#AMC movie theaters delay reopening — again

AMC, the world’s largest movie theater chain, is delaying its reopening yet again as Hollywood studios push back the release of their planned summer blockbusters.

The company said Thursday that it won’t resume ticket sales at its US theaters until “mid-to-late August” due to the fact that there are no new movies to show. AMC had been planning on a phased reopening kicking off July 15 with the hope of being fully operational by July 24, but pushed back the plan July 30 late last month.

The latest delay comes just days after Warner Bros. indefinitely postponed the release of its big-budget spy film, “Tenet,” which had been slated to hit theaters on August 12. Warner Bros. cited spikes in coronavirus cases across the US for the move.

“This new timing reflects currently expected release dates for much anticipated blockbusters like Warner Bros.’ ‘Tenet’ and Disney’s ‘Mulan,’ as well as release dates for several other new movies,” the company in a statement.

Disney’s “Mulan,” the next blockbuster on the calendar, is slated for the big screen on August 21. Disney is also expected to delay release of the live-action reboot of the 1998 animated classic, which could force theaters, shuttered since mid-March, to remain closed for the entirety of the summer blockbuster season.