April 19, 2021 – Movies have been a beloved event in American culture that became a memory swept up since COVID-19, however; 2021 has brought back blockbuster hits to the movies screens by introducing them on billboards. Since an increasing number of drivers are back on the road and able to attend public areas again, theaters have slowly been opening back up. What better way to introduce new movies then with billboards!
2020 shut off the popcorn machines, stopped handing out ticket stubs, left theaters vacant, and most of all turned off over 7,000 movie screens across the nation. Major cinema chain, Regal, closed all 536 of their locations in 2020 due to the virus. A lot of movie theater chains such AMC almost found themselves bankrupt from the pandemic. The effects were devasting as the movie going experience was thought to be dead.
However, this year with some of the pandemic restrictions being lifted and businesses are again able to open their doors means theaters are turning on their screens again. New movies releasing these next couple months such as Tom & Jerry, Raya The Last Dragon, Mortal Kombat and many others have theaters popping again with seats being filed. One of the driving factors behind returning customers is all the billboard advertisements announcing the new movies being released.
Billboards again have revived an industry using its unique techniques of being in front of drivers 24/7 seven days a week. People see it! This has got people exited about the up coming movies. Better yet, they know where to go to experience it best…the theaters.
Although many theater chains such as AMC and Regal were shut down during the pandemic, some memories cannot disappear so easily. People have the innate need to gather together, build community, and live life together. One way to do all three of those is at a movie theater while enjoying some savory buttery popcorn, an ice-cold soda, and of course a great movie.
