Is Tenet worth the risk? Doctors say no. Theatres say please

It's a world teetering on the edge of an event with the power to alter everything.

That's the premise ofdirector Christopher Nolan's latest film Tenet but it could also be a description of the theatrical business itself.

Aiming to be a saviour for an industry starving for new content, Tenet arrives in the darkest of timelines. Last year the global box office set a record of $42.5 billionUS. For 2020, it's currentlyhovering around $1.8 billion and is down about 75 per cent according to some reports.

As Canada made progress containing COVID-19,theatres began reopening in late June. Cineplexvice-president of operations Daniel Seguin sayswith new cleaning and physical distancing practices in place, they're ready.

"The experience that we hadhas shown that what we have put in place has been serious and it works," he said.

WATCH: CBC's Eli Glasner takes viewers inside a theatre to watch Tenet

CBC film critic heads back to the cinema for Tenet

4 years ago

Duration 4:08

After a five-month absence from movie theatres because of the coronavirus, the CBC's Eli Glasner headed back to the cinema for his first post-COVID-19 lockdown press screening Christopher Nolan's long-anticipated Tenet.

New movies started reappearing in Canadian theatres a few weeks ago withUnhingedstarring Russell Crowe andThe SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.

Highly anticipated,Tenet was originally supposed to open July 17 but waspushed back several times because of the pandemic. It hit theatres for evening screenings in Canada last nightand is scheduled to open across the U.S. on Sept. 3.

In it,John David Washington plays a covert agent drawn into battle with mysterious forces that can invert time itself.

Some theatres for Tenet arealready selling out, albeit at limited capacity. Seguin says there are plans in place to meet the wave of movie fans the industry is hoping will return.

"When there's an increase in terms of the flow [of customers], we need to ensure proper social distancing in our lobby or theatre environment," he said.

"If we're not able to ensure proper safety inside of our lobby, there will be a line up at the exterior of the theatre."

Overall,Seguin says, early feedback to the safety protocols has been positive.

"We've been getting a lot ofcomments that people feel safer in a movie theatre than anywhere else."

The medical opinion on movies

But some medical experts say the very things that make the movies an enjoyable escapeadd to the risk.

Dr. Tasleem Nimjee is an emergency room physician in Toronto and the lead for HumberRiver Hospital's COVID response team. While theatres are encouraging the use of masks, she says, opening concession stands sends contradictory signals.

"We're making sure that our children of senior kindergarten age are wearing masks in school, and then when you go to movies, you can take them off and munch on popcorn for two-and-halfhours. So, it's very confusing, which is why not a lot of us are in love with the idea."

With the current conditions, Nimjee says, you need to ask, how badly do you want to see that movie?

"It's a long period of time to be kept in an enclosed space," she said. "Movies can be emotional. People can cry. People can laugh. So, you're adding the risk of maybe spreading some of those [coronavirus] droplets."

If you do go, here are some factors Nimjee suggests you consider:

• Do you want to take your mask off to eat?
• How many people will be at the screening?
• How new is the theatre's ventilation system?

Christopher Nolan to the rescue

While health experts recommend caution, theatre owners arelooking for a lifeline. Paul Dergarabedian is the senior media analyst for the media measurement company Comscore. He says the arrival of Tenetis pivotal.

"For the bigtheatre chains AMC and Cinemarkand major chains all around the worldthis is very important to get theatres up and running again," said Dergarabedian.

While other films, such as Trolls: World Tourand Greyhound,have gone straight to streaming, Dergarabedian says,Tenet director Christopher Nolan is a big part of the push for the big screen.

"He is a huge proponent of the movie theatreexperience, and Warner Brothers is a very filmmaker-centric studio," Dergarabediansaid.

"I think that's what this is really all about.It's a commitment by a studio to a filmmaker ... who believes that's the best way for movie fans to see his movies."

WhileTenet is filled with stunning locations and the kind of spectacular stunts that have become Nolan's signature, Dergarabedian says, for films the size and scope such as Tenet,which reportedly has a budget over $200 million US,straight to streaming was never an option.

"Look at Avengers: Endgame," he points out, "which earnedabout $2.8 billion USworldwide. That's movie theatres alone."

But with theatres in many parts of the United States still closedand others at reduced capacity, can Tenet ever reach the billions Warner Brothers studio is dreaming of?

Dergarabedian suggests the race foropening weekend box office has become amarathon.With fewertitles competing, hesays, the focus will be on longevity as audiences decide whether to unpack Nolan's latest puzzle in person.

"We may see films increasing in gross over time as people dip their toe in the water andhear about how great a movie and the movie-going experience is."

WATCH: How cinemas are reopening during COVID-19:

How cinemas are reopening during COVID-19

4 years ago

Duration 1:15

Landmark Cinemas CEO Bill Walker shows new safety protocols as movie theatres reopen in Alberta.