This morning, Sunday 4 October 2020, reports in The Sunday Times and Variety revealed that Cineworld plans to close all 128 of its cinemas across the UK and Ireland, and to shut all 543 Regal-branded theatres in the United States. The closures are expected to begin this week and will have an immediate impact on thousands of employees.
The front page of tomorrow’s Times is announcing that Cineworld is planning to close all of its cinemas across the country as soon as this week putting all of our jobs at immediate risk. There has been no consultation with staff whatsoever.
— Cineworld Action Group (@cineactiongroup) October 3, 2020
The announcement follows last-minute changes across the film industry, including the decision to delay the new James Bond film No Time To Die from November 2020 to April 2021. Several major studios moved their tentpole releases out of 2020 after the pandemic disrupted theatrical distribution; Disney postponed films such as Black Widow, and other high-profile releases have been reshuffled across the calendar. With those delays, the theatrical slate for late 2020 is thin: Pixar’s Soul remains scheduled for late November but may shift platforms, while Warner Bros. still plans Dune and Wonder Woman 1984 for later in the year.
The closures are expected to put 5,500 people out work in the UK & Ireland.
Cineworld, one of the UK and Ireland’s leading cinema chains and the owner of the Picturehouse group, has reportedly not formally notified staff of the planned shutdowns. The company had reopened its UK sites on 31 July after a four-month pandemic closure and reopened Regal theatres in the US at the end of August. Those reopenings were timed around Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, which became 2020’s only major blockbuster release so far. Tenet has grossed approximately $284.9 million worldwide against a budget near $200 million, a performance far below typical blockbuster expectations and impacted particularly by ongoing regional lockdowns in major US markets such as New York and Los Angeles.
Tenet was widely regarded as a test case for whether audiences would return to cinemas during the pandemic. Its modest returns highlighted persistent audience caution and the continued fragility of theatrical business models in 2020. For exhibitors, the financial strain from reduced box office receipts and limited new releases has been severe.
In the UK, public-health measures such as the government’s “Rule of Six” and a recent rise in COVID-19 cases have restricted social and leisure activities. The UK furlough scheme, introduced in March to protect jobs during lockdown, is due to end on 31 October 2020. Many in the arts and entertainment sectors have sought financial support, but appeals have often been rejected or unresolved. There is concern that any shutdowns labelled “voluntary” by an employer could complicate eligibility for government support or furlough protections for affected staff.
The Cineworld Action Group, formed in March by staff and supporters, is calling for clarity and immediate consultation regarding employees’ futures. Earlier in the pandemic, the group campaigned successfully against a proposed programme of mass redundancies and pay reductions, which Cineworld later revised after public pressure and the introduction of the furlough scheme. That prior dispute involved proposals to retain staff on substantially reduced pay or to lay off those with shorter service; staff will be watching closely to see how Cineworld handles this latest closure announcement.
Industry observers describe today’s news as one of the most significant developments for film exhibition since the global lockdown began in March. Beyond the direct impact on Cineworld’s workforce on both sides of the Atlantic, the closures are being read as a broader warning for the cinema sector. They underscore how dependent exhibitors are on a steady flow of major releases and how fragile that model has become in the face of pandemic-related restrictions and audience reticence.
This story is ongoing. For accurate and timely information, follow official statements from Cineworld, updates from employee groups, and reporting from established news outlets. The evolving situation will be crucial for cinema workers, film distributors and audiences who value the theatrical experience.