Bozeman Regal Cinemas to Reopen in April
Bozemanites might be able to return to the movies very, very soon.
Regal Cinemas has announced that 500 locations around the country will begin reopening on April 2nd, 2021, in time for the upcoming blockbuster Godzilla vs. Kong, which will simultaneously debut on HBO Max.
Unfortunately, Bozeman's location won't be included during the initial reopening on April 2nd, but the Regal Cinemas website shows "To Be Determined" for further theaters scheduled for reopening on April 9th and 16th.
In most cases, attendance will be capped at 25-50% and will take advantage of the theater chain's seating selection feature that's been in place for several years. Further safety precautions like employee health screenings, reduced concession lines, mandatory mask-wearing, and hand sanitizing stations will be present in each reopened theater.
As much as I love my COVID-upgraded home movie setup, I'm excited to get back to a movie theater and spend way too much money on a bucket of theater-quality popcorn. Netflix and other streamers have definitely filled the gap during those long months of isolation, but there's nothing like seeing a great movie with a group of friends.
In addition to the new Godzilla vs. Kong movie, the next big feature will be Mortal Kombat, which debuts in theaters and on HBO Max on April 16th.
For movie fans in the Bozeman area, options have been extremely limited. Starlite Drive-In, Pasture Drive-In, and drive-in theaters in both Belgrade and Livingston were popular, nostalgic, and necessary last summer, but the Empire Twin Theater in Livingston has been the only in-person option during the pandemic and is currently open for business.