Movie Chain to Return with Retro Prices [PHIL-OSOPHY]

"Stella! Hey, Stella," "Yo, Adrian!," and while we're at it, "E.T. phone home," because there's some big news to tell you.

Some AMC Theaters are reopening in Massachusetts on August 20, with retro ticket prices of 15 cents per movie. "Show Me the Money," as in a dime and a nickel, regardless of the coin shortage.

The movie theater chain said it expects to open the doors to more than 100 cinemas, or about a sixth of its nationwide locations. They're billing it as "Movies in 2020 at 1920 prices."

No one has been to a cinema around here since March because of COVID-19, and looking over the list, it might take an additional two weeks or so to happen here on the SouthCoast. The August 20 openings include Assembly Row, South Bay Center, Framingham, Tyngsboro, Braintree, Burlington, Boston Common, Methuen and Liberty Tree Mall. The other AMC theaters are expected to open after September 3.

During its opening-day promotion, AMC will show catalog films, including Ghostbusters, Black Panther, Back to the Future and Grease. Those older films will continue to play afterward for $5. AMC also confirmed that Disney's much-delayed New Mutants will debut in theaters Aug. 28, with Christopher Nolan's Tenet to follow September, 3. A handful of smaller new releases are also planned for late August, including Unhinged, a thriller from Solstice Studios with Russell Crowe, and Armando Iannucci's Personal History of David Copperfield from Disney's Fox Searchlight.

Don't sneak in any munchies, and you'll be required to wear a face mask, as the movie chain will operate at reduced capacity to facilitate social distancing, along with increased theater cleaning – meaning your shoes won't stick to the floor anymore.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.