Hundreds of Regal, Cineworld movie theaters to close

LONDON (AP) — Shares in the company that owns the Regal, Cineworld and Picturehouse cinemas in the U.S. and Britain have fallen as much as 58% after the announcement that it will temporarily close its venues.

The move comes after release of the latest James Bond film was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Cineworld Group Plc said that left it with few blockbusters to attract customers.

The company said Monday that 536 Regal cinemas in the U.S. and 127 Cineworld and Picturehouse venues in the U.K. will close on Thursday. Some 45,000 employees are affected.

The company says that with major markets such as New York closed and no guidance on when they will reopen, “studios have been reluctant to release their pipeline of new films.”