Regal Cinemas Will Reopen at Destiny USA This Friday

Movie theaters in most parts of New York State are reopening later this week, including at Destiny USA in Syracuse.

Regal Cinemas announced that it would reopen eleven theaters throughout the state on October 23. Among those locations opening are at Destiny USA in Syracuse, Eastview Mall in Victor, Colonie Center and Crossgates in Albany, and Walden Galleria in Buffalo.

Just earlier this month, Regal Cinemas' owner Cineworld announced it was “temporarily suspending operations at all of its 536 Regal theatres in the U.S.," as well as at more than 100 theaters in the U.K.

Governor Cuomo announced on Saturday that movie theaters in all parts of the state outside New York City would be able to reopen starting October 23, as long as the county does not have any cluster zones and has a COVID-19 positivity rate below 2 percent for a period of 14 days.

Theaters in most parts of the United States and certainly in New York have remained closed since March, so this presents an opportunity for recovery within the industry.

"We are grateful to finally have initial guidelines from the state," Cineworld CEO Mooky Greidinger said in a press release from Destiny USA Marketing on Wednesday. "With the implementation of robust health and safety measures as a part of our commitment to the CinemaSafe protocols, our New York theatres and staff are thoroughly prepared for a safe and sustainable reopening. After seven months, we are thrilled to welcome back our beloved staff and customers. We are sure that the next step will be opening of cinemas in New York City, which is still critical for the recovery of the industry.”

When they reopen, theaters in New York will have to follow new guidelines from the state, including implementing assigned seating and capping audiences at 25 percent capacity, with a maximum of 50 guests per theater. Masks will be required except when seated and eating and theaters must also meet enhanced air filtration, ventilation, and purification standards.

According to a press release from Destiny USA, Regal will show new 2020 movies like Tenet, The New Mutants, The War with Grandpa, The Empty Man, Honest Thief, 2 Hearts, Unhinged and more when theaters reopen on Friday. The theater company will also be showing seasonal movies like Monsters, Inc. and The Addams Family (2019) at a discounted price of $5 per ticket.