Cineworld and Picturehouse to close cinemas temporarily as Bond film delayed

A total of 663 Cineworld, Regal and Picturehouse cinemas are to be closed temporarily.

Cineworld has cinemas in Ely, Huntingdon and St Neots, while the Arts Picturehouse is located on St Andrew's Street, Cambridge.

Cineworld said up to 45,000 employees will be affected worldwide as it confirmed plans to temporarily close its cinemas in the UK and the US – the cinema giant’s two biggest markets.

More than 600 sites will be closed across the two countries from this Friday (October 9) after the industry was rocked by plans by James Bond studios MGM and Universal to delay the release of the franchise’s latest film, No Time to Die.

Cineworld said it would close 127 Cineworld and Picturehouse sites in the UK, confirming reports over the weekend, and sending shares down by as much as 57 per cent.

It did not specify how many jobs are at risk in the UK; however, on Sunday, the PA news agency understood that 5,500 would be hit.

Overall around 45,000 employees are affected in both countries, as 536 Regal theatres in the US will shut down because of the decision.

Chief executive Mooky Greidinger said: “This is not a decision we made lightly, and we did everything in our power to support safe and sustainable reopenings in all of our markets.”

Last Friday (October 2), the release of No Time To Die was delayed for the second time because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The film was meant to hit cinemas in November, but fans will now have to wait until April 2 next year before seeing Daniel Craig’s final outing in the role.

Cineworld said: “As major US markets, mainly New York, remained closed and without guidance on reopening timing, studios have been reluctant to release their pipeline of new films.

“In turn, without these new releases, Cineworld cannot provide customers in both the US and the UK – the company’s primary markets – with the breadth of strong commercial films necessary for them to consider coming back to theatres against the backdrop of Covid-19.”

Mr Greidinger said Cineworld will wait until “the appropriate time” to talk about reopening.