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Original poster

Cineworld to close again

72 replies

CormoranStrike · 04/10/2020 08:02

According to the Times Cineworld is shutting all its UK and US cinemas until 2021, with all staff to be made redundant.

With all big cinema releases being delayed, and tiny numbers attending, I am not surprised, sadly. My own cineworld has been like a ghost town when I’ve visited this past month.

And I really do wonder if mothballing isn’t just delaying the inevitable.

I feel heart sorry for the arts industry.

OP posts:

emsiewill · 04/10/2020 20:06

Dh has been a manager at Cineworld in its various incarnations for 28 years. He said to me on Friday night (when the Bond postponement was announced) that he wouldn't be surprised if they went on furlough again. However, he had no idea about what the management were apparently discussing. We are now in the position of not knowing whether or nor he will have a job by the end or the week. He has already (at the start of lockdown, before furlough was announced) had to spend a day calling all his staff and telling them they didn't have a job. It almost broke him.

The company has behaved appallingly and this is all just a nightmare.

bluerad · 04/10/2020 20:41

@emsiewill so sorry. Let's hope the Govt steps in with some relief.

emsiewill · 04/10/2020 20:46

@bluerad thanks. I think it's unlikely they will do anything - they don't seem to care much about the arts sector 😕

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Events & celebrations Theatre

MarcelineMissouri · 04/10/2020 21:15

Cinema was NOT a dying industry. People like to trot this out on a regular basis but it is certainly not born out by the figures. Last year brought the highest grossing film of all time.

Some people may be satisfied watching films on their tv’s but for me it will never match the experience of watching films on the big screen. Switching your phone off, tuning out of life and immersing yourself completely in the film - it’s just not the same.

Cineworld are considering closing for around 6 months, until (hopefully) the big films start being released again. If America hadn’t cocked things up so badly then we likely wouldn’t be in this position. The fact that cinemas in LA and NY remain closed is a major factor in this. Certainly more films might have chanced it if these locations were open.

Cinemas have put so much time and money in to making themselves as safe as possible. In addition, for those worried about air conditioning, the majority of modern cinemas have roof top AC units that supply constant fresh air. It is not recirculating air.
As far as I am aware no outbreak has been traced back to a cinema in any country.

China’s box office is pretty much back to normal. Cinema remains a massively popular leisure activity. I am sure that that will be the case again worldwide once things are a bit more under control and the new films start appearing again.

user1471565182 · 04/10/2020 21:29

Im not claiming that revenues have been falling for a long time, Im saying we were already on the verge of a massive influx of streaming services and an age were people prefer good quality series to films, and then this has come along as well which could accelerate things. This is the start of it. Also remember how cinemas make their money and people's changing tastes/attitudes to food.

MarcelineMissouri · 04/10/2020 21:39

It’s perfectly possible to watch good quality streaming series and also watch films at the cinema. They’re really not the same thing. I’m sure this will accelerate some changes in the film world, particularly in relation to the theatrical window, but it is not the end. Realistically cinemas are a bit screwed until next year, but the film slate next year is huge and will hopefully encourage people to return.

EerilyDeleted · 04/10/2020 22:03

I agree, streaming at home is in no way comparable to going to the cinema. I know at work, back in the days when we could actually have lunch together, on any given Monday a few people would have been to the cinema and be discussing what they'd seen, whereas TV viewing seems to have become fragmented and its rare for anyone to have watched the same things over the weekend apart from live sports etc. The companies will adjust their food and drink offerings in the same way fast food chains are doing, coffee is a relatively recent and very welcome addition at my local cinema for example.

GetTheStartyParted · 05/10/2020 07:14

Well, its official. All closed from Thursday

Lemonylemony · 05/10/2020 07:19

BBC breaking news that this has now been confirmed by Cineworld this morning, closing from this Thursday.

DP has a day off today and is going to watch whatever is on, he’s gutted!

Honestly I think we can blame Trump, as with so many things, because things are being so poorly managed in the US, cinemas are still closed there, that’s why big releases are on hold, and that’s what’s done for Cineworld.

GachaBread · 05/10/2020 07:32

I just saw the news now. This is so sad. When this is all over what are we going to be left with. It does not bear thinking about.

Thoughts to the poster who's husband is a manager.

Marisishidinginmyattic · 05/10/2020 08:24

I’m surprised anyone has been going tbh. Our local cinema (not this brand but another big one) always looks clean at first glance but if you look down the side of seats, there’s weeks of crumb build up and grime in the bits they can’t get to easily. I wouldn’t trust them to be able to keep stuff COVID clean when they can’t get the basics right so I’ve not been to the cinema since it reopened. I don’t think it’s specific to our local one either. The seats just aren’t designed to be easy to clean beyond a quick wipe down.

nosswith · 05/10/2020 10:23

I'm saddened for those who will lose their jobs, and fear that some may never re-open.

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 05/10/2020 11:35

Know cineworld have been showing reruns and older films but only so long they can do that for. Especially with everything moved to next Spring. Sad for the staff and that I doubt all of them will reopen either.

ramblingsonthego · 05/10/2020 11:38

Ever since they reopened in July I was looking at films to take my 3.5 year old too (she has loved paw patrol and peppa at the cinema) all they had were films for older children (9+) and adults.

They should have put on more child friendly films over the summer holidays. Things like toy story or other disney/dreamworks films that are suitable for 3+ year olds and a lot more people would have gone.

I am very sad it has come to this though. I can see a lot being closed permanently and this is a great shame to the arts and the people who will be unemployed from it.

emsiewill · 05/10/2020 13:27

So we found out this morning from Dan Walker on BBC Breakfast that the rumours were true. Dh then had some communication from head office, but as far as I'm aware has still not had any clarification about what this "temporary" closure will actually mean for him and his staff. He is a good and kind man and is more worried about his staff than himself (he's got me to do that worrying for us both!).

My feeling is that they will tell people that their jobs are no longer available, and offer redundancy to those who want it. The choice will be that or wait until they open again and be re-employed, but on much worse terms and money - and Dh's 28 years of loyal service will count for nothing. I just wish they'd hurry up and let us know. It's the uncertainty that is a killer.

velourvoyageur · 05/10/2020 13:52

Emsie I’m so sorry. This practice of letting people find out about their potential job losses in the headlines, with all the uncertainty that goes with it, is so heartless.

Our local Picturehouse is closing and I’ll really miss it - went nearly every week since it reopened. Will definitely be there once it opens again.

MarcelineMissouri · 05/10/2020 15:55

Sorry @emsiewill it’s rubbish. I hope they are able to come up with something decent for staff. If they want to reopen quickly and successfully in a few months then they would do well to find a way to keep good general managers on their books as imagine starting from scratch trying to staff every cinema....

I see that Odeon have announced they’re moving a quarter of their sites to Fri-Sun only. DH’s chain is looking to do similar. I imagine Vue will also. I am actually surprised that Cineworld didn’t experiment with this first before taking this drastic decision.

Fizbosshoes · 05/10/2020 16:01

I feel really bad for the whole section of the arts.
Lots of people (on MN, not that Ive noticed many in RL) seem to be happy to triumphantly say "its the new normal" or berate people for feeling sad about missing a concert or festival, and completely ignore the thousands of people employed in these industries (and supporting industries)
And in a year or 2 time, (hopefully) when the threat isn't as great, won't people want to go out to shows, concerts, cinemas etc? I'm hoping it doesn't turn us all into hermits, long term.

Titsinknicks · 05/10/2020 22:42

I too am very sad about the arts. I go to lots of theatre and gigs and film festivals.

I went to an unlimited screening at Cineworld tonight and it was the busiest it's been since it reopened.

CitizenFame · 06/10/2020 00:13

@lynsey91

I think this is so sad. Me and DH love going to the cinema. You just cannot compare watching a film there to watching on your tv at home.

I also do not think it is expensive to go. A film normally lasts around 2 hours so I think it is good value. You do not have to buy food or drink. I find it easy enough to watch a film without having to eat at the same time

Cinemas make peanuts from ticket sales so if people aren’t buying food and drinks from there they’re not funding its staying open.

MarcelineMissouri · 06/10/2020 23:21

@emsiewill has your dh been given any more information yet?

We went to the cinema tonight to watch Bill and Ted, we were the only ones in the screen

emsiewill · 07/10/2020 00:24

@MarcelineMissouri, no, nothing yet. He thinks that because of the leak they were rushed into putting out a statement before they had everything finalized. I think he is too willing to think the best of the company; it's always been the same, they act in a way I think isn't great & he defends them.

Hopefully we will hear something soon...

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