reopening and then shuttering again, while others closed permanently. After the escalation of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the shutdown of businesses across America, and the delay of major tentpole releases previously scheduled throughout 2020, new movies are now opening exclusively in theaters again.