You are reading

Movie Theaters Can Reopen March 5 at 25 Percent Capacity: Cuomo

AMC Theatres (pre-pandemic)

Feb. 22, 2021 By Christina Santucci

New Yorkers will soon be able to watch the latest movie on the big screen.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today that theaters in New York City will be able to open at 25 percent of normal capacity beginning March 5. The state, however, will limit each screening to 50 moviegoers.

The governor said that a number of measures will have to be in place by theater operators before they can reopen.

Theaters will be required to meet enhanced air filtration and ventilation standards, as well as add staff to ensure compliance to occupancy and distancing rules.

Theater-goers will be required to wear masks while seated, and will have assigned seats to ensure social distancing.

Patrons, however, will not be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result in order to gain entry, according to reports.

During today’s announcement, Cuomo also said that billiard halls in New York City can reopen March 5 at 35 percent capacity, subject to social distancing protocols. Pool players must also wear masks.

The governor also said that weddings and catered events can be held throughout the state at 50 percent of the venue’s capacity and no more than 150 people. However, all attendees must be tested for the coronavirus.

“As I’ve said, testing is the key,” Cuomo said.

The governor had allowed movie theaters in areas with low COVID-19 positivity rates to reopen in October with similar restrictions — even as locations in the city remained closed.

In a statement provided to Variety, the National Association of Theatre Owners called the announcement “an important step in the recovery of the entire industry.”

The lobbying group said that it hoped capacity for New York City locations would be increased even higher.

“We look forward to expanding the capacity from 25 percent to 50 percent in the very near future so that theatres can operate profitably,” the group said.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Jamaica man sentenced to life for brutal triple murder of girlfriend, her son and cousin in 2022: DA

A Jamaica man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in Queens Supreme Court on Friday for the 2022 murders of his girlfriend, her son, and her cousin.

Travis Blake, 31, of 155th Street, was convicted by a jury last month of first-degree murder and other counts for the triple slaying in June 2022. The bodies of his victims were discovered with an array of puncture and blunt force wounds in a state of decomposition in their shared Jamaica home.

Hard Rock CEO outlines vendor opportunities for $8B Metropolitan Park casino project

May. 2, 2025 By Shane O’Brien

Hard Rock International Chairman and CEO Jim Allen addressed hundreds of Queens-based vendors and small business owners Thursday morning at the Queens Theatre, outlining how they could play a key role in shaping the proposed $8 billion Metropolitan Park casino and entertainment complex near Citi Field—if the project is awarded one of the three downstate gaming licenses up for grabs later this year.

Masked thieves steal thousands from senior woman in Murray Hill robbery: NYPD

Police from the 111th Precinct in Bayside are looking for two masked purse snatchers who targeted a 70-year-old woman on a residential street in Murray Hill and allegedly grabbed her pocketbook that contained thousands of dollars.

The grand larceny occurred just after 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16, as the senior was walking near 45th Avenue and 196th Street, a block west of Francis Lewis Boulevard, just south of Northern Boulevard. The stranger approached her from behind and snatched the pocketbook from her hand and then fled the crime scene in a black Chevrolet traveling westbound toward Utopia Parkway. The woman was not injured during the encounter.

Beyond brunch: Unique ways to celebrate Mother’s Day in Queens

May. 2, 2025 By Jessica Militello

With Mother’s Day just over a week away, there’s still plenty of time to plan something meaningful in Queens to celebrate the special women in your life. While brunch or dinner is always a classic choice, there are also unique and memorable ways to mark the occasion with family and friends. From candle-making workshops and floral arranging classes to beer tastings and hands-on crafting, here are some fun and heartfelt ways to celebrate Mother’s Day right here in the community.

Long Islander gets 20 years in prison for ‘sadistic’ months-long crime spree in Queens: DA

A Long Island man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Wednesday in Queens Supreme Court after pleading guilty to kidnapping, robbery, and promoting prostitution for three separate incidents.

Gil Iphael, 25, of Copiague Street in Valley Stream, lured his victims to Queens locations for sex with the help of his co-defendant, then his victims were detained, assaulted, and robbed. In one instance, Iphael tried to cut off a man’s toe and threatened to mutilate his genitals.