View source for Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema

{{short description|Impact of COVID-19 on cinematic industry}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Cleanup tense|tense=past|date=February 2023}}
{{COVID-19 pandemic sidebar|expanded=issues}}
The [[COVID-19 pandemic]] had a negative effect on certain [[2020s in film|films in the early 2020s]], mirroring its [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts and cultural heritage|impacts across all arts sectors]]. Across the world, and to varying degrees, cinemas and [[movie theater]]s were closed, festivals were cancelled or postponed, and film releases were moved to future dates or delayed indefinitely. Due to cinemas and movie theaters closing, the global [[box office]] dropped by billions of dollars, streaming saw a significant increase in popularity, and the stock of [[film exhibitor]]s dropped dramatically. Many [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbusters]] originally scheduled to be released by mid-March 2020 were postponed or canceled around the world, with film productions also being halted. This, in turn, created openings for [[independent film|independent cinema]] productions to receive wider exposure.<ref name="NBC indie">{{cite news|last1=Sacks|first1=Ethan|title=Independent filmmakers have found ways to navigate the pandemic and get audiences to films|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/independent-filmmakers-have-found-ways-navigate-pandemic-get-audiences-films-n1247218 |access-date=26 April 2021|work=[[NBC News]]|date=November 14, 2020|language=en}}</ref>

The Chinese film industry had lost {{USD|2 billion}} by March 2020, as it had closed all its cinemas during the Lunar New Year period that sustained the industry across Asia.<ref name="cbox"/> North America saw its lowest box office weekend since 1998 between March 13–15.<ref name="March15BO" />

The [[2020 in film#Highest-grossing films|highest-grossing film of 2020]] was the [[anime]] film ''[[Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train]]'', which earned $503 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite news|author=Scott Mendelson|date=28 June 2021|title='Demon Slayer,' Now Tops On VOD, Was 2020's Most Unlikely Box Office Champion|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2021/06/28/now-tops-on-vod-demon-slayer-was-2020s-most-unlikely-box-office-champion/?sh=1a5bf13b142e|access-date= 13 December 2021}}</ref> It was the first time since 2007 that the top-grossing film of a given year had earned less than $1 billion and the first time a non-American film was the top-grossing film of the year.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tartaglione|first=Nancy|date=2020-09-25|title=With 'The Eight Hundred' Now 2020's No. 1 Global Grosser & As National Day Nears, Will China Box Office Top Domestic This Year? – Market Rankings Chart|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/the-eight-hundred-box-office-china-2020-best-beats-bad-boys-for-life-1234581827/|access-date=2021-09-20|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2021, the worldwide box office showed signs of recovery, with a 78% increase in revenue over 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tartaglione|first=Nancy|date=January 6, 2022|title=Worldwide Box Office Climbed 78% In 2021 To $21.4 Billion Amid Covid Flux As ''Spider-Man'' Brought The Year Home: Global Studio Rankings|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/2021-worldwide-box-office-studio-rankings-hollywood-market-share-covid-spider-man-no-way-home-1234905569/|access-date=January 7, 2022|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> Despite the still-ongoing pandemic, the December 2021 release ''[[Spider-Man: No Way Home]]'' quickly became the [[2021 in film#Highest-grossing films|highest-grossing film of 2021]], the [[List of highest-grossing films|sixth highest-grossing film of all time]] just over a month after its theatrical release, and the first film since 2019 to earn more than $1 billion worldwide. A year later, ''[[Avatar: The Way of Water]]'' surpassed ''Spider-Man: No Way Home'' to become the highest-grossing film released during the COVID-19 pandemic, and went on to gross over $2 billion, the first film to do so since 2019's ''[[Avengers: Endgame]]'', as well as becoming the [[2022 in film#Highest-grossing films|highest-grossing film of 2022]].

== Box office ==
[[File: Cobble Hill cinema, Brooklyn (49571450227).jpg|thumb|A [[Brooklyn]] cinema announcing its showings in February 2020; ''[[A Quiet Place Part II]]''{{'}}s release was subsequently postponed.]]
In early March 2020, it was predicted that the global [[box office]] could lose US$5 billion as a result of the pandemic.<ref name="QZ" /><ref name="theguardian" />

Countries that were pandemic hot-spots closed or restricted cinemas and movie theaters, negatively affecting film revenue. Attendance was also lower in other regions. Following the [[COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China|pandemic in mainland China]], 70,000 cinemas were closed in January 2020. In the first two months of 2020, China's box office was down to US$3.9 million, compared to US$2.148 billion in the first two months of 2019.<ref name="cbox">{{cite news|last=Clark|first=Travis|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-chinas-box-office-drops-by-nearly-2-billion-2020-3|title=China's box office is down nearly $2 billion as movie theaters remain closed amid coronavirus concerns|website=Business Insider|date=March 3, 2020 | access-date=March 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304134525/https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-chinas-box-office-drops-by-nearly-2-billion-2020-3 | archive-date=March 4, 2020 | url-status=live}}</ref> Later, as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Italy|pandemic in Italy]], on March 8, 2020, the Italian government ordered all cinemas to be closed, for up to a month. Before the closure, box office tracking estimated a 94% drop for the weekend of March 6–8 compared to the same period the previous year.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Grater|first1=Tom|last2=Tartaglione|first2=Nancy|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/italys-box-office-disastrous-weekend-government-closes-all-cinemas-combat-coronavirus-1202877598/|title=Italy's Box Office Suffers Disastrous Weekend As Government Closes All Cinemas To Combat Coronavirus|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=March 9, 2020 | access-date=March 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309181639/https://deadline.com/2020/03/italys-box-office-disastrous-weekend-government-closes-all-cinemas-combat-coronavirus-1202877598/ | archive-date=March 9, 2020 | url-status=live}}</ref> As the pandemic [[COVID-19 pandemic in France|grew in France]], cinemas operated at half capacity, leaving strategic seats unavailable to reduce proximity in the screens,<ref name="CNBC" /> a move followed days later by the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland|Irish]] and [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|Northern Irish]] cinema chain [[Omniplex Cinemas]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-51814586|title=Cinema chain's 'empty seat' policy to combat virus|date=March 10, 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=March 13, 2020|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313081015/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-51814586|archive-date=March 13, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 12, [[Qatar]] also closed all cinemas,<ref name="BBCClosure" /> as did the US on March 17, Malaysia and Thailand on March 18,<ref name="CominSoon" /> the UK on March 20, Australia and New Zealand on March 22, and Singapore on March 27.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/u-k-government-to-cover-80-of-wages-formally-shutters-cinemas-and-theaters-1203540435/|title=U.K. Government to Cover 80% of Wages of Those Not Working, Closes Cinemas and Theaters|last=Ravindran|first=Manori|date=March 20, 2020|website=Variety|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320191030/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/u-k-government-to-cover-80-of-wages-formally-shutters-cinemas-and-theaters-1203540435/|archive-date=March 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> After a state of emergency was declared in [[Tokyo]] and six other prefectures in Japan on April 7,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200416/p2g/00m/0na/085000c|title=Japan PM Abe declares nationwide state of emergency amid virus spread|publisher=[[Mainichi Shimbun]]|date=April 16, 2020|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416074627/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20200416/p2g/00m/0na/085000c|archive-date=April 16, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> over 220 cinemas were closed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0115253|title=映画館の営業停止相次ぐ 緊急事態宣言の7都府県で|date=April 8, 2020|website=Cinema Today|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424040102/https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0115253|archive-date=April 24, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2159867/full/|title=厳しい映画業界、公開延期は120本超え TOHOシネマズ発表の3月興収は前年比41.2％に|trans-title=Film industry has postponed release of more than 120 films, and TOHO Cinemas announces that March revenue was 41.2%|date=April 13, 2020|website=Oricon News|publisher=[[Oricon News]]|access-date=August 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://eiga.com/news/20200413/12/|title=【国内映画ランキング】7都府県ほぼ全ての映画館が休業、小規模映画館を支援する動きなどがスタート|trans-title=【Domestic Movie Rankings】 Almost all movie theaters in 7 prefectures are closed, and movements to support small-scale movie theaters have started|date=April 13, 2020|website=Eiga.com|access-date=April 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200416085148/https://eiga.com/news/20200413/12/|archive-date=April 16, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

Percentage box office losses (outside of mainland China) for January to March 3, 2020, are 70–75% in Italy, 60% in South Korea, 35% in Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Singapore, and 30% in Taiwan.<ref name="DeadlineBoxOffice" /> The [[Los Angeles]] box office, a key movie market and local economic backbone, was projected to fall by 20% in April 2020 compared to its 2019 figures, based on the [[state of emergency]] declared in the county at the start of March 2020.<ref name="DeadlineBoxOffice" /> Despite the state of emergency, as single screens within movie theatres do not hold more than 1,000 people, they were granted an exemption from the ban on mass public gatherings in California. A [[National Association of Theatre Owners]] representative for California and Nevada announced that theatres would stay open; historically, movie theatres have remained open during other similar emergencies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/us-movie-theaters-aim-stay-open-coronavirus-concerns-1283717|title=U.S. Movie Theaters Aim to Stay Open Amid Coronavirus Concerns|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 10, 2020|language=en|access-date=March 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311052643/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/us-movie-theaters-aim-stay-open-coronavirus-concerns-1283717|archive-date=March 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> However, a survey of Americans over the opening March weekend showed support for closing movie theaters.<ref name="CNBC" /> On March 15, [[Deadline Hollywood|''Deadline'']] reported that over 100 movie theaters in the US had closed, some due to local rulings and others because of an inability to keep them open with no demand.<ref name="March15BO" /> On March 17, with national restrictions to social gatherings, cinemas across the United States closed.<ref name="CominSoon" /> However, [[drive-in theater]]s, where customers stay in their own cars, were not closed, and quickly grew in popularity again.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/488485-drive-in-movie-theaters-see-resurgence-during-coronavirus|title=Drive-in movie theaters see resurgence during coronavirus|last=Homan|first=Timothy R.|date=March 19, 2020|website=The Hill|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320183406/https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/488485-drive-in-movie-theaters-see-resurgence-during-coronavirus|archive-date=March 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Temporarily Closed (49674922957).jpg|200px|thumb|left|The sign on the door of a closed [[Regal Cinemas|Regal]] movie theater in [[New York City]], March 2020; Regal Cinemas reopened most of their theaters on August 21, 2020, re-closed them on October 8, 2020, and has been reopened since April 2, 2021.]]
The opening March weekend saw a dramatically lower box office than the same weekend in 2019. The 2019 opening March weekend saw the release of ''[[Captain Marvel (film)|Captain Marvel]]'', which alone earned over US$153 million domestically that weekend, compared to the 2020 weekend's biggest film, ''[[Onward (film)|Onward]]'', with around US$39 million.<ref name="Indiewire" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/box-office-weekend-pixars-onward-stumbles-invisible-man-strong-2020-3|title='Onward' had the worst opening-weekend box office of any Pixar movie in the Disney era|last=Clark|first=Travis|website=Business Insider|access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310154743/https://www.businessinsider.com/box-office-weekend-pixars-onward-stumbles-invisible-man-strong-2020-3|archive-date=March 10, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The next weekend saw the lowest total US box office intake since the October 30–November 1, 1998 weekend, with lower percentage drops than the weekend after [[September 11 attacks|9/11]], at US$55.3 million.<ref name="March15BO" /> ''Onward'' itself saw the biggest weekend-to-weekend drop of any [[Pixar]] film, making $10.5 million, though was still the weekend's biggest film and the only one to make over $10 million.<ref name="March15BO" /> On March 19, [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]] and [[Universal Pictures]] announced that they would no longer report box office figures.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-box-office-idUSKBN21700Z|title=Hollywood movie studios suspend release of box office data after coronavirus slump|date=March 20, 2020|work=Reuters|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320035839/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-box-office-idUSKBN21700Z|archive-date=March 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Comscore]], therefore, announced the next day that it would indefinitely suspend its reporting of box office estimates and charts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/box-office-reporting-suspended-comscore-coronavirus-1202889000/|title=Comscore Pauses Weekend Box Office Reporting Amid Coronavirus Crisis|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2020-03-20|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2020-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414030020/https://deadline.com/2020/03/box-office-reporting-suspended-comscore-coronavirus-1202889000/|archive-date=April 14, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 26, 2020, after local transmission of the virus had dropped to 0% in China, movie theaters there began to re-open, with reports that 250–500 theaters were opening, but the next day, authorities again closed all movie theaters in the country.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Davis|first1=Rebecca|title=Shanghai to Re-Open 205 Cinemas Closed Due to Coronavirus|work=Variety| access-date = March 27, 2020|date=March 26, 2020|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/coronavirus-china-shanghai-cinemas-reopen-1203546673/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200327052437/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/coronavirus-china-shanghai-cinemas-reopen-1203546673/| archive-date = March 27, 2020| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Grater|first1=Tom|title=China Orders Re-Closing Of All Cinemas Nationwide|work=Deadline| access-date = March 27, 2020|date=March 27, 2020|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/china-orders-re-closing-of-all-cinemas-nationwide-1202894103/| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200327132409/https://deadline.com/2020/03/china-orders-re-closing-of-all-cinemas-nationwide-1202894103/| archive-date = March 27, 2020| url-status = live}}</ref>

== Scheduling ==
=== Awards ===
Three award ceremonies were held after the coronavirus became widespread: the [[10th Magritte Awards]] on February 1, the [[45th César Awards]] on February 28, and the [[43rd Japan Academy Film Prize]] on March 6. The Japanese Academy Prize ceremony went ahead on March 6. However, the ceremony was conducted without any guests or journalists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/awards/the-journalist-best-picture-japan-academy-awards-coronavirus-1203526293/|title='Journalist' Named Best Picture at Guest-Free Japan Academy Awards, Held Amid Coronavirus Fears|last=Schilling|first=Mark|date=March 6, 2020|website=Variety|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307154834/https://variety.com/2020/film/awards/the-journalist-best-picture-japan-academy-awards-coronavirus-1203526293/|archive-date=March 7, 2020|access-date=March 10, 2020}}</ref> The [[14th Seiyu Awards]] cancelled its live ceremony scheduled for March 7 in Tokyo and instead broadcast the winners on [[Nippon Cultural Broadcasting]]'s internet radio program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://myanimelist.net/news/59295341|title=Winners of the 14th Seiyuu Awards|date=March 8, 2020|access-date=March 23, 2020|publisher=My Anime List|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310142010/https://myanimelist.net/news/59295341|archive-date=March 10, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[40th Golden Raspberry Awards]] were initially intended to take place as planned on March 14.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/razzies-proceed-as-planned-coronavirus-cancellations-1284373|title=Razzies to Proceed as Planned Despite Coronavirus Outbreak|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 12, 2020|language=en|access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314100103/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/razzies-proceed-as-planned-coronavirus-cancellations-1284373|archive-date=March 14, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> However, it was ultimately cancelled. The ceremony's winners were announced on their YouTube channel on March 16.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/razzie-awards-2020-winners-cats-dominates-40th-golden-raspberry-awards/?cmp=TWRT_Edit_Razzie_Winners|title=Razzie Awards 2020 Winners: Cats Dominates 40th Golden Raspberry Awards|website=Rotten Tomatoes|language=en|access-date=2020-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404153139/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/razzie-awards-2020-winners-cats-dominates-40th-golden-raspberry-awards/?cmp=TWRT_Edit_Razzie_Winners|archive-date=April 4, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[International Indian Film Academy Awards]], planned to take place on March 27, was cancelled,<ref name="theguardian" /> while the Italian Academy's [[David di Donatello]] ceremony had been postponed from April 3 to May 8.<ref name="DeadlineList" /> The [[American Film Institute]]'s lifetime achievement ceremony to honour [[Dame Julie Andrews]] was pushed back from April to the summer.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shoard|first=Catherine|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/mar/09/cannes-nothing-has-changed-despite-new-ban-on-gatherings-of-over-1000|title=Cannes: 'Nothing has changed' despite new ban on gatherings of over 1,000|date=March 9, 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=March 10, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309235259/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/mar/09/cannes-nothing-has-changed-despite-new-ban-on-gatherings-of-over-1000|archive-date=March 9, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2020 [[Platino Awards]] were also postponed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://larepublica.pe/espectaculos/2020/03/14/postergar-premios-platino/|title=Covid-19: Aplazan los Premios Platino|date=March 14, 2020|website=larepublica.pe|language=es|access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref>

The [[Academy Awards]] and [[Golden Globe Awards]] modified their eligibility criteria for their 2021 editions, as they usually require that a film be screened theatrically for a minimum length of time. The [[Hollywood Foreign Press Association]] mentioned that films released via non-theatrical means (such as digital) would be eligible if they were scheduled to have a "bona fide theatrical release" in Los Angeles after March 15 (with a cutoff date to be determined).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Golden Globes Amend Eligibility Requirements in Light of Coronavirus|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/golden-globes-amend-eligibility-requirements-light-coronavirus-1286741|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 26, 2020|language=en|access-date=2020-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518024621/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/golden-globes-amend-eligibility-requirements-light-coronavirus-1286741|archive-date=May 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Oscars: Academy Delays April Board Meeting; Key Fall Film Festivals Hope To Keep Lights On For Movie Awards Season|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/oscars-academy-moves-board-meeting-fall-festivals-endangered-oscars-1202901557/|last=Hammond|first=Pete|date=2020-04-07|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2020-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418065036/https://deadline.com/2020/04/oscars-academy-moves-board-meeting-fall-festivals-endangered-oscars-1202901557/|archive-date=April 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Will Coronavirus Complicate the Oscars Too?|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/04/oscars-coronavirus-meeting-delay|last=Desta|first=Yohana|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=April 7, 2020|language=en|access-date=2020-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627032349/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/04/oscars-coronavirus-meeting-delay|archive-date=June 27, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] award would similarly offer eligibility for films originally scheduled for a theatrical release in their country of origin between March 15 and a date to be determined.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Golden Globes Temporarily Ease Eligibility Requirements for Films Not in the English Language|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/golden-globes-ease-eligibility-films-not-english-language-1293943|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 8, 2020|language=en|access-date=2020-05-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513001246/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/golden-globes-ease-eligibility-films-not-english-language-1293943|archive-date=May 13, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[93rd Academy Awards]] would also allow films released via password-protected or [[Electronic sell-through|transactional]] [[video on demand]] to be eligible if they were originally scheduled to have a theatrical release. Once cinemas have sufficiently resumed operations, the requirement that a film be screened for at least a week would be reinstated. In addition to Los Angeles, eligible screenings would also be allowed to take place in one of five other major U.S. cities.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Oscars Keeping Show Date But Make Big News As Academy Lightens Eligibility Rules, Combines Sound Categories, Ends DVD Screeners and More|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/oscars-major-changes-academy-awards-coronavirus-1202919950/|last=Hammond|first=Pete|date=April 28, 2020|website=Deadline|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523043653/https://deadline.com/2020/04/oscars-major-changes-academy-awards-coronavirus-1202919950/|archive-date=May 23, 2020|access-date=May 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Oscars Will Consider Films That Didn't Play in Theaters as Part of New Academy Rules|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/awards/new-oscar-rules-movies-not-in-theaters-1234591702/|last1=Malkin|first1=Marc|website=Variety|date=April 28, 2020|access-date=April 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429001355/https://variety.com/2020/film/awards/new-oscar-rules-movies-not-in-theaters-1234591702/|archive-date=April 29, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

On June 15, it was announced that the Academy Awards would be pushed back by two months, from February 28 to April 25, so that the cutoff for eligibility could likewise be extended from December 31, 2020, to February 28. The Academy [[Governors Awards]] and [[Academy Scientific and Technical Award|Scientific and Technical Awards]] were postponed indefinitely. The [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]] (BAFTA) subsequently announced that it would follow suit and postpone the [[74th British Academy Film Awards]] to April.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Malkin|first=Marc|date=2020-06-15|title=Oscars 2021 Pushed Back by Two Months|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/oscars-2021-postponed-coronavirus-1234635457/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616010655/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/oscars-2021-postponed-coronavirus-1234635457/|archive-date=June 16, 2020|access-date=2020-06-15|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref> On June 22, the Golden Globe Awards were also delayed from early-January to February 28, 2021 (filling the Academy Awards' former date).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Golden Globes Sets Late February Date After Oscars Delay|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/golden-globes-2021-set-feb-28-oscars-delay-1298463|access-date=2020-06-22|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 22, 2020|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701065316/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/golden-globes-2021-set-feb-28-oscars-delay-1298463|archive-date=July 1, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]] were also postponed from January 24 to March 14.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=2021-01-13|title=SAG Awards Shifts To April, Away From Grammys Date; Nominations Still Set For February 4|language=en-US|work=Deadline|url=https://deadline.com/2021/01/sag-awards-2021-date-moved-april-4-grammys-1234672837/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-01-13}}</ref>

With the delay of the [[2021 Grammy Awards]] to March 14, citing the current surge of COVID-19 cases in California, on January 13, 2021, the SAG Awards were delayed once again to April 4. [[SAG-AFTRA]] criticized [[The Recording Academy]] for not respecting the scheduling of other award presentations.<ref name=":2" />

In Canada, the pandemic shutdown forced the cancellation of both the [[8th Canadian Screen Awards]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/canadian-screen-awards-canceled-coronavirus-pandemic-1284211|title=Canadian Screen Awards Canceled Amid Coronavirus Pandemic|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|language=en|date=March 12, 2020}}</ref> and the [[22nd Quebec Cinema Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/04/23/prix-iris-les-realisatrices-a-lhonneur|title=Prix Iris: les réalisatrices à l'honneur|last=Demers|first=Maxime|date=April 23, 2020 |access-date=May 3, 2020|work=[[Le Journal de Montréal]]|language=fr}}</ref> Both programs ultimately announced their winners through virtual livestreaming, the Canadian Screen Awards presenting film winners on May 28,<ref>[https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2020/05/05/canadian-screen-award-winners-to-reveal-2020-winners-in-virtual-presentations.html "Canadian Screen Award winners to reveal 2020 winners in virtual presentations"]. ''[[Toronto Star]]'', May 5, 2020.</ref> and the Quebec Cinema Awards presented on June 10.<ref name="Demers">{{Cite web|url=https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2020/05/21/un-gala-quebec-cinema-en-mode-confinement|title=Un Gala Québec Cinéma en mode confinement|last=Demers|first=Maxime|date=May 21, 2020 |access-date=May 21, 2020|work=[[Le Journal de Montréal]]|language=fr}}</ref> As of August 2020, neither the [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television]] nor [[Québec Cinéma]] have announced their plans for the 2021 ceremonies.

The [[Omicron variant]], which had Los Angeles and New York City as particular U.S. epicenters, led to further disruption of the awards season in January 2022. The [[27th Critics' Choice Awards]] were postponed to March 13, 2022, the same day as the [[75th British Academy Film Awards]], while the [[49th Annie Awards]] were delayed to March 12, and the [[79th Golden Globe Awards]] were held under strict COVID-19 protocols with only [[HFPA]] beneficiaries in attendance. The ceremony had already been downsized into a non-televised event due to boycotts of the organization by media companies and creatives (including its regular broadcaster [[NBC]]) over the lack of [[Diversity (business)|diversity]] among its membership.<ref>{{cite web|author=Peter Hammond|date=January 13, 2022|title=Critics Choice Live Telecast Rescheduled For March 13, Same Date As BAFTA Film Awards; Might Be Major Conflict For Some Nominees|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/critics-choice-awards-new-date-bafta-conflict-1234909736/|access-date=January 15, 2022|work=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/awards/news/critics-choice-awards-2022-london-los-angeles-1235183293/|title=Critics Choice Awards to Hold Simultaneous Ceremonies in London and Los Angeles|last=Murphy|first=J. Kim|date=February 16, 2022|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=February 19, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/awards/news/annie-awards-2022-move-virtual-covid-omicron-1235158506/|title=Annie Awards 2022 Move to March, Go Virtual Due to COVID Concerns|date=January 20, 2022|first=Ethan|last=Shanfeld|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=January 20, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Ryan|first=Patrick|title=Oscar season chaos: How omicron has created the most 'confusing' awards season yet|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2022/01/05/awards-shows-postpone-cancel-amid-omicron-untelevised-golden-globes-proceed/9090454002/|access-date=2022-01-10|website=USA Today|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Patten|first1=Dominic|last2=Pedersen|first2=Erik|date=2022-01-04|title=HFPA Gives Update On Sunday's Golden Globes Ceremony: Still On Despite Covid Surge; No Celebrities; Livestream In Flux|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/golden-globes-2022-ceremony-covid-no-celebrities-livestream-in-flux-1234904352/|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-05|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Malkin|first=Marc|date=2022-01-04|title=Golden Globes 2022: HFPA Fails to Secure Celebrity Presenters (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/columns/golden-globes-no-celebrity-presenters-1235146563/|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-05|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=January 04|first1=Maureen Lee Lenker|last2=EST|first2=2022 at 07:27 PM|title=Golden Globes unveil plans for scaled-down 2022 event: No stars, press, or red carpet|url=https://ew.com/awards/golden-globes/golden-globes-2022-plans-no-stars-press-red-carpet/|access-date=2022-01-05|website=EW.com|language=en}}</ref>

=== Festivals ===
Many festivals and events have been cancelled or postponed. Postponements include the [[Thessaloniki Documentary Festival]], set to begin on March 5 and rescheduled for June 2020;<ref name="Independent" /> the [[Beijing International Film Festival]], planned for April 2020 and postponed indefinitely;<ref>{{cite news|last=Davis|first=Rebecca|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/beijing-international-film-festival-china-postponed-coronavirus-1203527303/|title=Beijing International Film Festival Indefinitely Postponed Due to Coronavirus|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 8, 2020 | access-date=March 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309080840/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/beijing-international-film-festival-china-postponed-coronavirus-1203527303/ | archive-date=March 9, 2020 | url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Prague International Film Festival Prague|Prague International Film Festival]], moved from late March to sometime later in 2020; the [[Bentonville Film Festival]], set for April 29 – May 2 and moved to August;<ref name="DeadlineList" /> the [[International Istanbul Film Festival|Istanbul International Film Festival]], set for April 10–21 and postponed to a later date in 2020;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://film.iksv.org/en/news/39th-istanbul-film-festival-is-postponed|title=39th Istanbul Film Festival is postponed|website=İKSV|language=en|access-date=2020-03-16}}</ref> and the [[Tribeca Film Festival]].<ref name="BBCClosure" /> The [[Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival]], a two-week festival in March, experienced low attendance during its first week and postponed its second week to August 2020.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pizarro|first=Sal|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/07/cinequest-film-festival-rescheduled-over-coronavirus-concerns/|title=Cinequest film festival rescheduled over coronavirus concerns|work=[[The Mercury News]]|date=March 7, 2020 | access-date=March 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309012531/https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/07/cinequest-film-festival-rescheduled-over-coronavirus-concerns/ | archive-date=March 9, 2020 | url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Beverly Hills Film Festival|20th Beverly Hills Film Festival]] scheduled for April 1–15 is postponed indefinitely.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com/urgent-update/|title=Urgent Update {{!}} Beverly Hills Film Festival {{!}} Official Site|language=en-US|access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref> The 38th Fajr International Film Festival, scheduled for April 16–24 in Tehran, has been postponed, with plans to organize the event in late spring.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fajriff.com/en/fiff-2020-postponed-amid-the-coronavirus-outbreak/|title=FIFF 2020 Postponed Amid the Coronavirus Outbreak &#124; Fajr International Film Festival|publisher=Fajriff.com|date=2020-03-04 |access-date=2020-04-06}}</ref> The [[2020 Metro Manila Summer Film Festival]], originally scheduled for April 11–21, was also postponed after the decision to place [[Metro Manila]] (the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Metro Manila|epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines]]) was announced, however, it was later cancelled.<ref>{{cite news|title=MMFF Summer Festival postponed due to COVID-19|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/showbiz/chikaminute/729487/mmff-summer-festival-postponed-due-to-covid-19/story/ |access-date=March 13, 2020|work=GMA News|date=March 13, 2020}}</ref>

Canceled events include the Swiss [[International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights]], planned for early March;<ref name="Independent" /> the [[Red Sea International Film Festival]], which was to be held for the first time in March 2020;<ref name="theguardian" /> the [[South by Southwest 2020|March 2020]] [[South by Southwest]] (SXSW), which would have included film screenings;<ref>{{cite news|last1=Statt|first1=Nick|last2=Peters|first2=Jay|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/6/21162247/sxsw-2020-cancelled-coronavirus-austin-texas-virus-fears-public-health-event|title=SXSW 2020 canceled due to coronavirus|work=[[The Verge]]|date=March 6, 2020 | access-date=March 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312115702/https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/6/21162247/sxsw-2020-cancelled-coronavirus-austin-texas-virus-fears-public-health-event | archive-date=March 12, 2020 | url-status=live}}</ref> the 2020 [[BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival|BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival]];<ref>{{cite tweet|user=BFIFlare|author=BFI|author-link=BFI Flare: London LGBT Film Festival|number=1239504160350965767|title=An announcement about BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival 2020|date=March 16, 2020|access-date=March 16, 2020}}</ref> Nickelodeon's 2020 [[Nickelodeon Slimefest|Slimefest]] festival;<ref>{{cite tweet|user=Nickelodeon|author=Nickelodeon|author-link=Nickelodeon|number=1236396385618014209|title=Important update on SlimeFest 2020.|date=March 7, 2020|access-date=March 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet|user=Nickelodeon|author=Nickelodeon|author-link=Nickelodeon|number=1236411847869333505|title=The outdoor public festival Slimefest has been postponed out of an abundance of caution given the mounting concerns over COVID-19|date=March 7, 2020|access-date=March 12, 2020}}</ref> Qumra, the [[Doha Film Institute]]'s international directors' conference; Hong Kong Filmart, a large film market event; the [[National Association of Theatre Owners]]' [[CinemaCon]] 2020;<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pedersen|first1=Erik|last2=D'Alessandro|first2=Anthony|title=CinemaCon Canceled Amid Coronavirus Fears|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/cinemacon-canceled-coronavirus-1202880571/|publisher=Deadline |access-date=March 12, 2020|date=March 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312131555/https://deadline.com/2020/03/cinemacon-canceled-coronavirus-1202880571/ |archive-date=March 12, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Lille]]'s Series Mania television festival.<ref name="DeadlineList" />  The 22nd edition of [[Ebertfest]] and the 44th edition of the [[Cleveland International Film Festival]] were cancelled.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/3/12/21177648/coronavirus-ebertfest-canceled-2020-virginia-theatre-roger-ebert-chaz|title=Coronavirus: Ebertfest canceled in Champaign|last=Jevens|first=Darel|date=March 12, 2020|website=Chicago Sun-Times|language=en|access-date=March 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312233833/https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/3/12/21177648/coronavirus-ebertfest-canceled-2020-virginia-theatre-roger-ebert-chaz|archive-date=March 12, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clevelandfilm.org/plan-your-day/health-and-safety|title=Health and Safety – Cleveland International Film Festival :: April 7 – 18, 2021|website=clevelandfilm.org|language=en|access-date=March 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312234656/https://www.clevelandfilm.org/plan-your-day/health-and-safety|archive-date=March 12, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> New Jersey's global film festival, [[Garden State Film Festival]], scheduled for March 25–29, cancelled their in-person Asbury Park-based festival. However, it will be proceeding with the original schedule in a real-time live-streaming online format.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/2020/03/13/2020-garden-state-film-festival-screenings-to-be-streamed-festival-events-are-cancelled|title=2020 Garden State Film Festival Screenings To Be Streamed, Festival Events Are Cancelled|date=March 13, 2020|website=NewJerseyStage.com|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320183711/https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/2020/03/13/2020-garden-state-film-festival-screenings-to-be-streamed-festival-events-are-cancelled/|archive-date=March 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The 55th [[Karlovy Vary International Film Festival]] was canceled and postponed to 2021; its organizers later announced plans to hold an unofficial "54 ½" edition in November,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Grater|first=Tom|date=2020-07-03|title=Karlovy Vary Sets Special Event In November After Summer Fest Cancellation|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/karlovy-vary-special-event-november-summer-fest-cancellation-1202976957/|access-date=2020-07-04|website=Deadline|language=en}}</ref> but it was cancelled due to the reinstatement of restrictions in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|date=2020-11-04|title=Kalovy Vary Cancels 54½ November Special Event Due To COVID Restrictions|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/kalovy-vary-cancels-54%c2%bd-november-special-event-due-to-covid-restrictions-1234608944/|access-date=2020-11-04|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[2020 Cannes Film Festival]] sent out invitations on March 6, despite France implementing limits on public gatherings beyond its scheduled dates; the Cannes Television Festivals Canneseries and [[MIPTV Media Market|MIPTV]] chose not to run, however, with Canneseries rescheduling for October and MIPTV canceling its event.<ref name="theguardian" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rfi.fr/en/culture/20200307-cannes-film-festival-still-track-television-festival-cancelled-over-coronavirus|title=Cannes film festival still on track, but television festival cancelled over coronavirus|date=March 7, 2020|website=RFI|language=en|access-date=March 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309065105/http://www.rfi.fr/en/culture/20200307-cannes-film-festival-still-track-television-festival-cancelled-over-coronavirus|archive-date=March 9, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 19, the [[Cannes Film Festival|Festival de Cannes]] announced that it cannot be held on the scheduled dates, from May 12–23. Several options are considered in order to preserve its running, the main one being a simple postponement, in Cannes, until the end of June-beginning of July 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lapost.us/?p=22828|title=Cannes International Film Festival Press Release|date=2020-03-19|website=The Los Angeles Post|language=en|access-date=2020-07-10}}</ref> Cannes' main venue has been converted into a temporary homeless shelter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/cannes-festival-venue-opens-doors-to-homeless-instead-of-cinema-figures/news|title=Cannes festival venue opens doors to homeless instead of cinema figures|agency=Reuters|date=2020-03-25|website=Daily Sabah|language=en|access-date=2020-03-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326130828/https://www.dailysabah.com/arts/cannes-festival-venue-opens-doors-to-homeless-instead-of-cinema-figures/news|archive-date=March 26, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

Some festivals, including Tribeca, SXSW, [[ReelAbilities]], [[TCM Classic Film Festival]], and the [[Greenwich International Film Festival]] have created new online programming in lieu of having an in-person festival.<ref name="kenigsberg" /> The [[2020 Toronto International Film Festival]] is also planned to proceed at least partially online;<ref name=ahearn>Victoria Ahearn, [https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tiff-weareone-film-fest-1.5588952 "TIFF still planning some type of physical festival, execs say"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529195222/https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/tiff-weareone-film-fest-1.5588952 |date=May 29, 2020 }}. [[CBC News]], May 28, 2020.</ref> on July 30, TIFF programmers announced a much smaller than normal lineup of feature films that will be screened at [[drive-in theatre]] venues and online.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wiseman|first=Andreas|title=Toronto Sets 2020 Lineup: Werner Herzog, Regina King, Mira Nair, Francois Ozon, Naomi Kawase Titles Join Hybrid Edition|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/toronto-film-festival-2020-lineup-werner-herzog-regina-king-mira-nair-francois-ozon-naomi-kawase-1202999399/|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=July 30, 2020 |access-date=July 30, 2020}}</ref>

Within the industry, it is suggested that after the pandemic is contained and major events reschedule, the less-important business events and festivals may be more permanently removed from industry calendars, to allow more important events to happen, because they may be deemed unnecessary if no great effect is felt by their cancellations, and to ease finances of the industry as it enters a recession brought about by coronavirus-caused losses.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/biz/features/hollywood-coronavirus-financial-festivals-film-television-production-1203537442/|title=Hollywood Braces for Coronavirus Financial Hit That Could Change the Industry Forever|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=March 18, 2020|website=Variety|access-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320002540/https://variety.com/2020/biz/features/hollywood-coronavirus-financial-festivals-film-television-production-1203537442/|archive-date=March 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Tribeca Film Festival]] and [[YouTube]] worked with several international partner film festivals to launch [[We Are One: A Global Film Festival]], an international online festival of films screening for free on YouTube between May 29 and June 7.<ref name=kay>Jeremy Kay, [https://www.screendaily.com/news/we-are-one-global-film-festival-announces-line-up/5150082.article "We Are One global film festival announces line-up"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601074110/https://www.screendaily.com/news/we-are-one-global-film-festival-announces-line-up/5150082.article |date=June 1, 2020 }}. ''[[Screen Daily]]'', 27 May 2020.</ref>

Due to the unprecedented interruption of film productions caused by the pandemic, the [[Locarno Festival|Locarno Film Festival]] in Switzerland asked directors, including [[Lucrecia Martel]] and [[Lav Diaz]], to select films from the festival's 74-year history for a [[retrospective]] that will be screened online and in physical locations.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Grater|first=Tom|date=2020-07-20|title=Lucrecia Martel & Lav Diaz Pick Titles For Locarno Film Festival Retro Program; MUBI To Screen Globally|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/lucrecia-martel-lav-diaz-locarno-retro-program-mubi-1202989556/|access-date=2020-07-23|website=Deadline|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Locarno Festival: 'Germany, Year Zero,' 'Stranger Than Paradise' Among Lineup|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/locarno-festival-lineup-includes-stranger-paradise-1303737|access-date=2020-07-23|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 20, 2020|language=en}}</ref>

The [[Toronto International Film Festival]] announced that it would make "masks optional" once attendees were seated for film screenings. The actions were criticized for creating a potential [[superspreader]] event as the social nature of the festival could increase the risk for COVID-19 transmission.<ref>{{Cite web|title=As Toronto Film Fest Screenings Go Mask-Optional, Attendees Fear Event Will Be a Coronavirus "Superspreader" {{!}} Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/as-toronto-film-fest-screenings-go-mask-optional-attendees-fear-event-will-be-a-coronavirus-super-spreader |access-date=2020-09-09 |website=www.hollywoodreporter.com|date=September 8, 2020 }}</ref> It reversed the decision within 24 hours, citing a surge of new cases in Ontario.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Toronto Film Fest Reverses Controversial Face Mask Policy {{!}} Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/toronto-film-fest-reverses-controversial-face-mask-policy |access-date=2020-09-09 |website=www.hollywoodreporter.com|date=September 9, 2020 }}</ref>

The [[Oceanside International Film Festival]] screened virtually online in August 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nelson|first=Samantha|title=Oceanside International Film Festival to go virtual|url=https://thecoastnews.com/oceanside-international-film-festival-to-go-virtual/|date=2020-08-13|access-date=2022-03-25|work=[[The Coast News]]|language=en}}</ref>

The [[Tribeca Film Institute]], a fundraising and educational non-profit, suspended operations on September 1, 2020, due to "uncertainties surrounding our new reality." The [[Tribeca Film Festival]], which operates under the same parent company, will continue.<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Marc|last1=Malkin|last2=Donnelly|first2=Matt|date=2020-05-27|title=Tribeca Film Institute Suspends Operations, Enacts Small Round of Layoffs (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/tribeca-film-institute-suspends-operations-layoffs-1234616766/|access-date=2020-09-30|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref>

The [[Horrible Imaginings Film Festival]] extended their usual three day event to seven days for virtual screenings in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peralta |first=Jessica |date=2020-09-15 |title=Horrible Imaginings Film Festival Is Wonderfully Reimagined for 2020 |url=https://halloweeneverynight.com/horrible-imaginings-film-festival-2020/ |access-date=2022-07-05 |website=Halloween Every Night |language=en}}</ref>

The [[Provincetown International Film Festival]] and its associated non-profit [[laid off]] its newly hired CEO and eight other staff members in 2020 due to the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Driscoll|first=Kathi Scrizzi|title=CEO, staff of Provincetown Film Society laid off|url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/news/20200528/ceo-staff-of-provincetown-film-society-laid-off|access-date=2020-12-29|website=capecodtimes.com|language=en|archive-date=November 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128172430/https://www.capecodtimes.com/news/20200528/ceo-staff-of-provincetown-film-society-laid-off|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[San Diego International Film Festival]], held in October 2020, screened both online and on [[Drive-in theater|drive-in]] screens.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Re-Imagined 2020 San Diego International Film Festival|url=https://www.sandiegomagazine.com/partner-content/the-re-imagined-2020-san-diego-international-film-festival/article_c8bc888c-01e5-11eb-839e-1b0023f6c5a4.html|access-date=2020-09-29|website=San Diego Magazine|date=September 28, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

In September 2021, it was announced that a person with COVID-19 attended several screenings at the [[2021 Toronto International Film Festival]]. Films affected included ''[[Dune (2021 film)|Dune]]'', ''[[Bergman Island]]'' and ''[[The Humans (film)|The Humans]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ahearn|first=Victoria|date=2021-09-16|title=Toronto International Film Festival confirms person with COVID-19 attended several screenings|work=CBC.ca|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid19-case-tiff-2021-1.6178549}}</ref>

The [[Women's Museum of California#Film Festival|San Diego Women's Film Festival]] held their last event in 2021 and folded into a "Women's Series" at the [[San Diego International Film Festival]] due to infrastructure issues created by the impact of the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sitton |first=Kendra |date=2022-10-07 |title=San Diego International Film Festival debuts new Women's Series |url=https://sandiegodowntownnews.com/san-diego-international-film-festival-debuts-new-womens-series/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=San Diego Downtown News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Films ===
{{See also|List of films impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic#Theatrical releases}}

==== Theatrical releases ====
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| footer = (top row L to R) [[Daniel Craig]], [[Liu Yifei]], [[Scarlett Johansson]] and (bottom row L to R) [[Gal Gadot]], [[Emily Blunt]], and [[Tom Cruise]], the stars of ''[[No Time to Die]]'', ''[[Mulan (2020 film)|Mulan]]'', ''[[Black Widow (2021 film)|Black Widow]]'', ''[[Wonder Woman 1984]]'', ''[[A Quiet Place Part II]]'', ''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]'', ''[[Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One]]'' and ''[[Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two]]'' have had their film releases affected.
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On January 22, 2020, the Chinese blockbuster ''[[Lost in Russia]]'' canceled its theatrical release and was sent to streaming platforms. It was made available to watch for free, a move said to encourage people to watch it and stay home. The next day, all theaters in China were closed. On January 31, [[Enter the Fat Dragon (2020 film)|''Enter the Fat Dragon'']] also premiered online.<ref name="Vox" /> ''Lost in Russia'' was streamed by 180 million accounts in the first three days after its release; China's highest-grossing film (and the [[List of highest-grossing non-English films|highest-grossing non-English film ever]]) was 2017's ''[[Wolf Warrior 2]]'', which had sold a total of over 160 million tickets worldwide.<ref name="GuardianStreaming" /> At the beginning of February, American films set to premiere in China over February and March were officially canceled.<ref name="Vox" /> Chinese media companies began making more films free online through January.<ref name="DeadlineChineseFilms" /> Asian markets also saw Chinese and Hong Kong film distributors cancel exports over the Lunar New Year holiday, including for the films [[Vanguard (film)|''Vanguard'']], ''[[Detective Chinatown 3]]'', [[The Rescue (2020 film)|''The Rescue'']], and ''[[Legend of Deification]]''; [[Taiwan]]ese film ''Do You Love Me As I Love You'' had its Asian release moved to April.<ref name="TheStar" /> Cinemas in Asian countries without public restrictions have been increasing hygiene measures, with the spokesperson for one chain saying that they added more [[hand sanitizer]] dispensers, performed temperature checks on staff and moviegoers, cleaned facilities more frequently, and displayed public health warnings on the movie screens.<ref name="TheStar" /> The Lunar New Year holiday is a large market for film releases across Asia, but was stunted in 2020 as the outbreak began rapidly spreading over this period of time.<ref name="TheStar" />

At the start of March, the [[Production of the James Bond films|''James Bond'' film]] ''[[No Time to Die]]'', which was scheduled to premiere in March 2020 and to [[wide release]] in April 2020, was postponed to November and then subsequently to April 2021.<ref name="CNN" /> ''No Time to Die'' was the first film to change its planned release outside of China because of the early outbreak of [[COVID-19]], and has opened discussions of dramatic implications on the film economy: many other productions had avoided scheduling releases at the same time as the 25th ''Bond'' film, and its new November date is in the busy holiday release period, leading to low box office intake in March/April and uncertain intake in November.<ref name="Indiewire" /> However, the postponement could reportedly generate more publicity for the film, and is also taking the familiar November release slot of the past two ''Bond'' films.<ref name="BBCHollywood" /> It has also been suggested that other high-profile films will follow and postpone releases, creating a similar effect.<ref name="Indiewire" /><ref name="CNN" /> Several other films soon followed in postponing their releases worldwide: the heavily promoted Polish slasher film ''[[Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight|W lesie dziś nie zaśnie nikt]]'' (''Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight'') was postponed from March 13 to some point in the future when the situation had settled,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kultura.gazeta.pl/kultura/7,114438,25775493,w-lesie-dzis-nie-zasnie-nikt-premiera-filmu-z-julia-wieniawa.html|title=W lesie dziś nie zaśnie nikt – premiera filmu z Julią Wieniawą przesunięta|website=Gazeta.pl|date=March 10, 2020 |access-date=March 10, 2020}}</ref> and the political documentary ''[[Slay the Dragon]]'' had its theatrical release moved from March 13 to April 3.<ref name="DeadlineList" />

The sequel ''[[Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway]]'' was initially scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom and the US in late March and early April respectively, but due to uncertainty over the outbreak, the film was postponed to early August before being postponed once again to December 11, 2020, and January 15, 2021, respectively.<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-51822739|title=Peter Rabbit 2 film release delayed by four months amid coronavirus fears|work=bbc.com|publisher=BBC|date=March 10, 2020 | access-date=March 11, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311144337/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-51822739 | archive-date=March 11, 2020 | url-status=live}}</ref> [[Sony Pictures]], the film's production company, said that the changes internationally were because of coronavirus fears, with the US release moved in sync over worries of pirate copies and because the rival children's film [[DreamWorks Animation|DreamWorks]]/Universal's ''[[Trolls World Tour]]'' had moved its release date earlier, to the same weekend on which ''Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway'' was initially planned to be released.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/peter-rabbit-2-pushed-august-coronavirus-fears-1283449|title='Peter Rabbit 2' Pushed to August Over Coronavirus Fears (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 10, 2020|language=en|access-date=March 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311052240/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/peter-rabbit-2-pushed-august-coronavirus-fears-1283449|archive-date=March 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Trolls World Tour''<nowiki/>'s forward rescheduling takes it to what would have been ''No Time to Die''<nowiki/>'s weekend (both are distributed by Universal), and leaves it as the biggest film in April.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2020/03/06/box-office-dreamworks-universal-trolls-world-tour-trailer-anna-kendrick-justin-timberlake-rachel-bloom/|title=Box Office: 'Trolls: World Tour' Gets A New Trailer For A New Release Date|last=Mendelson|first=Scott|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=March 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307161649/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2020/03/06/box-office-dreamworks-universal-trolls-world-tour-trailer-anna-kendrick-justin-timberlake-rachel-bloom/|archive-date=March 7, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other major films have postponed releases in certain countries. The [[Pixar]] film ''[[Onward (film)|Onward]]'', released on the opening March weekend, was not opened in the areas most affected by the coronavirus outbreak; while cinemas were closed in China, it also chose not to open in South Korea, Italy or Japan.<ref name="Variety" /> Other March 2020 releases ''[[A Quiet Place Part II]]'' and ''[[Mulan (2020 film)|Mulan]]'' postponed their releases in affected areas, too. This prompted worry that, should March film openings underperform, blockbusters set for release in May (specifically Disney/[[Marvel Studios|Marvel]]'s ''[[Black Widow (2021 film)|Black Widow]]'' and Universal's ''[[F9 (film)|F9]]'') would move their dates later in the calendar. However, ''A Quiet Place Part II'' had its world premiere on New York City on March 8 scheduled as planned.<ref name="DeadlineBoxOffice" /><ref name="theguardian" /> ''Mulan'' not opening in China, where it aimed to make most of its money, was particularly concerning,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/movies-impacted-by-coronavirus-no-time-to-die-mulan-sonic-2020-3|title=5 movies that have been drastically impacted by the coronavirus, from 'Mulan' to 'No Time to Die'|last=Clark|first=Travis|website=Business Insider|access-date=March 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200307134637/https://www.businessinsider.com/movies-impacted-by-coronavirus-no-time-to-die-mulan-sonic-2020-3|archive-date=March 7, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> especially with the possibility that pirate copies will appear and prevent Chinese moviegoers from going to see it in cinemas when it is released.<ref name="CNBC" /> Comparatively, ''A Quiet Place Part II'' had not anticipated a large Chinese draw, as the box office for the [[A Quiet Place (film)|first film]] in the country was only 10% of its total.<ref name="theguardian" />

On March 12, 2020, it was announced that the global release of ''A Quiet Place Part II'' would be delayed, based on widespread advice and policies against large gatherings and it was first rescheduled to September 4, 2020, in time for the [[Labor Day]] weekend, then to its new date of April 23, 2021 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States|continuous virus surging in the United States]], before postponing again on its initial new date on September 17 until further moved to May 28.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/a-quiet-place-ii-delayed-coronavirus-crisis-1202880784/|title='A Quiet Place II' Global Release Delayed To Avoid Coronavirus Crisis – Update|last=Grater|first=Tom|date=March 12, 2020|website=Deadline|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312143756/https://deadline.com/2020/03/a-quiet-place-ii-delayed-coronavirus-crisis-1202880784/|archive-date=March 12, 2020|access-date=March 12, 2020}}</ref><ref name="rubin20200723">{{cite news|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/a-quiet-place-2-top-gun-maverick-release-date-delay-1234709716/|title='A Quiet Place 2,' 'Top Gun: Maverick' Delayed Until 2021|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 23, 2020 | access-date=July 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/a-quiet-place-part-2-delayed/|title=''A Quiet Place Part II'' moves to September amid latest wave of delayed releases|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|last=Aquilina|first=Tyler|date=January 22, 2021|access-date=May 1, 2023}}</ref> On the same day, the release of Indian film ''[[Sooryavanshi]],'' which was initially scheduled to release on March 24, was postponed indefinitely,<ref name="ABPLive" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/bollywood/story/sooryavanshi-release-date-postponed-due-to-coronavirus-will-be-back-when-the-time-is-right-1654909-2020-03-12|title=Sooryavanshi release date postponed due to coronavirus: Will be back when the time is right|date=March 12, 2020|work=India Today|access-date=March 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312173945/https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/movies/bollywood/story/sooryavanshi-release-date-postponed-due-to-coronavirus-will-be-back-when-the-time-is-right-1654909-2020-03-12|archive-date=March 12, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> and the release of ''F9'' was pushed to April 2, 2021.<ref name="BBCF9" /> ''Mulan''<nowiki/>'s March 12 London premiere went ahead without a red carpet,<ref name="BBCF9" /> and on March 13, it was announced that the film was removed from the release calendar, but had been rescheduled for July 24, 2020, taking the release date of another Disney film ''[[Jungle Cruise (film)|Jungle Cruise]]'' and was further delayed by four weeks to August 21, 2020. With no further rescheduling options, ''Mulan'' was removed from the release calendar again.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-unschedules-mulan-pushes-back-avatar-star-wars-films-a-year-1304133|title=Disney Unschedules 'Mulan,' Pushes Back 'Avatar' and 'Star Wars' Films a Year|first1=Pamela|last1=McClintock|first2=Aaron|last2=Couch|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 23, 2020|access-date=July 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Whitten|first=Sarah|date=2020-07-23|title=Disney delays 'Mulan' indefinitely, Star Wars and Avatar movies pushed back a year|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/23/disney-delays-mulan-indefinitely-star-wars-and-avatar-movies-pushed-back-a-year.html|access-date=2020-07-23|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=2020-06-26|title='Mulan' Release Date Postponed Again|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/mulan-release-postponed-coronavirus-disney-1234576142/|access-date=2020-07-23|website=Variety|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627000136/https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/mulan-release-postponed-coronavirus-disney-1234576142/|archive-date=June 27, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

Disney also postponed the releases of [[Antlers (2021 film)|''Antlers'']] and [[The New Mutants (film)|''The New Mutants'']], but not ''Black Widow''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shoard|first=Catherine|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/mar/13/disney-delays-release-of-mulan-the-new-mutants-and-antlers-as-black-widow-speculation-grows|title=Disney delays release of Mulan, The New Mutants and Antlers as Black Widow speculation grows|date=March 13, 2020|work=The Guardian|access-date=March 13, 2020|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313134732/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/mar/13/disney-delays-release-of-mulan-the-new-mutants-and-antlers-as-black-widow-speculation-grows|archive-date=March 13, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> This is speculated to be because the other films are standalone, while moving ''Black Widow'' – the first film of the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Four]] – would affect the development and distribution of the future [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] and the Marvel Disney+ works, with Disney holding off on an early postponement announcement until March 17, when they postponed ''Black Widow'' and their other May releases, ''[[The Personal History of David Copperfield]]'' and ''[[The Woman in the Window (2021 film)|The Woman in the Window]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/black-widow-release-coronavirus-1203532996/|title='Black Widow' Release Pulled Amid Coronavirus Pandemic|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=March 17, 2020|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=March 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317171619/https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/black-widow-release-coronavirus-1203532996/|archive-date=March 17, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/new-mutants-delay-disney-not-black-widow-why/|title=Why Disney Delayed New Mutants But Not Black Widow|date=March 13, 2020|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US|access-date=March 13, 2020}}</ref> Though it had earlier been speculated that ''Black Widow'' would be able to take Marvel's November release date planned for ''[[Eternals (film)|Eternals]]'',<ref name="DeadlineBoxOffice" /> it was not initially given a new date. On April 3, 2020, ''Black Widow'' was rescheduled to November 6, 2020, taking the release date of the aforementioned ''Eternals''. Three months later, on July 25, 2020, Disney announced that ''Antlers'' would get its new release date of February 19, 2021, nearly a year later after its original release.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=July 23, 2020|title='Star Wars' Films, 'Avatar' Sequels Pushed Back a Year in Disney Release Calendar Shakeup|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/star-wars-films-avatar-sequels-pushed-back-a-year-in-disney-release-calendar-shakeup-1234715104/|access-date=August 11, 2020}}</ref> In August 2020, Disney announced that it cancelled the theatrical release of ''[[Mulan (2020 film)|Mulan]]'' (live-action remake) in North America and would premiere the film on [[Disney+]] with [[Disney+ Premier Access|Premier Access]] instead. It went on to have a theatrical release in select countries, including China.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vary|first=Adam B.|date=2020-08-04|title='Mulan' to Skip Theaters for Disney Plus Premium Debut|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/mulan-disney-plus-premiere-1234711185/|access-date=2020-08-11|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/mulan-new-release-date-disney-earnings-call-1203003942/|title='Mulan' Going On Disney+ & Theaters In September; CEO Bob Chepak Says Decision Is A "One-Off", Not New Windows Model|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=August 4, 2020|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=August 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2020/08/disney-mulan-china-theatrical-release-1203009854/|title=Disney Confirms 'Mulan' China Theatrical Release|last=Grater|first=Tom|date=August 11, 2020|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=August 11, 2020}}</ref> On September 23, Disney postponed ''Black Widow'' to May 7, 2021,  [[Death on the Nile (2021 film)|''Death on the Nile'']] to December 18, 2020, and [[West Side Story (2021 film)|''West Side Story'']] to December 10, 2021. As a result, ''Eternals'' was also delayed to November 5, 2021, in order to maintain the MCU continuity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-09-23|title='Black Widow,' 'West Side Story,' 'Eternals' Postpone Release Dates|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/black-widow-west-side-story-eternals-release-date-delay-1234773491/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref>

[[Warner Bros.]] followed Disney by announcing the postponement of the rest of their upcoming slate on March 24. ''[[Tenet (film)|Tenet]]'' was pushed from July 17, 2020, to July 31, 2020, then August 12, 2020 before it was held up indefinitely.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Alexander|first=Julia|date=2020-07-20|title=Tenet delayed indefinitely by Warner Bros.|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/20/21331356/tenet-delayed-warner-bros-christopher-nolan-international-disney |access-date=2020-09-09|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref> ''[[Wonder Woman 1984]]'' was pushed to August 14, 2020, then to October 2, 2020, and then again to [[Christmas Day|December 25, 2020]], with ''[[Scoob!]]'', ''[[In the Heights (film)|In the Heights]]'', and ''[[Malignant (2021 film)|Malignant]]'' being delayed indefinitely. This resulted in ''Scoob!'' not having a theatrical release in North America and that film went straight to video on demand, while ''In the Heights'' moved to its new release date of June 18, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-bros-delays-release-heights-scoob-due-coronavirus-1285773|title=Warner Bros. Delays Release of 'In the Heights,' 'Scoob!' Due to Coronavirus|first=Mia|last=Galuppo|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 24, 2020|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref> Prior to this, on March 19, Universal and [[Illumination (company)|Illumination]] announced that ''[[Minions: The Rise of Gru]]'' had been pulled from its intended release date of July 3, 2020, not only due to the pandemic but also due to the temporary closing of its French [[Illumination Mac Guff]] animation studio in response to the pandemic, which would leave the film's animation to be unfinished on its original date.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/universal-delays-minions-rise-gru-1285396|title=Universal Delays 'Minions: The Rise of Gru' Early July Release|last=McClinkton|first=Pamela|date=March 19, 2020|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|access-date=March 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319172303/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/universal-delays-minions-rise-gru-1285396|archive-date=March 19, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 1, 2020, the film was rescheduled for July 2, 2021 taking the planned release date of ''[[Sing 2]]'', a year after its original date.<ref name="MinionsReleaseDate" />

The August 26 release of ''Tenet'' marked the first major American [[Blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]] film to be released theatrically. Due to safety concerns in the United States, the film premiered in 70 international markets through a staggered release model, before being released in select U.S. cities on September 3.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Alexander|first=Julia|date=2020-07-27|title=Tenet will be released internationally first because the US is a mess|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/27/21340447/tenet-release-date-united-states-international-delay-theaters-nolan |access-date=2020-09-09|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref> Its box office revenue had reached $150 million by September 6, 2020, with a modest $20 million in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=2020-09-06|title=Box Office: 'Tenet' Kicks Off With $20 Million in the U.S., Nears $150 Million Globally|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/tenet-box-office-opening-weekend-christopher-nolan-1234759699/ |access-date=2020-09-09|website=Variety|language=en}}</ref>

In September 2020, [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]] Chairman [[Tony Vinciquerra]] stated that the company will not release any big budget films to theatres until the pandemic is over.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Laman|first=Douglas|date=2020-09-10|title=Sony Pictures Won't Release Any Major Movies in Theaters Until the Pandemic Is Over|url=https://www.cbr.com/sony-covid-19-no-major-movies-in-theaters/ |access-date=2020-09-09|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|language=en}}</ref> On October 2, ''No Time to Die'' was delayed once more to April 2, 2021, due to a requirement for the film to have "a worldwide theatrical audience". This came amid continued closures of cinemas in the key U.S. markets of Los Angeles and New York City, as well the reinstatement of restrictions in the United Kingdom due to a second wave.<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2020-10-02|title='No Time To Die' Delayed To Easter Weekend 2021 As Pandemic Takes Grip At Box Office|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/no-time-to-die-delayed-to-easter-2021-1234590519/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> As Universal Pictures held the international distribution rights to ''No Time to Die'', its film ''[[F9 (film)|F9]]'' was delayed to May 28, 2021 ([[Memorial Day]] weekend) as to not [[Cannibalization (marketing)|cannibalize]] ''it''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2020-10-02|title='F9' Shifts To Memorial Day Weekend 2021 After James Bond Move|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/f9-release-date-change-may-2021-box-office-1234590633/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> ''No Time to Die'' has since been postponed again to September 30 in the UK and October 8 in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-21|title=James Bond: 'No Time To Die' Release Date Delayed to Fall|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/james-bond-pic-no-time-to-die-delays-release-to-fall|access-date=2021-01-22|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Warner|first=Sam|date=24 February 2021|title=No Time to Die confirms earlier release date in the UK|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a35610606/no-time-to-die-release-date-uk-2021-james-bond/|website=Digital Spy}}</ref> In March 2021, ''F9'' was postponed once again to June 25.<ref name="June2021Delay">{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=March 4, 2021 |title=''F9'' Postponed for the Third Time, ''Minions'' Sequel Pushed to 2022 |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/f9-release-date-postponed-summer-1234883492/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304233401/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/f9-release-date-postponed-summer-1234883492/ |archive-date=March 4, 2021 |access-date=March 4, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

The lack of theatrical releases from Hollywood studios resulted in an [[anime]] film—''[[Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train|Demon Slayer: Mugen Train]]''—becoming the first non-Hollywood film to ever top the annual worldwide box office. The film benefited from Japan's relative control of the pandemic at the time of its release, the popularity of the [[Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba|franchise]], and reduced competition from international films.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Penn|first=Michael|date=May 12, 2021|title='Perfect storm' propels Demon Slayer into the record books|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/5/12/perfect-storm-propels-demon-slayer-into-the-record-books|url-status=live|access-date=June 15, 2021|website=[[Al Jazeera English]]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Adkins|first1=Frankie|date=May 13, 2021|title=The 50 highest-grossing R-Rated movies of all time|work=[[Newsweek]]|url=https://www.newsweek.com/highest-grossing-r-rated-movies-all-time-1590184|access-date=June 20, 2021}}</ref>

With both Los Angeles and New York City having allowed cinemas to reopen by March 2021, it was expected that film distributors would be more confident in releasing higher-profile films.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Ramachandran|first=Naman|author-link=Naman Ramachandran|date=2021-03-23|title=Cineworld's Regal Cinemas to Reopen With 'Godzilla vs. Kong' in Deal With Warner Bros.|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/regal-cinemas-reopen-cineworld-godzilla-vs-kong-1234936229/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=2021-03-26|title=Los Angeles Movie Theaters: What's Open, What's Coming|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/box-office/la-theaters-whats-open-1234938403/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> During that month, Disney announced that ''Black Widow'' would open in theaters on July 9, 2021 and would also be available on Disney+ the same day with Premier Access, following the same release strategy that was used for one of the company's other films, ''[[Raya and the Last Dragon]]''.<ref name="JulyRelease">{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Rebecca |date=March 23, 2021 |title='Black Widow,' 'Cruella' to Debut on Disney Plus and in Theaters as Disney Shifts Dates for Seven Films |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/disney-postpones-black-widow-shang-chi-1234935874/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323190428/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/disney-postpones-black-widow-shang-chi-1234935874/ |archive-date=March 23, 2021 |access-date=March 23, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> Two more of Disney's films, ''[[Cruella (film)|Cruella]]'' and ''Jungle Cruise'', were also given this hybrid release.<ref name="JulyRelease" /><ref>{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |title=Dwayne Johnson Movie 'Jungle Cruise' Hitting Theaters & Disney+ Premier This Summer |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/dwayne-johnson-movie-jungle-cruise-hitting-theaters-disney-premier-this-summer-1234755464/ |website=Deadline Hollywood|date=13 May 2021 |access-date=13 May 2021 |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517015418/https://deadline.com/2021/05/dwayne-johnson-movie-jungle-cruise-hitting-theaters-disney-premier-this-summer-1234755464/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Despite the United States' progress on vaccination, spread of [[Delta variant]] intensified across the country in July 2021. As there was not yet a COVID-19 vaccine authorized for children younger than 12, a number of studios announced plans to delay films targeting families or pursue hybrid premium video on-demand (PVOD)/streaming releases;<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tapp|first=Tom|date=June 7, 2021|title=Paramount+ Sets Summer 2021 Lineup Including 'Quiet Place 2,' 'PAW Patrol' Movie And More As New Ad-Supported Plan Launches|url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/paramount-plus-summer-lineup-schedule-quiet-place-2-paw-patrol-movie-1234770644/|access-date=September 25, 2021|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last1=D'Alessandro|first1=Anthony|last2=Tartaglione|first2=Nancy|date=2021-08-26|title='Clifford The Big Red Dog' Showing Up At Paramount CinemaCon Presentation|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/clifford-the-big-red-dog-cinemacon-screening-1234822581/|access-date=2021-08-26|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> on July 31, Paramount Pictures cancelled the release of [[Clifford the Big Red Dog (film)|''Clifford the Big Red Dog'']] initially scheduled for September,<ref>{{Cite web|last1=D'Alessandro|first1=Anthony|last2=Pedersen|first2=Erik|date=2021-07-31|title='Clifford The Big Red Dog' Pulled From Paramount Release Schedule Over Delta Concerns; Pic Looking For New Date|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/clifford-the-big-red-dog-release-delayed-paramount-1234807014/|access-date=2021-08-03|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> and later rescheduled it for November with a hybrid release on [[Paramount+]],<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/clifford-the-big-red-dog-release-date-paramount-plus-1235019808/|title='Clifford the Big Red Dog' Sets November Release for Theaters, Paramount+|website=The Hollywood Reporter|author=Couch, Aaron|author2=McClintock, Pamela|date=September 23, 2021|access-date=September 25, 2021}}</ref> while [[United Artists Releasing]]'s ''[[The Addams Family 2]]'' was also shifted to a hybrid PVOD release.<ref name=":7" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2021-08-20|title='The Addams Family 2' Going Theatrical-PVOD Day & Date|url=https://deadline.com/2021/08/the-addams-family-2-going-theatrical-pvod-day-date-1234819111/|access-date=2021-11-24|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> On August 12, Sony Pictures delayed the release of ''[[Venom: Let There Be Carnage]]'' by three weeks to October 15, citing Delta variant, while it was also reported that Sony was planning to sell the distribution rights to ''[[Hotel Transylvania: Transformania]]'' to a streaming service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vary |first=Adam B. |date=August 16, 2021 |title='Hotel Transylvania 4' Skipping Theaters as Sony Nears Over $100 Million Deal With Amazon (Exclusive) |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/hotel-transylvania-4-amazon-streaming-rights-sony-1235042371/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816210600/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/hotel-transylvania-4-amazon-streaming-rights-sony-1235042371/ |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |access-date=August 16, 2021 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=2021-08-12|title='Venom: Let There Be Carnage' Has Been Delayed Again|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/venom-let-there-be-carnage-release-date-change-1235037720/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-13|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> On September 1, 2021, Paramount announced that the releases of ''[[Jackass Forever]]'', ''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]'', and ''[[Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One]]'' would be delayed to February 2022, May 2022, and July 2023, respectively, amid surging cases of Delta variant.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=2021-09-01|title='Top Gun: Maverick,' 'Mission: Impossible 7' Releases Delayed Amid Delta Surge|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/top-gun-maverick-mission-impossible-7-delayed-2022-1235053990/|access-date=2021-09-01|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mendelson |first=Scott |date=January 21, 2022 |title=Tom Cruise's 'Mission: Impossible 7' And '8' Shift To Summer 2023, 2024 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2022/01/21/paramount-moves-tom-cruise-mission-impossible-to-summer-2023-2024/?sh=5aeb849e37ed |url-status=live |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121210354/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2022/01/21/paramount-moves-tom-cruise-mission-impossible-to-summer-2023-2024/?sh=5aeb849e37ed |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |access-date=January 21, 2022 |website=[[Forbes]]}}</ref>

Some films still went on with exclusive theatrical releases; Disney decided against a hybrid release for ''[[Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings]]'', and used a 45-day theatrical window;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vary |first=Adam B. |date=2021-08-13 |title=Why Disney's 'Free Guy' Will Be on HBO Before It's on Disney Plus |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/free-guy-disney-plus-hbo-1235040893/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> it went on to gross $90 million over the four-day [[Labor Day]] long weekend, the largest four-day total for a Labor Day release since ''[[Halloween (2007 film)|Halloween]]'' in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Couch |first=Aaron |date=2021-09-04 |title=Box Office: 'Shang-Chi' Smashes Labor Day Record with $90M |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/box-office-shang-chi-marvel-simu-liu-1235005567/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> By late-September, it had become the highest-grossing film of 2021 in the U.S. and Canada, and the first film since COVID-19 to surpass $200 million in the domestic box office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2021-09-26 |title='Shang-Chi' Is The Highest-Grossing Pic At Pandemic Domestic B.O.; 'Dear Evan Hansen' Still Weeping With $7.5M – Sunday Update |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/dear-evan-hansen-weekend-box-office-shang-chi-1234843679/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=2021-10-01 |title=Box Office Milestone: 'Shang-Chi' Is First Pic of Pandemic Era to Cross $200M Domestically |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/shang-chi-box-office-pandemic-milestone-1235023846/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> The success of ''Shang-Chi'' led to the re-evaluation of hybrid releases by Disney, which announced on September 10 that all of its remaining films for 2021 would be released exclusively in theaters.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Whitten|first1=Sarah|date=September 10, 2021|title=Disney's remaining 2021 films will all have exclusive theatrical releases|work=[[CNBC]]|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/10/disney-says-eternals-west-side-story-will-be-released-to-theaters-only.html|access-date=September 15, 2021}}</ref>

On September 6, Sony moved the release date of ''Venom: Let There be Carnage'' up to October 1, 2021, replacing ''Hotel Transylvania: Transformania'' on its schedule after selling it to [[Amazon Prime Video]] in a nearly $100 million deal. The film would become the second film to surpass $200 million in the domestic box office during the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=September 6, 2021 |title='Venom: Let There Be Carnage' Heads To First Weekend Of October After Super 'Shang-Chi' Labour Day Stretch |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/venom-let-there-be-carnage-release-date-change-october-1234827831/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906160131/https://deadline.com/2021/09/venom-let-there-be-carnage-release-date-change-october-1234827831/ |archive-date=September 6, 2021 |access-date=September 11, 2021 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2021-11-13 |title='Venom: Let There Be Carnage' Becomes 2nd Movie During Pandemic To Cross $200M At Domestic Box Office |url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/venom-let-there-be-carnage-200m-domestic-box-office-second-movie-covid-1234873539/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> ''[[Spider-Man: No Way Home]]'', a Marvel Cinematic Universe film distributed by Sony Pictures, was released on December 17, 2021, and grossed over $601 million worldwide in its opening weekend. It also became the first film since ''[[Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker]]'' (2019) to exceed a gross of $1 billion at the global box office.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Whitten|first=Sarah|date=2021-12-26|title='Spider-Man: No Way Home' becomes first pandemic-era film to break $1 billion at global box office|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/26/spider-man-no-way-home-tops-1-billion-at-global-box-office.html|access-date=2022-01-07|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Tartaglione|first=Nancy|date=2021-12-20|title='Spider-Man: No Way Home' Is Even More Amazing With $601M Global Debut For 3rd Biggest WW Bow Ever; $341M Snared Overseas – International Box Office|url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/spider-man-no-way-home-global-opening-records-matrix-international-box-office-1234899298/|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-07|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>  By early-January 2022, it had grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, overtaking ''[[The Avengers (2012 film)|The Avengers]]'' as the [[List of highest-grossing films|eighth-highest-grossing film of all time]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-27|title=Spider-Man: No Way Home tops $1bn at box office|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59798609|access-date=2022-01-10|website=BBC News|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=2022-01-09|title='Spider-Man: No Way Home' Stands as Eighth-Highest Grossing Movie in History With $1.5 Billion Globally|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/spiderman-no-way-home-global-box-office-records-1235149805/|access-date=2022-01-10|website=Variety}}</ref>

The popularity of ''No Way Home'', as well as other pandemic-related factors, were cited in the box office failure of another prominent holiday release, [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[West Side Story (2021 film)|West Side Story]]''; despite positive reviews, analysts argued that the film skewed towards an older audience (mainly adult women) that was still hesitant to see films in theaters due to COVID-19 risks (especially with the recent emergence of [[Omicron variant]]), may have lacked a prominent star, and further argued that there had been a trend of live action [[musical film]]s falling out of favour among audiences (citing examples such as 2019's ''[[Cats (2019 film)|Cats]],'' and 2021 releases ''[[In the Heights (film)|In the Heights]]'' and ''[[Dear Evan Hansen (film)|Dear Evan Hansen]]).''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Whitten|first=Sarah|date=2021-12-26|title=With just $36.6 million in ticket sales, 'West Side Story' is officially a box-office bomb|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/26/west-side-story-is-officially-a-box-office-bomb.html|access-date=2022-01-07|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=2021-12-13|title=Why Steven Spielberg's 'West Side Story' Hit the Wrong Box Office Notes|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/west-side-story-box-office-steven-spielberg-1235131598/|url-status=live|access-date=2022-01-07|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> This growing trend would continue into 2022, with audiences beginning to show refusal to see and support [[prestige picture|prestige films]] that are not of any franchise or the comic book and horror genres in theaters for the entire second half of the year, resulting in the major financial failures of award season titles released at that time such as ''[[Armageddon Time]]'', ''[[Babylon (2022 film)|Babylon]]'', ''[[The Fabelmans]]'', ''[[She Said (film)|She Said]]'', ''[[Tár]]'', ''[[Till (film)|Till]]'', and ''[[Women Talking (film)|Women Talking]]''. Although a romantic horror film, ''[[Bones and All]]'' also underperformed because of its positioning as a film released during awards season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/why-she-said-bombed-box-office-oscar-season-flops-fabelmans-1235438084/|title='She Said' Bombs: Why Aren't Awards Season Movies Resonating With Audiences?|first=Brent|last=Lang|date=November 20, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/babylon-box-office-failure-damien-chazelle-paramount/|title=Babylon's Box Office Failure Signals The Dangers Of Directorial Self-Indulgence|first=Ben|last=Sherlock|date=January 2, 2023|website=Game Rant}}</ref> This trend would be somewhat temporarily broken by the commercial success of ''[[The Whale (2022 film)|The Whale]]'' in January 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/the-whale-box-office-crosses-10-million-brendan-fraser-hit-1235488798/|title=Brendan Fraser's 'The Whale' Passes $10 Million at Domestic Box Office|first=Rebecca|last=Rubin|date=January 14, 2023}}</ref> [[Sam Mendes]], who directed ''[[Empire of Light]]'', which was also released during that awards season, expressed his thoughts on the situation, saying<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/08/sam-mendes-great-era-going-to-movies-dying | title=The great era of going to the movies is dying, says Sam Mendes | newspaper=The Guardian | date=8 January 2023 | last1=Murray | first1=Jessica }}</ref> {{blockquote|"In a world where Spielberg's movie, and [[Damien Chazelle]]'s movie, and [[Alejandro González Iñárritu|Alejandro Inarritu]]'s [[Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths|movie]], [[James Gray (director)|James Gray]]'s movie, this movie... no one has gone to see them... all I can say is: it's clearly in trouble! Many of those movies were brilliantly reviewed. You know, ''The Fabelmans'' is one of the best reviewed movies of the year. It's taken $15 million at the U.S. box office. It's nearly finished its theatrical run. What hope is there for anyone? I've made a Bond movie; I made ''[[1917 (2019 film)|1917]]'' — which is an event movie but non-franchise; and I make a small movie like this. And this movie is ten times harder to publicise. And it's criticised ten times more than a Bond movie, because people are hoping it's going to make a case for the cinema, not just itself, but it has to be a masterpiece to get people out to see it."}}

==== Early home media releases ====
The 2019 sequel ''[[Frozen II]]'' was originally planned to be released on [[Disney+]] on June 26, 2020, before it was moved up to March 15. Disney CEO [[Bob Chapek]] explained that this was because of the film's "powerful themes of perseverance and the importance of family, messages that are incredibly relevant".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/disney-plus-frozen-2-streaming-early-coronavirus-1203534308/|title=Disney Plus to Stream 'Frozen 2' Three Months Early 'During This Challenging Period'|last=Donnelly|first=Matt|date=March 14, 2020|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=March 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314044246/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/disney-plus-frozen-2-streaming-early-coronavirus-1203534308/|archive-date=March 14, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/walt-disney-company-bringing-frozen-2-disney-three-months-early-1284637|title='Frozen 2' to Debut On Disney+ Months Earlier Than Planned|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 13, 2020|language=en|access-date=March 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314060719/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/walt-disney-company-bringing-frozen-2-disney-three-months-early-1284637|archive-date=March 14, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On March 16, 2020, Universal announced that ''[[The Invisible Man (2020 film)|The Invisible Man]]'', ''[[The Hunt (2020 film)|The Hunt]]'', and ''[[Emma (2020 film)|Emma]]'' – all films in theaters at the time – would be available through [[Video on demand|premium video on demand]] as early as March 20 at a suggested price of {{USD|19.99}} each.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/coronavirus-trolls-world-tour-invisible-man-the-hunt-emma-debut-on-demand-in-home-theatrical-window-collapse-1202884570/|title=Universal Making 'Invisible Man', 'The Hunt' & 'Emma' Available In Home On Friday As Exhibition Braces For Shutdown; 'Trolls' Sequel To Hit Cinemas & VOD Easter Weekend|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=March 16, 2020|work=Deadline Hollywood|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317001511/https://deadline.com/2020/03/coronavirus-trolls-world-tour-invisible-man-the-hunt-emma-debut-on-demand-in-home-theatrical-window-collapse-1202884570/|archive-date=March 17, 2020|access-date=March 16, 2020}}</ref> After suffering poor box office since its release at the start of March, ''Onward'' was made available to purchase digitally on March 21, and was added to Disney+ on April 3.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/onward-movie-release-date-on-demand-disney-plus/|title=Pixar's Onward Releases On-Demand Tonight, Hits Disney+ in April|date=2020-03-20|website=ScreenRant|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320145916/https://screenrant.com/onward-movie-release-date-on-demand-disney-plus/|archive-date=March 20, 2020|access-date=2020-03-20}}</ref> Paramount announced on March 20, ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (film)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' was also planning to have an early release to video on demand, on March 31.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/sonic-the-hedgehog-early-release-digital-1203540512/|title='Sonic the Hedgehog' Speeds to Early Release on Digital|last=McNary|first=Dave|author-link=Dave McNary|date=March 20, 2020|website=Variety|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320194248/https://variety.com/2020/film/box-office/sonic-the-hedgehog-early-release-digital-1203540512/|archive-date=March 20, 2020|access-date=March 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bui|first=Hoi-Tran|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/onward-digital-release-early/|title=Pixar's 'Onward' is Releasing Today on Digital, Just Two Weeks After It Hit Theaters|date=20 March 2020|access-date=21 March 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321063123/https://www.slashfilm.com/onward-digital-release-early/|archive-date=March 21, 2020|publisher=[[Slashfilm]]}}</ref> On March 16, Warner Bros. announced that ''[[Birds of Prey (2020 film)|Birds of Prey]]'' would be released early to video on demand on March 24.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/birds-of-prey-vod-early-coronavirus-1203535955/|title='Birds of Prey' Will Be Released on VOD Early|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=March 16, 2020|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317050900/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/birds-of-prey-vod-early-coronavirus-1203535955/|archive-date=March 17, 2020|access-date=March 17, 2020}}</ref> Three days later, the studio then announced that ''[[The Way Back (2020 film)|The Way Back]]'' would also be available on video on demand the same date as ''Birds of Prey''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=D'Alessandro|first1=Anthony|title=Ben Affleck Drama 'The Way Back' Heads Into Homes As Theaters Close|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/ben-affleck-the-way-back-home-home-release-coronavirus-1202888121/ |access-date=23 September 2020|work=Deadline|date=19 March 2020|language=en}}</ref> On April 3, Disney announced that ''[[Artemis Fowl (film)|Artemis Fowl]]'', a film adaptation of the 2001 [[Artemis Fowl (novel)|novel of the same name]], would be released straight to Disney+ on June 12, skipping a theatrical release entirely.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/artemis-fowl-pulled-disney-plus-streaming/|title=Disney Pulls 'Artemis Fowl' From Theaters, Will Debut on Disney+|date=April 3, 2020|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406020215/https://www.thewrap.com/artemis-fowl-pulled-disney-plus-streaming/|archive-date=April 6, 2020|access-date=April 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/artemis-fowl-disney-plus-premiere-date-1234583206/|title='Artemis Fowl' Premiere Date on Disney Plus Set as Movie Goes Direct-to-Streaming|last=Spangler|first=Todd|date=2020-04-17|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421130002/https://variety.com/2020/digital/news/artemis-fowl-disney-plus-premiere-date-1234583206/|archive-date=April 21, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

Chinese regulators, as well as the U.S. [[National Association of Theatre Owners]], have highly discouraged film distributors from engaging in this practice, in defense of the cinema industry.<ref>{{Cite web|title=China Shuts Down All Cinemas, Again|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-shuts-down-all-cinemas-again-1287040|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423151734/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/china-shuts-down-all-cinemas-again-1287040|archive-date=April 23, 2020|access-date=2020-04-21|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 27, 2020|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Alexander|first=Julia|date=2020-03-18|title=Trolls World Tour could be a case study for Hollywood's digital future|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/18/21184030/universal-trolls-world-tour-hunt-coronavirus-birds-of-prey-warner-bros-disney-paramount-vod-digital|access-date=2020-04-17|website=The Verge|language=en}}</ref>

''[[Trolls World Tour]]'' (sequel to the 2016 film) was released directly to video-on-demand rental upon its release on April 10,<ref name=":0" /> with limited theatrical screenings in the U.S. via drive-in cinemas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/trolls-world-tour-coronavirus-box-office-vod-easter-weekend-1202907646/|title='Trolls World Tour': Drive-In Theaters Deliver What They Can During COVID-19 Exhibition Shutdown – Easter Weekend 2020 Box Office|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2020-04-14|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2020-04-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423040709/https://deadline.com/2020/04/trolls-world-tour-coronavirus-box-office-vod-easter-weekend-1202907646/|archive-date=April 23, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> NBCUniversal CEO [[Jeff Shell]] told ''The Wall Street Journal'' on April 28 that the film had reached $100 million in revenue, and stated that the company had not ruled out performing releases "in both formats" as cinemas reopen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/trolls-world-tour-earns-nearly-100-million-in-first-3-weeks-of-vod-rentals-universal-says/|title=Universal's 'Trolls World Tour' Earns Nearly $100 Million in First 3 Weeks of VOD Rentals|date=2020-04-28|website=TheWrap|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506203336/https://www.thewrap.com/trolls-world-tour-earns-nearly-100-million-in-first-3-weeks-of-vod-rentals-universal-says/|archive-date=May 6, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Schwartzel|first=Erich|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trolls-world-tour-breaks-digital-records-and-charts-a-new-path-for-hollywood-11588066202|title=WSJ News Exclusive {{!}} 'Trolls World Tour' Breaks Digital Records and Charts a New Path for Hollywood|date=2020-04-28|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2020-04-28|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428234817/https://www.wsj.com/articles/trolls-world-tour-breaks-digital-records-and-charts-a-new-path-for-hollywood-11588066202|archive-date=April 28, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 28, in response to Shell's comments, American chain [[AMC Theatres]] announced that it would cease the screening of Universal Pictures films effective immediately, and threatened similar actions against any other exhibitor who "unilaterally abandons current windowing practices absent good faith negotiations between us".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/28/21240637/amc-theaters-universal-trolls-world-tour-disney-warnermedia-digital-streaming|title=AMC Theaters will no longer play Universal movies after Trolls World Tour's on-demand success|last=Alexander|first=Julia|date=2020-04-28|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=2020-04-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429030239/https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/28/21240637/amc-theaters-universal-trolls-world-tour-disney-warnermedia-digital-streaming|archive-date=April 29, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>  On July 28, the two companies announced an agreement allowing Universal the option to release a film to premium video on demand after a minimum of 17 days in its theaters, with AMC receiving a cut of revenue.<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2020-07-28|title=Universal & AMC Theatres Make Peace, Will Crunch Theatrical Window To 17 Days With Option For PVOD After|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/universal-amc-theatres-theatrical-window-crush-pvod-agreement-1202997573/|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Deadline|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Whitten|first=Sarah|date=2020-07-28|title=AMC strikes historic deal with Universal, shortening number of days films need to run in theaters before going digital|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/28/amc-strikes-historic-deal-with-universal-shortening-number-of-days-films-need-to-run-in-theaters-before-going-digital.html|access-date=2020-08-03|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref> Universal later reached similar pacts with [[Cinemark Theatres]] and [[Cineplex Entertainment]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2020-11-20|title=Universal Notches Canada's Cineplex With Dynamic Theatrical Window PVOD Pact Following AMC, Cinemark|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/universal-cineplex-amc-cinemark-theatrical-window-pvod-1234619367/|access-date=2020-11-20|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>

In a strategy called [[virtual cinema]], some film distributors have created new partnerships with small movie theaters and art houses to provide a portion of online streaming sales, including [[Kino Lorber]], [[Film Movement]], [[Music Box Films]], [[Hope Runs High]], and [[Oscilloscope Labs]].<ref name="kenigsberg" /><ref>{{Cite news|title=Once blacklisted, Lee Grant went on to win Oscars and make documentaries|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/01/arts/once-blacklisted-lee-grant-went-win-oscars-make-documentaries/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528111718/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/01/arts/once-blacklisted-lee-grant-went-win-oscars-make-documentaries/|archive-date=May 28, 2020|access-date=June 17, 2020|work=The Boston Globe}}</ref>

Warner Bros. Pictures announced in December 2020 that it would simultaneously release its slate of 2021 films both as theatrical releases and available for streaming on [[HBO Max]] for a period of one month.<ref name="variety wb 2021 films">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/warner-bros-hbo-max-theaters-dune-matrix-4-1234845342/|title=Warner Bros. to Debut Entire 2021 Film Slate, Including 'Dune' and 'Matrix 4,' Both on HBO Max and In Theaters|first1=Rebecca|last1=Rubin|first2=Matt|last2=Donnelly|date=December 3, 2020 | access-date = December 3, 2020|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> This approach, called "Project Popcorn", led to many filmmakers, production companies and theater chains to voice their disappointment and displeasure over the move, especially since they were not informed and consulted with over the move, as well as in regards to contractual and legal obligations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/12/16/hbo-max-warner-bros-streaming-deal/|title=Why filmmakers are so furious about Warner's HBO Max deal|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|first=Sonia|last=Rao|date=December 16, 2020|access-date=December 17, 2020}}</ref>

In March 2021, it was announced that Warner Bros. would discontinue same-day releases in 2022, as part of an agreement the studio reached with [[Cineworld]] (which operates [[Regal Cinemas]]), and would instead use a 45-day exclusive release window for theaters.<ref>{{cite web|last1=D'Alessandro|first1=Anthony|last2=Tartaglione|first2=Nancy|title=Regal Cinemas To Reopen In April; Parent Cineworld & Warner Bros Reach Multi-Year Deal To Show WB Films In U.S. & UK|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/cineworld-regal-warner-bros-deal-theatrical-windows-us-cinemas-reopening-1234719255/|website=Deadline |access-date=March 24, 2021|date=March 23, 2021|quote=Cineworld and Warner Bros have also hatched a multi-year agreement that will see the No. 2 global exhibitor show the studio's 2021 theatrical and HBO Max day-and-date titles in the U.S. as of their theatrical release. Then, beginning in 2022, Warner Bros theatrical films will have a 45-day window of theatrical exclusivity at Cineworld's Regal chain.}}</ref> The studio made a similar deal with AMC Theatres in August 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/amc-theatres-theatrical-window-bitcoin-1235037677/|title=AMC Theatres and Warner Bros. Agree to Shorten Theatrical Window|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|author=Rubin, Rebecca|author2=Lang, Brent|date=August 9, 2021|access-date=October 10, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/warnermedias-project-popcorn-box-office-hbo-max-experiment-gets-mixed-results-1235037096/ | title = "Project Popcorn": WarnerMedia's Box Office-HBO Max Experiment Gets Mixed Results | first = Pamela | last =McClintock | date = October 27, 2021 | accessdate = October 28, 2021 | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] }}</ref>

[[Pixar]]'s ''[[Luca (2021 film)|Luca]]'' went directly to Disney+ in the U.S. and Canada on June 18, 2021, along with a simultaneous limited run at the [[El Capitan Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://collider.com/luca-disney-plus-release-date-pixar-movie-details/ | title = Pixar's 'Luca' to Skip U.S. Theaters, Debut Exclusively on Disney+ at No Extra Charge | first = Jeff | last =Sneider | date = March 23, 2021 | accessdate = January 15, 2022 | work = [[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=3 June 2021|title=Disney/Pixar's Luca to Play Exclusive Theatrical Engagement at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre|url=https://www.boxofficepro.com/luca-el-capitan-theatre-exclusive-engagem|website=[[Boxoffice Pro]]|access-date=June 8, 2021|archive-date=June 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621014319/https://www.boxofficepro.com/luca-el-capitan-theatre-exclusive-engagement/|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2021 films ''[[The Boss Baby: Family Business]]'' and ''[[Halloween Kills]]'', both distributed by Universal Pictures, received similtaneous releases in theaters and on [[Peacock (streaming service)|Peacock]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Universal Putting 'The Boss Baby: Family Business' On Peacock Streaming Service Theatrical Day & Date In Bold Swing |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/boss-baby-family-business-peacock-theatrical-day-and-date-release-1234763244/ |author=Anthony D'Alessandro |date=May 24, 2021 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Halloween Kills' to Debut Day-and-Date in Theaters, on Peacock|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/halloween-kills-release-theaters-peacock-1235010752/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Gulappo|first=Mia|date=September 9, 2021|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> During the summer of that year, [[Paramount Pictures]] announced that it would release ''[[PAW Patrol: The Movie]]'' on [[Paramount+]] on the same day as its theatrical release.<ref>{{cite web |title=Paramount+ Announces a Mountain of Movies, Original Series and Live Sports Coming to the Service This Summer |url=https://ir.viacomcbs.com/news-releases/news-release-details/paramount-announces-mountain-movies-original-series-and-live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629233444/https://ir.paramount.com/news-releases/news-release-details/paramount-announces-mountain-movies-original-series-and-live|archive-date=June 29, 2023|website=ViacomCBS|url-status=live}}</ref> The studio also decided to cancel the theatrical release of ''[[Rumble (2021 film)|Rumble]]'' and instead released it on the streaming service on December 15, 2021.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Malholtra|first1=Rahul|title='Rumble' Trailer Reveals Animated Sports Movie Heading for a Paramount+ Release|url=https://collider.com/rumble-movie-trailer-release-date-paramount-plus/|website=Collider|date=November 26, 2021|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref>

[[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures]] released ''[[Encanto]]'' on Disney+ 30 days after an exclusive theatrical run.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Saperstein|first1=Adam B. Vary, Pat|last2=Vary|first2=Adam B.|last3=Saperstein|first3=Pat|date=2021-09-10|title=Disney Releasing 'Eternals,' 'Encanto' Exclusively in Theaters|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/eternals-encanto-west-side-story-last-duel-theaters-disney-1235061504/|access-date=2021-12-31|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-date=September 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910215817/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/eternals-encanto-west-side-story-last-duel-theaters-disney-1235061504/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whatsondisneyplus.com/when-is-disneys-encanto-coming-to-disney/|title=When Is Disney's Encanto Coming To Disney+?|website=What's On Disney Plus|date=September 11, 2021|access-date=November 5, 2021|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105015047/https://whatsondisneyplus.com/when-is-disneys-encanto-coming-to-disney/|url-status=live}}</ref> On January 7, 2022, it was announced that the Pixar film ''[[Turning Red]]'' would be skipping theaters entirely in the United States and Canada and would instead be released to Disney+ on March 11 along with one-week limited engagements at the El Capitan Theatre, [[AMC Empire 25]], and [[Grand Lake Theatre]], as well as several [[Showcase Cinemas|Showcase Cinema de Lux]] venues across the United Kingdom, amid the surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by the Omicron variant.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/pixars-turning-red-headed-straight-to-disney-1235071570/ | title = Pixar's 'Turning Red' Headed Straight to Disney+ Amid Omicron Surge | first = Etan | last =Vlessing | date = January 7, 2022 | accessdate = January 7, 2022 | work = [[The Hollywood Reporter]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=8 February 2022|title=''Turning Red'' To Have A Limited Engagement At The El Capitan Theatre|url=https://whatsondisneyplus.com/turning-red-to-have-a-limited-engagement-at-the-el-capitan-theatre/|website=whatsondisneyplus.com|access-date=February 27, 2022|archive-date=February 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212035112/https://whatsondisneyplus.com/turning-red-to-have-a-limited-engagement-at-the-el-capitan-theatre/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/the-batman-weekend-box-office-1234976639/|title='The Batman' Climbs To $238M+ US Today After Super Second Weekend Hold; Eyes Half Billion WW This Week – Sunday Update|website=Deadline Hollywood |date=2022-03-13 |access-date=2022-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-09 |title=Pixar's "Turning Red" on the Big Screen at Grand Lake Theater (Oakland) |url=https://sf.funcheap.com/pixars-turning-red-big-screen-grand-lake-theater-oakland/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315155342/https://sf.funcheap.com/pixars-turning-red-big-screen-grand-lake-theater-oakland/ |archive-date=2022-03-15 |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Funcheap |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Weston |first=Christopher |date=March 11, 2022 |title=Is Turning Red in theaters, streaming on Disney+ or both? |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/03/11/will-turning-red-be-in-theaters/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311175158/https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/03/11/will-turning-red-be-in-theaters/ |archive-date=2022-03-11 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |website=HITC}}</ref> In the following months, Universal Pictures announced that four more of their films, ''[[Marry Me (2022 film)|Marry Me]]'', ''[[Firestarter (2022 film)|Firestarter]]'', ''[[Halloween Ends]]'', and ''[[Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.]]'' would be released to Peacock on the same day as their theatrical releases.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/jennifer-lopez-owen-wilson-romantic-comedy-marry-me-going-theatrical-day-date-on-peacock-1234890052/|title=Jennifer Lopez & Owen Wilson Romantic Comedy ''Marry Me'' Going Theatrical Day & Date On Peacock|date=December 13, 2021|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=April 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/firestarter-remake-zac-efron-trailer-peacock-1235175887/|title=''Firestarter'' Remake with Zac Efron Debuts Trailer, Sets Day-and-Date Release on Peacock|first=Ethan|last=Shanfeld|work=Variety|date=February 9, 2022|access-date=April 11, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Halloween Ends' to Debut Simultaneously in Theaters and on Peacock|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/halloween-ends-release-peacock-1235348282/|work=Variety|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=August 23, 2022|access-date=August 31, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul' Set for Labor Day Opening in Theaters and on Peacock|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/honk-for-jesus-save-your-soul-release-peacock-1235196488/|work=Variety|last=Jackson|first=Angelique|date=March 4, 2022|access-date=April 11, 2022}}</ref> The last of the earliest home media releases was ''[[The Fabelmans]]'' on February 14, 2023, but it was not an earliest home media release, it was moved to later home media releases.<ref>{{cite web | last=McClintock| first=Pamela|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/black-panther-wakanda-forever-box-office-strange-world-1235270031/ | title=Thanksgiving Box Office: 'Black Panther 2' Feasts on $64M as 'Strange World' Flops with $18.6M | website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] | date=November 27, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tingley |first=Anna |date=January 18, 2023|title='The Fabelmans' Gets Digital and Blu-ray Release |url=https://variety.com/shop/how-to-watch-the-fabelmans-online-streaming-1235492607/ |access-date=February 20, 2023 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

== Productions ==
{{See also|List of films impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic#Productions}}
Film productions in the key outbreak zones (predominantly China, South Korea, and Italy) have changed their schedules, changed location, or have shut down completely. Sony Pictures closed its offices in London, Paris, and Poland after an employee was thought to have been exposed to the virus.<ref name="theguardian" /> The [[Writers Guild of America]] and [[SAG-AFTRA]] have canceled all in-person meetings.<ref name="DeadlineList" /> The [[Hengdian World Studios]] in [[Dongyang]], China, has closed indefinitely.<ref name="DeadlineChineseFilms" /> The Philippine movie studios [[Star Cinema]], [[Regal Entertainment]], and [[Cinema One Originals]] also suspended shooting of their films, effective March 15, the same day as a quarantine in [[Metro Manila]] and [[Cainta]], [[Rizal (province)|Rizal]] was enacted.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/news/254487-movie-companies-suspend-production-coronavirus-metro-manila-lockdown|title=PH movie companies suspend film production|date=March 14, 2020|website=Rappler|access-date=March 14, 2020}}</ref>

Several Chinese and Hong Kong films have stopped production, including ''Blossoms'', the upcoming film directed by [[Wong Kar-wai]], which was scheduled to shoot in Shanghai;<ref name="IndieWireList" /> [[Jia Zhangke]]'s next film, which was planning to begin filming in China in April, but has been put on hold until at least next spring, with Zhangke saying he might even rewrite the script;<ref name="IndieWireList" /> and ''Polar Rescue'', a [[Donnie Yen]] film, which shut down production until the end of the year.<ref name="DeadlineChineseFilms" />

One of the first big production shutdowns was that of ''[[Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One]]'', which was scheduled to begin filming in [[Venice, Italy]] when the crew was sent home and the sets left behind.<ref name="QZ" /> After actor [[Tom Hanks]] became infected with the coronavirus, the [[Elvis (2022 film)|Elvis Presley biopic]] he was working on in [[Queensland]], [[Australia]] was shut down, with everyone on the production put into quarantine. Production company [[Warner Bros.]] began working with the Australian public health services to identify other people who may have been in contact with Hanks and his wife [[Rita Wilson]], who had been performing at venues including the [[Sydney Opera House]] shortly before both were tested positive.<ref name="BBCTomHanks" />  The [[Marvel Studios]] film ''[[Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings]]'', which was also shooting in Australia, had its first unit production temporarily suspended on March 12, 2020, due to director [[Destin Daniel Cretton]] self-isolating while awaiting results for a coronavirus test, which came back negative.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/marvels-shang-chi-suspends-production-as-director-isolates-1284454|title=Marvel's 'Shang-Chi' Temporarily Suspends Production as Director Self-Isolates (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 12, 2020|language=en|access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313051304/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/marvels-shang-chi-suspends-production-as-director-isolates-1284454|archive-date=March 13, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B90aKizJk9K/|title=Destin Cretton on Instagram: "Last Friday, I decided to be tested for the Corona virus. I was working in close proximity with some people who had potentially been..."|website=Instagram}}</ref>

The [[Association of Independent Commercial Producers]] (AICP) released a set of guidelines and work place practices in early-May 2020 as restrictions began to lift across the U.S. This set included specific guidelines for all departments and worksites involved in productions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Production Specific - Departmental Guidance|url=https://www.aicp.com/business-resources/business-affairs-information/aicp-guidlines/covid-19-workplace-guidelines/production-specific-considerations/|access-date=August 21, 2020|work=AICP}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Robb|first=David|date=August 21, 2020|title=Commercial Producers Trade Group Issues Guidelines As Restrictions Ease|url=https://deadline.com/2020/05/commercial-producers-trade-group-issues-guidelines-as-restrictions-ease-1202925246/|access-date=May 4, 2020}}</ref> An industry task force of studios and unions submitted a report on June 1, 2020, with various recommendations on health and safety guidelines for cast and crew of productions. These guidelines include regular testing, wearing face coverings at all times when not filming, actors practicing social distancing "whenever possible", reducing or modifying scenes involving "close contact", and recommending that casting be performed via videoconferencing or self-recorded video rather than in-person.<ref>{{Cite report|url=http://www.editorsguild.com/Portals/0/DNNGalleryPro/uploads/2020/6/1/IWLMSCTaskForceWhitePaper.pdf|title=Proposed Health and Safety Guidelines for Motion Picture, Television, and Streaming Productions During the COVID-19 Pandemic|date=June 1, 2020|access-date=August 17, 2020|work=Industry-Wide Labor Management Safety Committee Task Force}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Alexander|first=Bryan|date=June 2, 2020|title=Hollywood studios, guilds release reopening plan for movie, TV production during COVID-19|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2020/06/02/hollywood-releases-production-reopening-guidelines-post-covid-19/5314878002/|access-date=August 17, 2020|website=USA Today}}</ref>

On June 5, 2020, Governor of California [[Gavin Newsom]] announced that film and television production could resume in the state beginning June 12, provided that conditions permit and approval is received from a county's public health officials.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tapp|first=Tom|date=2020-06-05|title=California Governor Gavin Newsom Announces Guidelines For Restarting Film & TV Production On June 12, If Local Conditions Permit|url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/california-governor-gavin-newsom-guidelines-restarting-production-1202952158/|access-date=2020-06-22|website=Deadline|language=en}}</ref> Newsom incorporated key guidelines from the task force's report.<ref>{{Cite web|date=June 8, 2020|title=Gov. Newsom Announces Guidelines for Reopening Hollywood|url=https://www.dwt.com/insights/2020/06/california-film-production-guidelines|access-date=August 17, 2020|work=Davis Wright Tremaine LLP}}</ref> The next day, a group of unions (including the [[Directors Guild of America]], the [[International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees]], the [[International Brotherhood of Teamsters]], and [[SAG-AFTRA]]) published a 36-page report detailing safety protocols agreed upon for union film and television productions, including regular testing of cast and crew members, closed sets, access zones, shooting limited to 10-hour sessions, and all productions requiring an on-set health safety supervisor.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sakoui|first=Anousha|date=June 12, 2020|title=Hollywood is reopening with detailed new rules for productions amid COVID-19|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-06-12/hollywood-reopening-rules-productions-covid-19-pandemic|access-date=August 17, 2020|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|author-link=Dave McNary|date=June 12, 2020|title=Hollywood Unions Release Back-to-Work Guidelines for Resuming Production|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/hollywood-back-to-work-guidelines-coronavirus-1234632931/|access-date=August 17, 2020|work=Variety}}</ref>

On February 9, 2021, it was announced that [[Blue Sky Studios]], a computer animation studio which had been acquired by Disney during its purchase of 21st Century Fox, would be closed due to the economic impact of the pandemic on their business operations. The closure of Blue Sky also resulted in its cancellation of a film adaptation of ''[[Nimona]]'', which was reported to be 75% complete.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Laman|first=Douglas|date=2021-02-10|title=Disney's Blue Sky Shut Down Leaves Nimona Film 75% Completed|url=https://www.cbr.com/nimona-film-abandoned-disney-blue-sky-shut-down/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-02-22|website=CBR|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="DeadlineStudioClose">{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=February 9, 2021|title=Disney Closing Blue Sky Studios, Fox's Once-Dominant Animation House Behind 'Ice Age' Franchise|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/blue-sky-studios-closing-disney-ice-age-franchise-animation-1234690310/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209175505/https://deadline.com/2021/02/blue-sky-studios-closing-disney-ice-age-franchise-animation-1234690310/|archive-date=February 9, 2021|access-date=February 9, 2021|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref name="Hollywood Reporter closure">{{Cite web|last=Giardina|first=Carolyn|date=February 9, 2021|title=Disney Shutting Blue Sky Animation Studio|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/behind-screen/disney-to-shutter-ice-age-animation-studio-blue-sky|url-status=live|access-date=February 9, 2021|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211015107/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/behind-screen/disney-to-shutter-ice-age-animation-studio-blue-sky|archive-date=February 11, 2021}}</ref>

== Exhibitors ==
[[File:48_States_Have_Reopened_Theatres_(50429691641).jpg|right|thumb|Regal Cinemas' [[Union Square, Manhattan|Union Square]] location in October 2020, displaying a message on its marquee protesting continued closures of cinemas in the state of New York; "48 states have reopened theatres safely. Why not New York, [[Andrew Cuomo|Governor Cuomo]]?"<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2020-10-21|title=Regal Cinemas Reopening In New York Following Gov. Cuomo's OK For Movie Theaters|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/regal-cinemas-reopening-new-york-andrew-cuomo-coronavirus-1234601208/|access-date=2020-10-21|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=2020-10-09|title=Regal Cinemas Jabs NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo On Times Square Marquee For Shuttered Theaters Across State|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/regal-cinemas-prods-ny-gov-andrew-cuomo-times-square-marquee-1234594941/|access-date=2020-10-22|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>]]
The [[stock]] of [[Movie theater|exhibitors]], companies that own and finance showing films in cinemas and theaters, continued falling even as the global stock market rebounded. Mid-week on March 4, 2020, [[Cinemark Theatres|Cinemark]] fell by 0.53% and [[AMC Theatres|AMC]] by 3.5%.<ref name="DeadlineBond" /> That day, ''No Time to Die'' had its release postponed; by March 6, AMC's shares had fallen by 30% over two weeks. Between March 4 and 6, [[Cineworld]]'s shares fell 20%,<ref name="theguardian" /> and fell another 24% on March 12.<ref name="Sky" /> The falls result from a combination of AMC closing selected cinemas in Italy<ref name="DeadlineBond" /> and the lack of confidence in the market created by ''No Time to Die'' moving its release date; other new releases on its original opening weekend will not be as much of a draw for moviegoers and could result in financial losses for the chains showing them.<ref name="DeadlineBoxOffice" /> The in-theater advertising company [[National CineMedia]] also reported stock falling, by 1.25% on March 4.<ref name="DeadlineBond" />

By March 12, Cinemark, AMC and National CineMedia stocks had all fallen by over 35% since the beginning of the month.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2020/03/12/hollywood-braces-for-coronavirus-slump-the-movie-releases-pushed-back-so-far/|title=Hollywood Braces For Coronavirus Slump: The Movie Releases Pushed Back So Far|last=Berg|first=Madeline|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313015610/https://www.forbes.com/sites/maddieberg/2020/03/12/hollywood-braces-for-coronavirus-slump-the-movie-releases-pushed-back-so-far/|archive-date=March 13, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Cineworld, the world's second-largest cinema chain, warned on March 12, when multiple films pushed back their releases, that extended disruption and continuing falling stock could cause the company to collapse.<ref name="Sky" /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/03/coronavirus-movies-postponed-list|title=The Coronavirus Pandemic Has Wiped Out Some of the Year's Biggest Blockbusters|last=Rosen|first=Christopher|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=March 12, 2020|language=en|access-date=March 13, 2020}}</ref>

In August 2020, California announced a new color-coded tier system that would allow restrictions to be lifted in specific counties based on health metrics, effective August 31.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=Higgins-Dunn|first=Noah|date=2020-08-28|title=California's Newsom deploys new coronavirus reopening framework, most counties under strict orders|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/28/californias-newsom-deploys-new-coronavirus-reopening-framework-most-counties-under-strict-orders.html|access-date=2020-09-02|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|date=2020-08-28|title=Governor Newsom Unveils Blueprint for a Safer Economy, a Statewide, Stringent and Slow Plan for Living with COVID-19|url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/08/28/governor-newsom-unveils-blueprint-for-a-safer-economy-a-statewide-stringent-and-slow-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/|access-date=2020-09-02|website=California Governor|language=en}}</ref> Cinemas would be allowed to operate at limited capacity if a county is in the red (""Substantial") tier or better. This would scale from at 25%/100 patrons (whichever is smaller) in red counties, to 50%/200 patrons in orange ("Moderate") counties, and 50% with no hard maximum in counties under the lowest yellow ("Minimal") tier. The majority of the state was still in the purple ("Widespread") tier at the onset of the system, where cinemas remained closed. These health orders can still be superseded with stricter rules by local officials.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-30|title=Movie Theaters in Select California Counties Allowed to Open Starting August 31|url=https://www.boxofficepro.com/ca-reopening-aug31/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Boxoffice|language=en-US}}</ref>

On October 3, after ''No Time to Die'' was delayed until April 2021, it was reported that Cineworld was considering suspending the operations of all of its cinemas in the UK and Ireland, and most US [[Regal Cinemas]] indefinitely, citing the lack of tentpole releases as impacting its business.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kollewe|first=Julia|date=2020-10-04|title=Cineworld to close all UK and US venues putting thousands of jobs at risk|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/oct/04/cineworld-to-close-all-its-uk-cinemas-putting-5500-jobs-at-risk|access-date=2020-10-04|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2020-10-04|title=Cineworld Chain, Owner Of U.S. Regal, Closing Cinemas In Wake Of 'No Time To Die' Postponement|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/cineworld-regal-closing-cinemas-no-time-to-die-delay-1234590897/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Wilson|first=Bill|date=2020-10-04|title=Cineworld closure puts 5,500 jobs at risk|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-54407213|access-date=2020-10-04}}</ref> The company confirmed the move on October 5, with CEO [[Mooky Greidinger]] stating that it was too expensive to continue operating its cinemas without a consistent lineup of new releases (having initially planned to hold out until ''No Time to Die'' was released), and argued that the continued closure of cinemas in the state of New York has made studios reluctant to release films due to the underperformance of ''Tenet''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tartaglione|first=Nancy|date=2020-10-05|title=Cineworld Boss Mooky Greidinger Says Decision To Close U.S. & UK Cinemas Was Spurred By NY Governor Andrew Cuomo's "Inflexibility"|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/cineworld-regal-cinema-closures-mooky-greidinger-interview-andrew-cuomo-covid-1234591216/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> The closures excluded seven Regal locations in California that had recently been allowed to reopen.<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2020-10-08|title=Some Good Exhibition News For Once: Seven California Regal Cinemas Staying Open; Ventura County Turning On Lights|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/regal-theaters-not-closing-down-ventura-county-movie-theaters-reopen-1234593962/|access-date=2020-10-21|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>

Although [[San Francisco County]] began to allow cinemas to reopen on October 7, the majority of cinemas remain closed due to a boycott by the National Association of Theatre Owners of California/Nevada, due to local guidelines prohibiting the sale of concessions. The group stated that this restriction "makes it economically impossible for our members to reopen and significantly limits the moviegoing experience for our audiences."<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2020-10-07|title=Theatre Owners Agree To Keep San Francisco Cinemas Closed Due To Concessions Ban|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/san-francisco-movie-theaters-wont-open-concessions-nato-covid-19-1234593091/|access-date=2020-10-07|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Cinemark]] announced later that month that it would reopen selected cinemas in the Bay Area and [[Santa Clara County, California|Santa Clara County]], operating in compliance with the concessions prohibition.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=2020-10-26|title=Cinemark To Open Some Theaters In San Francisco, Santa Clara Without Concessions|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/cinemark-will-open-some-theaters-san-francisco-santa-clara-without-concessions-1234603292/|access-date=2020-10-26|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> On October 17, New York announced that it will allow cinemas outside New York City and situated in counties with a 14-day average of cases below 2% to reopen on October 23, at a maximum capacity of 50 patrons per-screen.<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2020-10-17|title=Theatre Owners "Pleased" With Cuomo's Move Allowing New York Cinemas To Reopen On October 23 – Update|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/new-york-movie-theaters-outside-of-the-city-can-reopen-on-oct-23-1234599197/|access-date=2020-10-18|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>

On November 9, 2020,  Regal announced that the selected California and New York locations it had recently reopened would close indefinitely November 12.<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2020-11-10|title=Regal Cinemas Closing Down Remaining New York & California Locations|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/regal-cinemas-closing-down-new-york-and-california-movie-theaters-1234611898/|access-date=2020-11-10|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> The same day, the share prices of AMC, Cinemark, and Disney rose on early reports by [[Pfizer]] on the efficacy of a [[Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine|COVID-19 vaccine]] in development by the company and [[BioNTech]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pallotta|first=Frank|title=AMC Theatres stock surges on vaccine news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/09/media/amc-cinemark-stock-theaters-vaccine/index.html|access-date=2020-11-10|website=CNN|date=November 9, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Thomas|first1=Katie|last2=Gelles|first2=David|last3=Zimmer|first3=Carl|date=2020-11-09|title=Pfizer's Early Data Shows Vaccine Is More Than 90% Effective|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/health/covid-vaccine-pfizer.html|access-date=2020-11-10|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

On March 5, 2021, cinemas in New York City were given authorization to reopen, subject to the same 50-patron limit as the remainder of the state.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=2021-03-06|title=New York City Cinemas Reopen Today After A Year; What To Expect As Tickets On Sale From 'Raya' To 'Tenet'- Update|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/new-york-cinemas-open-what-to-expect-amc-regal-1234707773/|access-date=2021-03-11|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> On March 11, after Los Angeles County moved from purple to red on the ''Blueprint for a Safer Economy'', the [[Los Angeles County Department of Public Health]] (LACDPH) gave authorization for cinemas to resume operations in the area at 25% capacity.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McClintock|first=Pamela|date=2021-03-11|title=It's Official: Los Angeles Movie Theaters Can Reopen Next Week|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/its-official-los-angeles-movie-theaters-can-reopen-next-week|access-date=2021-03-24|website=Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref> 42 of the approximately 107 cinemas (as of 2019) in the LA area had resumed operations by March 26, with some chains and independent cinemas expecting to reopen over the next few weeks for the opening of ''[[Godzilla vs. Kong]]''.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" />

Two weeks later, movie theaters in Los Angeles began reopening with 25% capacity. On March 23, 2021, Regal Cinemas announced that they would reopen their cinemas beginning April 2, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=D'Alessandro|first1=Anthony|last2=Tartaglione|first2=Nancy|date=2021-03-22|title=Regal Cinemas To Reopen In April; Parent Cineworld & Warner Bros Reach Multi-Year Deal To Show WB Films In U.S. & UK|url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/cineworld-regal-warner-bros-deal-theatrical-windows-us-cinemas-reopening-1234719255/|access-date=2021-03-24|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> On April 19, it was announced that capacity for New York cinemas would be raised to 33% on April 26.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hayes|first=Dade|date=2021-04-19|title=NY Movie Theaters Can Boost Capacity To 33% On April 26, NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo Announces|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/ny-movie-theaters-can-boost-capacity-to-33-on-april-26-ny-gov-andrew-cuomo-announces-in-first-full-press-conference-in-weeks-1234739440/|access-date=2021-04-21|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>  The same day, California issued an addendum that orange-tier counties would be restricted to 50% with no hard cap on patrons, and that counties under the yellow ("Minimal") tier would be allowed to operate cinemas and other selected venues at up to 75% capacity if all attendees present proof of full vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. Guidance was also issued for seating sections with less physical distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tapp|first=Tom|date=2021-04-19|title=New California Rule Allows 75% Capacity For Movie Theaters In Yellow Tier, No Physical Distancing As Long As Crowds Are Fully Vaccinated – Update|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/indoor-concerts-sports-theater-in-california-reopen-april-15-1234726938/|access-date=2021-04-21|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>

After filing for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection]] in October 2020 and March 2021, respectively,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=2020-10-27|title=Studio Movie Grill Cinema Chain Files For Chapter 11 As Exhibitors Stagger Under COVID-19 Woes|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/studio-movie-grill-cinema-chain-files-chapter-11-on-covid-woes-1234604229/|access-date=2021-04-22|website=Deadline Hoollywood|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lang|first=Brent|date=2021-03-03|title=Alamo Drafthouse Files for Chapter 11, Announces Sale to Altamont Capital, Fortress Investment|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/alamo-drafthouse-bankruptcy-chapter-11-sale-1234920558/|access-date=2021-04-22|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Studio Movie Grill]] and [[Alamo Drafthouse Cinema]] respectively emerged from Chapter 11 in late-April 2021 and early-June 2021 with new funding, and some underperforming locations closed along with plans for new theaters being built.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fuster|first=Jeremy|date=2021-04-21|title=Studio Movie Grill Emerges From Bankruptcy, With 19 Theaters Reopened by Memorial Day|url=https://www.thewrap.com/studio-movie-grill-emerges-from-bankruptcy-with-19-theaters-reopened-by-memorial-day/|access-date=2021-09-15|website=The Wrap|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=2021-06-01|title=Alamo Drafthouse Emerges From Bankruptcy, Plans to Open Five New Theaters|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/alamo-drafthouse-bankruptcy-end-1234985368/|access-date=2021-06-01|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> On April 21, 2021, [[The Decurion Corporation]], the parent company of [[ArcLight Hollywood|Arclight Cinemas]], the [[Cinerama Dome]], and [[Pacific Theatres|Pacific Theaters]], announced they would be shutting down all of its locations, due to the financial impact of the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lang|first=Brent|date=2021-04-13|title=Arclight Cinemas, Pacific Theatres Will Close Permanently|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/arclight-cinemas-pacific-theatres-covid-1234949832/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2021-04-13|title=Arclight Cinemas And Pacific Theatres Won't Be Reopening; Parent Company Decurion Hands Keys Back To Landlords|url=https://deadline.com/2021/04/arclight-cinemas-and-pacific-theatres-wont-be-reopening-1234732936/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> Two months later, Pacific Theaters filed for [[Chapter 7, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 7 bankruptcy]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2021-06-18|title=Pacific Theatres Files For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy|url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/pacific-theatres-files-for-chapter-7-bankruptcy-1234778039/|access-date=2021-06-18|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> In the following months, the leases to many former Arclight Cinemas and Pacific Theaters locations were acquired by other movie theater chains such as Regal Cinemas, AMC Theatres, and [[Landmark Theatres]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=Regal Cinemas Signs New Lease For Space Previously Occupied By Arclight Sherman Oaks |url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/regal-arclight-sherman-oaks-lease-1234778350/ |access-date=29 December 2021 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=19 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2021-07-19|title=AMC Closes Deal For Grove & Americana Leases In L.A.; Venues Reopening In August With PLF Upgrades – Update|url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/amc-pacific-theatres-grove-americana-movie-theaters-arclight-1234775901/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-29|work=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=Landmark Takes Over Former Arclight Cinemas Glen Town Center Location In Illinois |url=https://deadline.com/2021/11/landmark-theatres-arclight-cinemas-glen-town-center-takeover-1234882338/ |access-date=29 December 2021 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=29 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=2021-12-21|title=AMC Entertainment Takes Over Two More Arclight Cinemas And Pacific Theatres – In LA, Chicago|url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/amc-entertainment-arclight-and-pacific-theatres-la-chicago-1234900923/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-29|work=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222222505/https://deadline.com/2021/12/amc-entertainment-arclight-and-pacific-theatres-la-chicago-1234900923/ |archive-date=2021-12-22 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=2022-02-08|title=AMC Entertainment In Lease Deals For Former ArcLight Theaters In San Diego, D.C. Markets|url=https://deadline.com/2022/02/amc-entertainment-arclight-theaters-san-diego-1234928467/|url-status=live|access-date=2022-02-08|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Goldsmith |first1=Jill |title=AMC Entertainment Acquires 13-Screen Former ArcLight Cinema In Boston |url=https://deadline.com/2022/12/amc-entertainment-arclight-cinema-boston-adam-aron-1235202349/ |access-date=19 December 2022 |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=19 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=April 13, 2023|title=Regal To Reopen Former ArcLight Theatre At The Paseo In Pasadena|url=https://deadline.com/2023/04/regal-reopning-arclight-theatre-paseo-in-pasadena-1235325022/|url-status=live|access-date=April 13, 2023}}</ref> In June 2022, it was announced that Decourion Corp. has plans to reopen the Cinerama Dome and former 14-screen Arclight Hollywood cinema.<ref name="returning">{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/cinerama-hollywood-liquor-license-1235306558/|title=Cinerama Dome Returning With New Name, Plans for Two Bars and Restaurant|date=June 30, 2022|newspaper=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|accessdate=2022-07-04}}</ref> In September of that year, it was reported that the locations would not be reopening until at least the latter part of 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McClintock|first=Pamela|date=2022-09-16|title=ArcLight Hollywood and Cinerama Dome Won't Reopen This Year|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/cinerama-dome-arclight-wont-reopen-this-year-1235206315/|access-date=2022-09-17|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref> During that month, Cineworld filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and closed 12 U.S. cinemas.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldsmith|first1=Jill|last2=Tartaglione|first2=Nancy|title=Regal Parent Cineworld Files For Bankruptcy|url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/regal-parent-cineworld-bankruptcy-1235110071/|work=Deadline|date=September 7, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=D'Alessandro|first1=Anthony|last2=Goldsmith|first2=Jill|date=2022-09-30|title=Regal Closes 12 U.S. Cinemas As Parent Cineworld Grapples With Bankruptcy|url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/regal-closes-12-cinemas-cineworld-bankruptcy-1235132333/|access-date=2022-10-08|website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US}}</ref> In January 2023, Regal Cinemas announced that 39 more of their locations would be closing unless the leases were renegotiated.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moreau|first=Jordan|date=2023-01-19|title=Regal Cinemas to Shut Down 39 U.S. Theaters Amid Bankruptcy|url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/regal-cinemas-shut-down-theaters-bankruptcy-1235495319/|access-date=2023-01-19|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Brueggemann|first1=Tom|last2=Welk|first2=Brian|date=2023-02-15|title=39 Regal Theaters Were Supposed to Close February 15: Here's Why Most Are Still Open|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2023/02/regal-theaters-havent-closed-yet-1234809993/|access-date=2023-02-20|website=Indie Wire|language=en-US}}</ref> The following week, Cineworld announced it was currently pursuing a sale of its company and all of its assets to 30 potential buyers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=2023-01-25|title=Regal Parent Cineworld Has Reached Out To 30 Potential Buyers As It Pursues Sale; Initial Bids Due Next Month|url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/regal-cineworld-bankruptcy-asset-sale-bids-due-1235241060|access-date=2023-01-26|website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US}}</ref> In February 2023, the company announced that received around 40 non-binding bids from potential buyers for non-U.S. assets.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vlessing|first=Etan|date=2023-02-21|title=Cineworld Receives 40 Bids From Potential Buyers for Non-U.S. Assets|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/cineworld-buyers-for-non-u-s-assets-1235331063/|access-date=2023-02-22|website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US}}</ref> In May 2023, Cineworld said that it expected to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July of that year, which it eventually did.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Szalai|first=Georg|date=2023-05-25|title=Cineworld Now Expects to Emerge From Bankruptcy in July|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/cineworld-bankruptcy-emerge-july-chapter-11-1235500544/|access-date=2023-05-25|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=2023-07-31|title=Ann Sarnoff Joins Cineworld Board As Regal Parent Emerges From Bankruptcy|url=https://deadline.com/2023/07/ann-sarnoff-regal-cineworld-board-chapter-11-1235451988/|access-date=2023-08-01|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> During the same month, it was reported that the reopening of the Cinerama Dome and former 14-screen Arclight Hollywood cinema had been delayed until 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=2023-05-04|title=Cinerama Dome Re-Opening Pushed To 2024 – Update|url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/cinerama-dome-closed-status-hollywood-movie-theater-1234898930/|access-date=2023-05-04|website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US}}</ref>

On May 3, 2021, the governors of Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York jointly announced that they planned to lift most capacity restrictions on businesses on May 19; for cinemas in New York, they would not be limited in how many patrons may be present, but there must be {{Convert|6|feet|m}} [[social distancing]] between groups.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldsmith|first=Jill|date=2021-05-03|title=NYC Movie Theaters Scramble To Interpret Gov. Cuomo's Latest Edict – No Capacity Restrictions On Patrons But They've Still Got To Be Six Feet Apart|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/new-york-city-movie-theaters-governor-andrew-cuomo-capacity-restrictions-social-distancing-1234749067/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Sutton|first1=Sam|last2=Young|first2=Shannon|title=New York, New Jersey, Connecticut ending most restrictions on May 19|url=https://politi.co/3gYPUie|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Politico New Jersey|date=May 3, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> On May 4, Los Angeles County was moved to yellow ("Minimal") tier by state health officials,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tapp|first=Tom|date=2021-05-04|title=Los Angeles Moves To Least Restrictive Yellow Tier As Pandemic Numbers Hit Record Lows|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/los-angeles-yellow-tier-california-covid-reopening-1234749715/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-05|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> but the LACDPH did not allow cinemas to use the 75% option.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tapp|first=Tom|date=2021-05-06|title=Los Angeles's New Reopening Order More Restrictive On Movie Theaters Than State Guidelines – Updated|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/long-beach-pasadena-reopen-in-yellow-tier-1234750571/|url-status=dead|access-date=2021-05-06|website=Deadline|language=en-US|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506152958/https://deadline.com/2021/05/long-beach-pasadena-reopen-in-yellow-tier-1234750571/}}</ref>  Due to progress on vaccination, New York and California lifted capacity restrictions, including those on cinemas, in June 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Seperstein|first=Pat|date=2021-06-15|title=California Reopening: End of Movie Theater Capacity Limits, Mask Requirements for Vaccinated Patrons|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/california-reopens-masks-movie-theater-capacity-1234997119/|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Allen|first1=Jonathon|last2=Caspani|first2=Maria|date=2021-06-16|title=New York governor lifts remaining COVID-19 restrictions, calls it a 'momentous day'|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/new-york-governor-lifts-remaining-covid-19-restrictions-2021-06-15/|access-date=2021-06-21|website=Reuters|language=en-US}}</ref>

By August 2021, however, due to spread of Delta variant and waning vaccination rates nationwide, New York City (where only 55% of residents were fully-vaccinated) announced on August 3 that effective September 13, access to indoor entertainment venues (including cinemas) will be restricted to those who are vaccinated.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Benveniste|first=Alexis|title=New York City will require vaccines for entry to restaurants and gyms|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/03/business/new-york-city-vaccine-requirements/index.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-13|website=CNN|date=August 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Loria|first=Daniel|date=2021-08-03|title=NYC Follows France in Requiring Proof of Vaccination for Moviegoers|url=https://www.boxofficepro.com/nyc-follows-france-in-requiring-proof-of-vaccination-for-moviegoers/|access-date=2021-08-09|website=Box Office Pro|language=en-US}}</ref> In October 2021, Los Angeles announced that starting November 4 residents will be required to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to enter movie theaters.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gardener|first=Chris|date=2021-10-06|title=Los Angeles to Require COVID-19 Vaccinations for Movie Theaters, Concerts, Restaurants|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/local-news/la-covid-vaccine-requirement-1235026612/|access-date=2021-10-10|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref>

In March 2022, India’s two largest cinema chains [[PVR Cinemas]] and [[INOX Leisure]] agreed to merge following the impact of COVID-19 on the country's cinemas.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rahman|first=Abid|date=2022-03-28|title=India's PVR and Inox to Merge to Create Cinema Giant|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/india-pvr-and-inox-merger-1235120640/|access-date=2022-03-28|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Streaming services ==
The [[BBC]] noted that the popularity of [[streaming services]] could increase, especially if more people are isolated at home,<ref name="BBCHollywood" /> with ''[[The Guardian]]'' suggesting that non-blockbuster films may be sent to streaming more quickly than anticipated after release, to catch this market.<ref name="theguardian" /> One popular film to stream was 2011's ''[[Contagion (2011 film)|Contagion]]'', which moved up from being the 270th most-watched Warner Bros. film in December 2019 to become its 2nd most-watched film in 2020 (by March)<ref name="theguardian" /><ref name="DeadlineContagion" /> and entered the top 10 on [[iTunes]] film rentals,<ref name="GuardianContagion" /> ostensibly due to the similarities its story bears to the outbreak.<ref name="theguardian" /><ref name="DeadlineContagion" /><ref name="GuardianContagion" /> The stock of [[Netflix]] increased in 2020 by March 12. The platform had released its original [[docuseries]] ''[[Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak]]'' at the end of January 2020.<ref name="GuardianStreaming" /> Disney+ went live in [[India]] on March 11 via its domestic service [[Hotstar]], eighteen days before it was set to, though Disney's [[Share (finance)|shares]] had fallen by 23% on March 9.<ref name="GuardianStreaming" />

== Insurance ==

In various trade publications and media outlets, insurance brokers from Front Row Insurance Brokers Inc. have provided commentary on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema, and specifically on film production insurance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/breaking-news/coronavirus-drops-curtains-on-coverage-for-film-and-tv-productions-228554.aspx|title=Coronavirus drops curtains on coverage for film and TV productions|first=Alicja|last=Grzadkowska|website=www.insurancebusinessmag.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.leadersedge.com/p-c/lights-camera-canceled|title=Lights … Camera … Canceled? &#124; Leader's Edge Magazine|date=January 19, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://covid19.docorg.ca/can-i-shoot/insurance-coverage/|title=Insurance Coverage|access-date=May 20, 2021|archive-date=May 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519183456/https://covid19.docorg.ca/can-i-shoot/insurance-coverage/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coronavirus-production-insurance-no-thing-192535296.html|title=Coronavirus Production Insurance? No Such Thing. Here's How Hollywood Will Cope|website=finance.yahoo.com|date=April 20, 2020 }}</ref> COVID-19 made film production insurance more difficult to obtain for many productions. Many insurance companies added "communicable disease exclusions" to these policies,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/latest-news-headlines/pandemic-insurance-coming-to-a-screen-near-you-61117481|title=Pandemic insurance, coming to a screen near you|website=www.spglobal.com}}</ref> meaning that the film insurance would not cover losses caused by COVID-19. The only film insurance solutions offering COVID-19 coverage came with very high premiums; much higher than productions were used to paying (pre-COVID).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/production-insurance-hollywood-covid-crisis-1234770521/|title=Why Hollywood Is Facing a COVID-19 Insurance Crisis|first1=Gene|last1=Maddaus|date=September 15, 2020}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[List of films impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic]]
*[[Chinese New Year film]] – a type of family film designed to be a blockbuster in Asia over the Chinese New Year
*[[Corona (film)|''Corona'']], [[Coronavirus (film)|''Coronavirus'']], ''[[Corona Zombies]]'' and [[Songbird (2020 film)|''Songbird'']], four major feature films about the pandemic
*[[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television]]
*[[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts and cultural heritage]]
*[[Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic]]

== References ==
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<ref name="Indiewire">{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2020/03/onward-box-office-no-time-to-die-coronavirus-1202215274/|title='Onward' Leads a Weak Box-Office Weekend, and Coronavirus Isn't to Blame|last=Brueggemann|first=Tom|date=March 5, 2020|website=IndieWire|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310005434/https://www.indiewire.com/2020/03/onward-box-office-no-time-to-die-coronavirus-1202215274/|archive-date=March 10, 2020|access-date=March 9, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="DeadlineList">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/03/coronavirus-canceled-postponed-hollywood-sports-entertainment-1202870762/|title=Coronavirus: List Of Canceled Or Postponed Hollywood & Media Events|last=Pedersen|first=Erik|date=March 11, 2020|website=Deadline|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309080812/https://deadline.com/2020/03/coronavirus-canceled-postponed-hollywood-sports-entertainment-1202870762/|archive-date=March 9, 2020|access-date=March 11, 2020}}</ref>
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<ref name="Vox">{{cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2020/2/28/21152910/coronavirus-hollywood-bond-bts-mulan-movie-theaters-china|title=How the coronavirus outbreak is roiling the film and entertainment industries|last=Wilkinson|first=Alissa|date=February 28, 2020|website=Vox|language=en|access-date=March 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200309022256/https://www.vox.com/culture/2020/2/28/21152910/coronavirus-hollywood-bond-bts-mulan-movie-theaters-china|archive-date=March 9, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
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<ref name="CNN">{{cite news|last=Pallotta|first=Frank|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/06/media/coronavirus-james-bond-box-office/index.html|title='No Time to Die' was the first major film to delay its release due to coronavirus. It may not be the last|work=cnn.com|publisher=CNN|date=March 6, 2020 | access-date=March 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308123204/https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/06/media/coronavirus-james-bond-box-office/index.html | archive-date=March 8, 2020 | url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="Variety">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/box-office-onward-international-coronavirus-1203527183/|title=Box Office: 'Onward' Debuts to $28 Million Overseas Amid Coronavirus Outbreak|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=March 8, 2020|website=Variety|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308192742/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/box-office-onward-international-coronavirus-1203527183/|archive-date=March 8, 2020|access-date=March 9, 2020}}</ref>
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<ref name="BBCF9">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-51861319|title=Fast and Furious 9 put back by 11 months|date=March 12, 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=March 13, 2020|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312233339/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-51861319|archive-date=March 12, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
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<ref name="Sky">{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-more-hollywood-films-delayed-as-all-disney-theme-parks-closed-11956761|title=Coronavirus: More Hollywood films delayed as Disney closes all its theme parks|website=Sky News|language=en|access-date=March 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314172146/https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-more-hollywood-films-delayed-as-all-disney-theme-parks-closed-11956761|archive-date=March 14, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
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<!-- <ref name="ParamountChanges">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/04/top-gun-maverick-flies-to-christmas-corridor-spongebob-eyes-late-summer-quiet-place-ii-to-debut-labor-day-1202898738/|title='Top Gun Maverick' Flies To Christmas Corridor, 'SpongeBob' Eyes Late Summer, 'Quiet Place II' To Debut Labor Day|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=April 2, 2020|access-date=April 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402204139/https://deadline.com/2020/04/top-gun-maverick-flies-to-christmas-corridor-spongebob-eyes-late-summer-quiet-place-ii-to-debut-labor-day-1202898738/|archive-date=April 2, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> -->
}}

== External links ==
*BBC ''[[Talking Movies]]'', [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-51836542/coronavirus-puts-film-industry-in-turmoil Coronavirus puts film industry in 'turmoil'], March 12, 2020
*Shoard, Catherine, ''The Guardian'', [https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/mar/20/over-one-hour-everything-cancelled-coronavirus-impact-film 'Over one hour everything was cancelled' – how coronavirus devastated the film industry], March 20, 2020
*Burke, Kristin M., ''The Guardian'', [https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/apr/14/covid-19-killed-the-film-industry-hollywood-coronavirus Reports of the death of the film industry have been greatly exaggerated], April 14, 2020
*Crucchiola, Jordan, ''Vulture'', [https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/here-are-all-the-movies-and-tv-shows-affected-by-coronavirus.html Here Are All the Movies Delayed Because of the Coronavirus — With Some New Release Dates], July 24, 2020
{{COVID-19 pandemic|state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:COVID-19 pandemic impact on cinema}}
[[Category:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cinema| ]]
[[Category:2020 in film]]