Cineworld pushes back reopening dates for its UK and US cinemas

Cineworld dealt a blow to film fans today when it put back the re-opening date for its cinemas in the UK and United States by three weeks.

The group now expects to welcome cinemagoers from July 31, having said a fortnight ago it was aiming for a July 10 restart. It blamed the delay on adjustments to the schedule of upcoming movie releases.

Christopher Nolan's spy thriller Tenet, which is one of the most anticipated films of the year, has already been delayed twice and is now expected to be launched by Warner Bros on August 12. Tenet stars John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki and Michael Caine.

Warner Bros said recently: “In this moment what we need to be is flexible, and we are not treating this as a traditional movie release.” The studio is planning to release the movie mid-week and over an extended play period.

The summer schedule of new releases at Cineworld also includes Mulan, A Quiet Place Part II, Unhinged, The Broken Hearts Gallery, Bill & Ted Face the Music and Greenland.

Cineworld's estate in other parts of Europe will continue to re-open as planned, with sites in Poland and Bulgaria due to restart on Friday. Its shares opened 6% higher at 61p.

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