Top Lobbyist: ‘We’re not going to oppose it, because people need to get vaccinated’
If you want to see the next blockbuster movie in a …
Top Lobbyist: ‘We’re not going to oppose it, because people need to get vaccinated’ If you want to see the next blockbuster movie in a theater, you may soon need to show proof you’ve had a COVID vaccine. The top lobbyist for theater chains says owners are open to vaccine mandates and believes that while it may lead to short-term financial pain for the movie business, in the long run, it will be beneficial. At CinemaCon, an industry convention currently underway in Las Vegas, National Association of Theater Owners (NATO) CEO John Fithian told trade publication Deadline that the group hasn’t opposed vaccine mandates for theaters in places like New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, even though they’re sure it will result in reduced ticket sales. When France and Italy imposed similar requirements, box office revenues immediately dropped. But Fithian says owners realize mandates could be the industry’s ticket back to pre-pandemic attendance. “Honestly,” he told TheWrap, “it’s a mixed bag for movie theaters. On the one hand, it will cost us some business, and we know that because some unvaccinated people won’t be able to attend our cinemas.
