SALT LAKE CITY — Most Megaplex Theatres in Utah will reopen later this month after a three-month "intermission" brought on by COVID-19, the company announced Friday.
“The Intermission is finally over!” said Blake Andersen, Megaplex Theatres president, in a news release. “Our team is ready. Our buildings are ready. Our technology is ready, and we are thrilled to be welcoming guests back to Megaplex Theatres to enjoy great movies on the biggest screens in Utah.
The theater chain is still working with major studios to release new films on the big screen. After the June 18 opening date, Megaplex plans to screen older films as they wait for their arrangements with the studios to be finalized.
"For the days leading up to the release of new Hollywood feature film content, Megaplex will bring back some of Utah’s favorite films, including, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series, award-winning titles like Dunkirk and Just Mercy, as well as popular musicals like Bohemian Rhapsody and The Greatest Showman," the news release said.
Individual theater auditoriums will have limited capacities, and the company is taking several other precautions to ensure the safety of its guests and employees.
Those precautions include:
- Limiting capacity per each auditorium based on state and local guidelines
- Requiring observance by all guests and employees to CDC guidelines, including discouraging at-risk or high-risk individuals from attending
- Wellness checks for employees
- Gloves and masks required for all employees
- Strongly encouraging guests to wear masks, available as needed upon request
- Cleaning of high-contact surfaces and areas
- Sanitizing each occupied seat between show times
- Frequent and proper handwashing
- Social distancing procedures
- Expanded cashless payment options
- Scaling back or temporarily suspending selected menu items in the food court
- Concessions ordering via the Megaplex mobile app for in-theatre pick up
- Encouraging guests to practice appropriate health and safety measures