JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. — With Hollywood pushing back new movie releases, movie theaters in the Kansas City metro are feeling the effects.
“I don’t know what we are going to do, so we are trying to continue to do everything," said Adam Roberts, owner of Screenland Armour.
Highly anticipated releases like "Wonder Woman 1984" and the James Bond flick "No Time to Die" are now being pushed back even further. "Wonder Woman 1984," originally slated for a summer release now it set for Dec. 25, while "No Time to Die" has been stalled to April 2021.
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Though Screenland Armour did receive funding through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), he needs more help.
“The restart act initially had things for both movie theaters and venues, and that’s what we are trying to get them to adopt," Roberts said. "Just add us as one of the most impacted businesses."
Employees of B&B Theatres in Liberty – though larger than Screenland – also worried what could happen if Hollywood keeps pushing back release dates.
“We feel like we are getting our feet underneath us and then all the sudden they pull the rug out again," said Paul Farnsworth, director of public relations at B&B Theatres. "It was disappointing certainly, but I think it’s created an opportunity for us to think outside the box, try to work with our studio partners to get some content on screen."
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Taking those movie screens outside also is helping. Screenland Armour recently received the go ahead from the North Kansas City City Council to keep playing films outside until Nov. 28.
“That’s really like 30% of revenue right now because people feel a lot more comfortable being outside, even if it’s a little bit chilly out there," Roberts said.
But still, owners like Roberts won't give up just yet.
“I don’t know what the future holds," he said. "I just know that we are continuing to try to innovate and create new ways to entertain Kansas City and we are going to keep fighting as long as we can."
