How to Rent a Private Cinema During a Pandemic
Even if you’re a movie fanatic, going to a public cinema may well be the last thing on your social to-do list during a pandemic, but you can now rent out cinemas for private viewing at a reasonable cost.
Cinemas, along with the rest of the entertainment industry, have been battling closure and social distancing, so several companies, including AMC and Cinemark, have opened their doors to small private gatherings.
Here’s how to rent a private cinema.
Rent out cinema AMC
AMC Theaters rents out rooms for groups of up to 20 people for a starting price of $ 99 (plus tax). Prices can go up to $ 349 depending on the movie and location. The following films are currently available for private screening:
- 2 hearts
- The spell
- Conjuring 2
- The curse of La Llorona
- Hocus pocus
- Honest thief
- How to train your dragon
- Jumanji: The Next Level
- Jurassic Park
- Monsters, Inc.
- New mutants
- The nightmare before christmas
- Shrek
- Sonic the hedgehog
- dogma
- War with grandpa
To book, you fill out an online form indicating the desired movie, date, time and place in the cinema. AMC advises that it can take 3 days to process your request and recommends that you complete your reservation at least one week in advance.
You can also customize your experience : add concessions (popcorn and drink vouchers sold at an additional cost), rent a microphone so you can greet your guests in person ($ 100), or exclude 15 minutes of previews before watching a movie.
Rent out Cinemark cinema
Cinemark also rents out its cinemas to private groups. The company has a $ 99 deal similar to the AMC deal (with $ 49 promotions in some locations on certain nights), but the process is slightly different; instead, you will book all tickets for an existing public show. As these reservations are limited, they may be sold out in your area. Check what is available at your nearest cinema.
Otherwise, Cinemark also offers so-called premium private views , which are more customizable (and more expensive) rental packages.
Check your local theaters
Your local theater or regional theater chain may also host private parties, such as viewing packages offered byHarkins (locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas) and Megaplex (Utah).