As Hurricane Helene bears down on Florida, multiplex chains such as AMC, Cinemark, and Regal are responding by closing nearly 40 locations across the state. As the storm threatens to make landfall as a Category 4, with winds reaching 130 mph, theater owners are prioritizing safety over business. From Fort Myers in the south to Tallahassee up north, cinema doors are locked in anticipation of the severe weather. While a tentative reopening date is set for Friday, September 27, the path of the hurricane could lead to prolonged outages that complicate rescheduling efforts.
Impending Weather and Its Effects on Cinema Operations
The National Weather Service warns of hurricane-force winds, expected to extend through Florida’s Panhandle and into southern and central Georgia. Consequently, the threat of fallen trees and extensive power outages looms large, which creates a ripple effect for cinema operations. Over 225,000 homes and businesses across Florida encountered power disruptions, a crisis that could extend far beyond cinema closures. The flooding situation is worsening as well, with downtown Naples currently submerged, illustrating the severe impact of Helene on the community and its local businesses.
Regal’s Hollywood 20 in Naples serves as a poignant reminder of the potential long-term impacts of severe weather on cinemas. Having undergone a significant remodel following Hurricane Irma in 2017, this multiplex was once considered a flagship venue before being forced to close. As theaters face the dual challenge of potential damage and uncertain reopenings, one has to wonder how resilient the cinema industry can be in the face of natural disasters.
While it is often stated by box office analysts that theaters shuttered in Florida won’t significantly derail the overall national marketplace, attention shifts to the potential closures of cinemas in major cities such as Atlanta. Known as a top-ten market for box office revenue, if theaters must close there too, it could spell trouble for ticket sales over the weekend.
Anticipation grips not only homeowners and businesses but also moviegoers as they await the storm’s verdict. While some events in Atlanta are already being canceled, the fate of local theaters hangs in the balance. School closures are also being reported as a precautionary response to the storm, highlighting the far-reaching implications of Hurricane Helene. The lesson learned from past weather-related market dips, like the winter storm Jonas which disrupted operations in January 2016, shows that severe weather can significantly affect box office performance, with that weekend seeing a staggering 32% decline in ticket sales.
In the coming days, the industry’s hope will be for milder weather than predicted, as it could facilitate a swifter return to normalcy for cinemas—offering reassurance to both theater operators and patrons alike. As the storm’s developments unfold, the cinema industry sits on edge, showcasing its vulnerability to the elements in the ever-changing landscape of entertainment.