Waterford — Going to the movie theater soon might feel like a trip through airport security.

Regal Entertainment Group, which has movie theaters in Waterford and Stonington and is the nation’s largest movie chain, recently announced that moviegoers’ backpacks and bags can be subject to random inspections.     

At the Waterford movie theater, a sign posted at the door says, “For the safety and comfort of all our guests: Backpacks and bags of any kinds are subject to inspection prior to entry to this facility.”

A manager at the movie theater declined to comment on the policy but said it was instituted after a man attacked moviegoers in Antioch, Tenn., earlier this month. The man injured several people with a hatchet during a showing of “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Last month, two movie patrons were killed in Lafayette, La., during a showing of “Trainwreck.”

The attacks brought back memories of the 2012 shooting during a screening of “The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colo., which left 12 people dead. James Holmes, the gunman, recently was sentenced to life in prison for the attack.

Wendy Poplett of Norwich took her two grandsons Thursday to watch “Ant-Man.” She thinks the theater’s new policy is a good idea.

“It’s sad that the world has come to this,” said Poplett, “... but I would like to know that I’m safe while watching a movie.”

An official at Regal Entertainment Group could not be reached to comment. On its website, the movie chain under its Admittance Procedure said the policy was enacted to ensure the safety of guests.

“Security issues have become a daily part of our lives in America,” the policy said. “We acknowledge that this procedure can cause some inconvenience and that it is not without flaws, but hope these are minor in comparison to increased safety.”

Joe Couillard, Niantic Cinemas’ general manager, said he doesn’t plan to enact any extra safety measures in light of the recent attacks. He says whenever someone comes to the theater with a backpack, he has them leave it in the office.

C4, a Los Angeles-based consumer research firm specializing in the motion picture industry, polled 500 people who go to at least six movies a year on whether they would pay more to improve theater security.

Nearly half of those surveyed said they would pay extra money. Forty-eight percent said they would be willing to pay at least a $1 increase in ticket price for enhanced security; that number drops to 23 percent when asked if they would be willing to pay a $2 increase.

The survey was conducted on Aug. 6 and 7.

i.larraneta@theday.com

Twitter: @larraneta