Listen to daily commentary from provincial news director Sarah Mills
Sarah Mills says parents are probably breathing a sigh of relief as kids head back to school after the Easter break.
Theatres are doing what they can to drag people from the couch, and movie lovers craving more than just popcorn will soon have something else they can sink their teeth into.
Landmark Cinemas has decided to give individuals the option of having a private screening at theatres in Saskatoon and Regina.
“You’re able to book an entire auditorium for a group of socially distanced guests to watch a new movie or watch an old movie,” Landmark CEO Bill Walker said.
Up to 20 people can be in the theatre, still spaced apart with reserved seats.
Having this personalized experience will cost $99 for a classic movie and $249 for a new release, Walker explained, and can be booked online.
“It still is a unique opportunity that in a non-pandemic environment is not something most people would have the opportunity to do,” he said.
Also helping to attract people from binging shows and movies at home is the fact Wonder Woman 1984 will be shown at Landmark, opening Christmas Day.
“It’s pretty exciting to have some new content to put on the screens,” said Walker.
In any normal year, there would be several new releases each week, with a number of blockbusters. Since COVID, new movies with theatrical releases have been comparatively non-existent in 2020.
A lack of new movies and regulations that limit the number of guests the chain can have in any one theatre are having an impact on overall operations, a situation not uncommon for many businesses. Walker said concession sales through food delivery services have helped pay some of the bills.
