Note: This article was initially written for the Quince Orchard High School’s newspaper The Prowler
With the spread of COVID-19, nearly every walk of life has been impacted in one way or another. From school closings around the world, uncertainty regarding the upcoming 2020 election and unemployment rates rising, it is unclear when this global pandemic will come to an end. COVID-19’s impact has also been stretched to something that many people view as ordinary and not a necessity: going to the movies. The experience of sitting back, eating popcorn and having a night out with friends at the movies was intended to be a fun, relaxing experience; nowadays, it is just not possible anymore. Although missing out on this experience may not be regarded as a life-or-death situation by many people, it could be for chains like AMC and Regal that depend on theater attendance for revenue. With movie theaters around the world not open for business, and no sure-fire conclusion on COVID-19, how is the film industry already being impacted, and what will the long-term repercussions be?
While these questions may not have clear and conclusive answers at the moment, some of the impacts on the film industry can already be seen. According to sky news, films previously scheduled for release starting on March 20 have been postponed to future release dates: A Quiet Place 2, Mulan, Black Widow, No Time to Die and The French Dispatch are just some of the titles that have already been delayed.
“I was really looking forward to Black Widow, so I’m a bit sad that it was delayed,” QO senior William Lamphier said. “It’s for good reason that movie theaters are closed, but I’m sad I won’t get to experience the movies right now.”
Films being delayed creates a domino effect as more and more movies are being pushed back. In order to not overcrowd release dates and uncertainty regarding when production on films will be possible again, certain films slated for 2021 like Thor: Love and Thunder and Indiana Jones 5 have already been pushed back to 2022. Big franchises like Marvel, where each new installment is dependent on the last, means every film in the franchise will be delayed and affected.
Furthermore, not only are movies originally slated for release being affected by COVID-19, but also movies that were already in production. According to deadline, highly anticipated films such as The Batman and Mission: Impossible 7 have had to pause filming until further notice, meaning these films will probably not make their originally intended release dates of June 25, 2021 and July 23, 2021, respectively.
Due to no source of income coming in for movie theaters, the big question remains of whether movie theater chains will be able to survive or not. As the digital age has taken over our world in recent years with streaming services providing entertainment without ever having to leave the house, could this mark the death of the movie-going experience for good?
“I definitely think theater attendance will be substantially lower even after they reopen,” QO senior Luke Clarke said. “But overall I don’t think this will be the death of theaters, it may just make them a much smaller market.”
“I would kill to go see a movie right now,” QO senior Noah Clarke said. “Obviously they have to stay closed, but I really miss the experience.” Clarke feels more optimistic about the future of movie theaters. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the theaters just get flooded when everything reopens; people are going to want to go out and do stuff,” Clarke said.
Even though the future of the film industry is uncertain, as is much at this time, there is something about the movie-going experience that is special for many people. For those who prefer the movie-going experience, hopefully the lights will dim and the projector will start rolling at least one more time.
Article by Matthew Minton of Quince Orchard High School
Graphic by Claire Yang of Winston Churchill High School