Industry 2020: YEAR IN REVIEW THE 10 MOST IMPORTANT MOMENTS FOR DOMESTIC EXHIBITION IN 2020 A global pandemic plunged the global exhibition business into an existential crisis. Our look back on the 10 pivotal moments of a historic year. BY DANIEL LORIA 48-61_Top-10-Moments.indd 48 15/02/<strong>2021</strong> 15:19
EXHIBITORS HAVE THEIR SAY What’s your biggest takeaway from 2020? 1 THE SHUTDOWN March Sony’s Bad Boys for Life hit screens in North America on January 17, finishing its opening weekend at the box office with a successful $62.5 million. The first blockbuster of the year signaled a positive start for the industry; while analysts expected a dip in box office sales in 2020, there was widespread expectation the market would hit $11 billion for the sixth consecutive year. A day after the film’s opening weekend, January 20, the United States officially announced its first positive case of Covid-19. There was no model by which to adequately gauge the potential impact of the virus on the cinema industry. Movie theaters had weathered epidemics before, most recently in 2009 with H1N1, commonly known as the Swine Flu, and even the direst of forecasts failed to predict the crisis that would soon unfold. Within days of the first confirmed infection in the U.S., the Chinese film industry took the drastic step of closing all its cinemas ahead of its Lunar New Year celebration—one of the busiest moviegoing periods of the year. As the number of cases started to grow, business around the world began to feel the economic impact of the virus. On March 11 the National Association of Theatre Owners canceled its annual convention, CinemaCon, hours after it had come to light that actors Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson had contracted the virus while on set in Australia. By the following week, every major circuit in the North American market voluntarily closed, citing the public health risk of the pandemic. While some cinemas in the United States reopened as early as May, most major circuits remained closed until late August—after five months of working with health groups and local authorities to determine reopening guidelines. “People need and crave community experiences more than ever, and cinema is top of the priority list. The movie industry was built upon the dream of providing transformative experiences—big, immersive, visual stories that stir our senses and emotions. The pandemic, and the craziness of the past months, will pass. Alamo Drafthouse will be at the front, leading the charge to evolve the cinematic experience and reemerge better than ever.” Shelli Taylor CEO Alamo Drafthouse Cinema “My biggest takeaway is that cinemas are going to survive and thrive due to the strong commitment of everyone involved with our industry. I’ve been so impressed watching operators and vendors who are fierce competitors work together for the common good of the industry. I’ve also been blown away by the commitment of our NATO staff, who have worked around the clock to promote our industry, develop CinemaSafe protocols, talk with the studios to encourage the release of new films, encourage state governments to allow cinemas to open again, and work with the federal government to approve tax relief and grants for cinemas. After the 1917 pandemic came the roaring twenties, and I predict that this will happen again.” Bob Bagby President & CEO B&B Theatres “Last March, I felt like the lead driver whose car broke down in the middle of the race. As I sat on the sidelines, the other drivers roared by and I helplessly watched. Those drivers didn’t feel my pain, and their success made it harder for me to regain my competitive edge. “2020 established that the business world is fragile, and no one is immune to a downturn. We’ve helplessly watched from the sidelines as technology evolves, and never before has our industry lost such precious time and resources needed to keep pace. We sailed through the Great Recession, and this is our turn to face adversity and learn from it. I call this a devastating opportunity. “Through all the adversity, I’ve learned that good people make a difference. Family, friends, employees, competitors, and vendors make me thankful for the many years I’ve enjoyed this business. The pandemic may have changed the landscape, but there’s still the opportunity for each of us to experience a checkered flag. Thank you for all of the work you’ve done to share information and experiences. We’ll be back stronger than ever by the summer.” Dave Corkill CEO Cinema West <strong>Q1</strong> <strong>2021</strong> 49 48-61_Top-10-Moments.indd 49 12/02/<strong>2021</strong> 12:33
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