The Return to Movies

I know that across the globe this pandemic looks different. If you're lucky enough to be in a region where protocols are being slowly relaxed, movie theatres may have opened up.

Like all industries, film (including cinemas) has not been immune to COVID-19. Movie productions were halted, studio filming schedules were altered, and cinemas went dark. When it looked like there might be some hope for theatres to re-open, a discussion mounted as to whether it would be safe and many in the medical community said no.

In Ontario where I currently reside, movie theatres didn't open once they were permitted. Instead they waited a few weeks working with the provincial government and officially re-opened at the end of July.

I am an avid cinema goer but I held off revisiting my happy place wanting to see how the first brave movie fans fared. Numbers didn't spike and I had heard from others that it was pretty safe so I felt okay about watching 'Tenet' (2020) opening weekend.

So how was it?

Honestly, not bad at all.

Here's a summary of the protocols in place at my local theatre:

• Tickets: I purchased mine online ahead of time, which I recommend to everyone. I showed my phone to the employee at the front and that was it (automated ticket machines were available for ticket purchase). Seating is assigned (as is the norm at my local theatre) and you are only able to seat a maximum of two people next to each other. I attempted to book an "open" seat next to a person who purchased one seat and was fortunately unable to. So if you, like me, enjoy going to the theatre alone, do not fear - no random stranger will sit next to you.
  
  (An interesting note here is the Toronto Film Festival will be selling single seats as well as pairs. If single seats sell out, you are then forced to purchase a pair.)
  
  
• Concessions: so I actually don't purchase concessions, even at a young age I just never snacked much at the cinema. However from what I saw, all the same precautions that are taken at the grocery store have been applied. Popcorn was pre-bagged behind a display case (which was actually already the case pre-COVID) and an employee specifically assigned to the popcorn was handing it to customers from behind a plastic partition.
  
  
• Seating: only alternate rows were occupied so you had no one sitting in front of you or behind you. There were four seats in between each pair of ticketed seats, including a four seat buffer from the aisle. It did not feel at all squishy and was quite comfortable.
  
  
• Masks: here's where I was let down. The official rule at my local theatre was to wear your mask in the building (as is mandated across the province), but inside the auditorium, masks were not required. There was a suggestion that you wear your mask after you have finished eating. I personally kept my mask on the whole time but I noticed at the beginning of the movie that very few people had their masks on. Given that one of the biggest issues with going to the movies is the recirculated air in an enclosed space, this rule may need to be revisited although it would be incredibly difficult to enforce.

Before our movie started, a 'welcome back' message from the theatre chain's CEO appeared wherein he described the cleaning protocols in place, right down to the type of sanitizer they were using. I am sure that the theatre is cleaning their facilities properly but I still brought a sanitizer wipe with me (and a small spray bottle of sanitizer just in case) and gave my seat a quick clear down. Peace of mind and all.

My overall experience was positive. I do wish more people wore their masks for longer in the auditorium (although to be fair, I don't know that they weren't - once the lights went down it was hard to tell), but in general, I felt comfortable

I can completely understand people not wanting to go back to the movies, especially those who were not big movie goers in the first place. And given our current circumstances, I cannot in good conscience "recommend" anyone to. It's all up to personal comfort level, priorities, and circumstances. So if you do go, please be safe!