NATO Expects Global Theaters to Open in Time for Tenet

June 5, 2020

In a recent report by Business Insider, it was revealed that the National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) expects 90% of global theaters to open by mid-July. Such news bodes well for Christopher Nolans’ Tenet, which has held firm on its July 17 release date.

Tenet remains the only film this summer that hasn’t shifted its release date. F9, Black Widow, James Bond film No Time to Die and even Wonder Woman 1984 all pushed back their release dates, some as far as a year, but Nolan has remained committed to July 17.

“We’ve been in close contact with Warner Bros. and they remain optimistic and positive as well as Christopher Nolan about the July 17 opening,” Cinemark CEO Mark Zoradi previously said. “Of course, it depends on the continued positive movement due to the decline of COVID-19 and government restrictions being reduced.”

The most recent Tenet trailer arrived stamped with the tag, “Coming to theaters,” though copy within the YouTube video continued to push the July 17 release. And while everyone at Warner Bros. remains optimistic situations will improve enough for them to release the anticipated action film, there still remains a number of hurdles to leap over.

Even if Tenet does open as planned, theaters will have to navigate a tricky arena that is still very much contaminated by a pandemic. The report notes that five of Cinemark’s Texas theaters will reopen on June 19 for a “test phase” with plans to expand shortly after.

“Theaters can’t behave like they used to but they can still meet demand” with the necessary precautions, said Shawn Robbins, the chief analyst at Box Office Pro, including limited-capacity seating.

Tenet’s success will obviously pave the way for other planned releases, including Disney’s Mulan remake on July 24 and Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman 1984 on August 14.