The announcement was made by CEO Adam Aron in a conference call with journalists. It is not yet clear if cinemas owned by AMC in Europe, such as Odeon, will offer customers the same option.

Following the roadmap out of lockdown, the UK government has eased restrictions on social interaction, the cultural and hospitality sectors and international travel, though there are concerns about the spread of the new ‘Indian’ variant.

In accordance with the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, most Odeon cinemas will reopen from 17 May 2021. Filmgoers will be encouraged to pre-book tickets online, and seats will be limited inside screens to meet social distancing requirements.