AMC Theatres announced yesterday that they plan to re-0pen a vast majority of theaters on July 15, just a couple weeks before Tenet debuts and months after they closed as the COVID-19 pandemic first started sweeping the world. This was welcome news for movie fans and a sign that maybe, someday soon, normalcy may return.
AMC announced a lot of new rules and initiatives to go with their re-opening, including a new program to ensure safety and limited capacities in all of their auditoriums. One thing they did not announce was a requirement that all customers wear masks when visiting AMC locations. When asked by Variety why they wouldn’t mandate masks in the midst of a pandemic that is still very, very real, AMC CEO and president Adam Aaron said:
“We did not want to be drawn into a political controversy. We thought it might be counterproductive if we forced mask wearing on those people who believe strongly that it is not necessary. We think that the vast majority of AMC guests will be wearing masks. When I go to an AMC feature, I will certainly be wearing a mask and leading by example.”
That is a dumb, dumb thing to say and AMC later reversed their stance, releasing a statement today that says all AMC guests will have to wear masks upon entry to any location. If they don’t have a mask, AMC will allow them to buy one for $1.00. If they refuse to wear a mask, they will be denied admittance.
That’s good. That’s damn good. That should have been AMC’s position from the start but at least they came around pretty quickly. It is really sad and all-too-predictable that wearing a mask has somehow become “political.” Wearing a mask is not a political statement, it’s common sense that has been advised by countless medical professionals. In fact, it’s not wearing a mask that is a political statement because that has somehow become a sort of rallying cry from certain people supposedly fighting for their freedoms. It’s all so, so, so silly. And dangerous.
I am glad AMC will require masks. And I am glad they are taking safety seriously. Like everyone, I am desperate to go to the movies again but I don’t want to be harming others or prolonging this pandemic. AMC and other companies must do away with their fear of “being political” and must choose to do the right thing.