The China Film Association has published a new survey in the South China Morning Post which suggests that 40% of Chinese cinemas could permanently shut down as a result of the prolonged closure.
At the end of 2019 around 69,800 cinema screens were in operation across 12,400 complexes. A 40% closure would mean the loss of 5,000 venues and 27,920 screens.
Cinemas have remained dark in China since late January, just over four months, but a reopening is expected to happen in coming weeks. Even so, health and safety fears linger and Beijing still hasn’t fully emerged lockdown with the country seeing clusters of COVID-19 emerge in different regions.
The China Film Association estimates that if cinemas were to reopen this month, revenue could build back to normal levels after six months. However if a reopening is delayed to October, it could be disastrous with a 91% drop in yearly revenue.
Source: Variety
