Another movie theater is reopening. These Kansas City metro locations are on the list
AMC Theatres, the nation’s largest movie theater operator, announced Thursday it will soon reopen theaters across the country, including in the Kansas City area.
The return to the movies will come with certain guidelines and restrictions in place amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Most Kansas City area AMC theaters will reopen on Aug. 20 — Ward Parkway 14 and Barrywoods 24 in Kansas City, Independence Commons 20 in Independence, Studio 28 in Olathe and Town Center 20 in Leawood, the theater chain, which is based in Leawood, said on its website.
AMC’s Legends 14 in Kansas City, Kansas, and Prairiefire 17 in Overland Park reopen Aug. 27.
The reopenings will come as Hollywood releases its first major movie to the big screen since the coronavirus shut down theaters. “Unhinged,” a thriller starring Russell Crowe, is set to open Aug. 21.
The Kansas City area locations are part of the first wave of AMC theater reopenings. Additional theaters will be reopen based on when local and state guidelines allow, the company said. AMC shuttered more than 600 movie theaters across the country in March as COVID-19 spread.
As part of reopening celebrations, AMC said it would offer “movies in 2020 at 1920 prices.” On Aug. 20, all tickets will go for 15 cents a piece — the price of tickets when the Dubinsky Brothers started the chain in 1920 with a single screen in Kansas City.
The return to the movies will look a little different, according to the theater’s new guidelines.
Masks are required for all workers and guests, though they can be taken off when eating or drinking inside the theater. Guests are also asked to maintain the recommended six feet of social distance.
This social distancing extends to the auditoriums, which are currently capped at 30% capacity, with some even lower, depending on the city’s guidelines.
In traditional auditoriums, every other row of seats will be blocked off. Theaters with reclining chairs will keep every row open since the rows are more spaced out.
Regardless of the auditorium, all guests are asked to leave an empty chair between themselves and other moviegoers.
AMC has temporarily halted popcorn and drink refills.
Food menus are simplified in an effort to keep concession lines shorter. Cash is allowed at the theater entrance, but not at the concession stand.
Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes will be available around the building. Workers will have their temperature taken before starting their shift.
AMC is the latest to announce that it is opening area movie theaters. This week, Cinemark Merriam announced it will open its doors on Friday.
Cinemark said that as it reopens more of its theaters across the country this month, it will follow a list of safety precautions, including requiring masks, sanitizing busy areas every 30 minutes and allowing fewer people in auditoriums.
B&B Theatres, a national chain based in Liberty, has reopened a few locations, but like Cinemark, they are showing retro movies for now.
Screenland Armour in North Kansas City was the first movie theater to reopen in the metro. It is showing new “art house” films.
The Star’s Kevin Hardy contributed to this story.
This story was originally published August 13, 2020 at 8:04 AM.
