The ACT government's stage 2.2 easing of coronavirus restrictions to allow cinemas to reopen has flopped at the Canberra box office.
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Despite Chief Minister Andrew Barr announcing on Friday an increased max capacity of up to 100 people at indoor venues will kick in ahead of next weekend, operators are holding off.
Citing financial infeasibility at screening films for reduced numbers and differing rules across jurisdictions, Dendy, Hoyts and Palace won't open until July.
Ahead of the announcement, a spokesperson for the Canberra Centre cinema said the company had lobbied the government for an increase on the previously pitched max of 50 people and scrambling to schedule films was also creating a delay.
Closed since Prime Minister Scott Morrison's national address on March 22, more than 50 Canberra employees were among the hundreds of casuals Dendy was forced to lay off nationally.
With a national box office revenue loss of up $220 million compared with April and May last year, the Dendy spokesperson said the key to them re-opening mid July was whether the release of Tenet and Mulan would go ahead.
"The release schedule is quite fluid at the moment as distributors start to prepare for cinemas to reopen around the country," he said.
Both slated for a July 2 opening night, Palace and Hoyts plan to open all their cinemas nationally, provided restrictions are eased.
Hoyts will screen movies released just prior to the pandemic plus popular titles Jojo Rabbit and Sonic The Hedgehog in time for the school holidays.
Hoyts staff will undergo additional training and temperature checks, introduce additional cleaning protocols, encourage online bookings and enforce checkered seating arrangements.
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The ACT Health Directorate will also require cinemas to request patrons leave their names and number when attending to assist with contact tracing.
The Australian National University Film Group president Adrian Ma said the club of 1500 had been locked out of the campus theatre for two months, a week ahead of the rest of the closures.
With some members signing up annually for the last 40 years, Mr Ma said they too were looking forward to the escapism of a night at the movies.
"Sure you can watch movies at home but it's just not the same is it?" Mr Ma asked.
Limelight Cinemas Tuggeranong plan to reopen following some major renovations in mid to late July.