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The Movie Mill and Galaxy Cinemas. (Photos by The Movie Mill and Cineplex)

Lethbridge’s movie theatres reopening June 10

Jun 4, 2021 | 11:29 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – In just under one week, moviegoers will be able to head back into theatres for the first time in several months.

As part of Alberta’s “Open for Summer Plan”, Stage 2, which is set to start June 10, would see cinemas and other facilities reopen at 30 per cent of fire code occupancy.

READ MORE: Province announces three-stage plan to ease restrictions

Both movie theatres in Lethbridge will be ready to go on that date.

The Movie Mill

Owner Leonard Binning says it feels like starting over again.

“If you would’ve told me we would’ve been closed for six months solid, I would’ve told you you were nuts, but here we are six months, basically, after December 12th, and we finally get the opportunity to finally share the summer with everybody.”

The films set to hit the screen on June 10 include:

  • Godzilla vs. Kong
  • Wonder Woman 1984
  • The Croods 2: A New Age
  • Freaky
  • Let Him Go
  • Demon Slayer
  • Scoob!
  • The Courier

“Kong Godzilla did not play theatrically either, Scoob did not play theatrically, so three or four films that will be brand new to theatrical audiences and a couple of films that maybe got a couple of weeks in December before we closed.”

For the last couple of weeks, The Movie Mill has been running drive-in shows in the parking lot.

Binning says they have been a massive success with all but one completely selling out.

“It’s been extremely successful and we’ve been very happy – a lot of sellouts, a lot of excited people, a lot of equivalent of standing ovations with people honking their horns at the end of the event.”

He plans to continue running a couple of drive-in shows each week while still having in-theatre shows once they reopen.

More information on The Movie Mill, including showtimes, can be found here.

Cineplex

Canada’s largest movie theatre chain plans to reopen all of its 19 locations in Alberta on June 10, including the one in Lethbridge.

Warren Nagurny, General Manager at Galaxy Cinemas Lethbridge, says he and his team have been waiting a long time for this announcement.

“We’ve opened the gates up to allow for some sales of concession items and that’s pretty much the consensus that we’ve heard from all of the guests coming in, they can’t wait for us to reopen and it’s always, when are you going to reopen? Have you heard when you’re going to reopen? We can’t wait until you reopen.”

Executive Director of Communications Sarah Van Lange says Cineplex will require guests to maintain physical distancing and masks must be worn at all times unless the person is eating or drinking.

“We continue to prioritize health & safety measures to ensure that our theatres are a safe, relaxing, and inviting space for movie-lovers to escape with family and friends.”

The films set to hit the screen on June 10 include:

  • The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
  • Spirit Untamed
  • A Quiet Place Part II
  • In the Heights
  • Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

Nagurny would have been happy to be able to reopen at any time, but especially with so many big blockbuster films scheduled for the second half of 2021, including a trio of Marvel movies, the timing could not have been better.

“It was exciting that they pushed some of those films ahead for us so that we’ll get a chance to reopen them in the theatre where we think they should be seen. You know, it’s nice to be able to sit at home and pick a movie on demand, but the experience in the theatre itself is so unique – I think those films need to be seen in a larger format like the theatre.”

More information on Cineplex, including showtimes, can be found here.