The parking lot in front of Regal’s Waterford cinemas is empty, and the locked doors have signs that say, in large letters, “Temporarily Closed.”

Earlier this week, Regal Cinemas announced it would temporarily close all of its U.S. movie theaters, including one in Waterford and one in Pawcatuck.

The problem is that Hollywood has pushed so many big releases back to 2021 because of the pandemic that there has been little to show and little that would attract many moviegoers to multiplexes.

That’s an issue that goes beyond Regal; it has affected every movie theater in southeastern Connecticut.

Niantic Cinemas reopened for several weeks this summer, showing older flicks while awaiting the release of potential blockbusters. But with few folks turning out for those older movies and with Hollywood repeatedly delaying fresh releases, Niantic shut down in late July. It is remaining closed until new product becomes available.

Madison Art Cinemas has been shuttered since mid-March, with no date set to reopen.

Mystic Luxury Cinemas, though, is open and focusing on smaller and art-house releases. This week’s lineup includes “On the Rocks,” the latest Sophia Coppola film featuring Bill Murray, and “The War with Grandpa,” a comedy starring Robert De Niro.

After Regal’s announcement, ACM, which has a multiplex in Lisbon, said it plans to keep its theaters open.

When asked about the Marquee Cinemas’ location in Westbrook, Robin Shumate, marketing director for Marquee Cinemas, said via email, “All I can tell you is that we are getting limited product so business is slow. We are just taking it week by week.”

The movie studios are reportedly waiting for the big markets in New York and Los Angeles to reopen before offering up new releases. Those two cities plus San Francisco usually make up 20% of U.S. box office totals.

But, even with new movies, will people go? Information gathered last month by research firm NRG shows that about half of the movie fans contacted aren’t ready to go back to theaters, and about a third will wait to return until a coronavirus vaccine is available.

'At a crisis point'

Earlier this month, the National Association of Theatre Owners sought financial help from the federal government. They sent a letter to congressional leaders stating that 70% of small and midsized theater companies would have to declare bankruptcy or close permanently if they don’t receive government support.

“Movie theaters are at a crisis point,” association President John Fithian said in a statement. “They have acted responsibly by closing down even before ordered to by states, and reopening with industry-wide safety protocols in place. Now they need the last few major markets — like New York — to open. They need major movies; and they need the Federal government to live up to its responsibilities and provide aid to theaters and similar industries that cannot fully operate during a pandemic.”

A Regal statement noted that its temporary closures will affect about 40,000 employees in America.

That statement also included Mooky Greidinger, CEO of Regal’s parent company, Cineworld, saying: “Despite our work, positive feedback from our customers and the fact that there has been no evidence to date linking any COVID cases with cinemas, we have not been given a route to reopen in New York, although other indoor activities — like indoor dining, bowling and casinos were already allowed. The prolonged closures have had a detrimental impact on the release slate for the rest of the year ...”

Regal said it will monitor the situation and “communicate any future plans to resume operations at the appropriate time.”

Mystic Luxury Cinemas

At Mystic Luxury Cinemas, co-owner Bill Dougherty said, “It’s been rather slow, obviously the distribution of (few major) film has really been a crushing blow to the industry. We’re only as good as our product.”

Mystic Luxury Cinemas had done some major renovation work in preparation for its Aug. 21 reopening. The sound was updated to state-of-the-art systems. New electric recliners were installed, and they all have heating pads in them.

Those larger recliners and a new computerized ticket reservation system make social distancing much easier. Each row of seats had to be placed 6 feet apart to allow for reclining space.

“Let’s say you and a guest came down, the reserved seating (on computer) automatically kicks out two seats on each side of you, and the seats in front of and in back of you are 6 feet apart now,” Dougherty said.

He added, “We are determined to keep the theater safe and keep it open for our patrons. For me, I’m always very enthusiastic about this industry. I have gone through so many changes, back to Beta before even VCR tapes. Nothing has ever taken us down. It’s an evening out. The main thing is to have everybody come back and feel safe.”

In the meantime, Mystic Luxury Cinemas has gotten creative. A couple of weeks ago, it rolled out a gold card program. For $199, a card holder gets admission for him or herself and a guest to all movies and events during the year (subject to available seating). Only 50 of those gold cards will be available, and Dougherty said on Thursday that half had been sold.

In addition, the theater is offering a rent-the-cinema program. Folks can rent one of the four auditoriums for themselves. The cost for a Saturday night rental would be more than a morning one, obviously, but prices in general range from $150 to $300. Dougherty said that three rentals were scheduled for this weekend.

On the upside for Mystic Luxury Cinemas, movie fans who frequented theaters that have shut down have been coming to Mystic instead. Dougherty said that one group from Warwick, R.I., and another from Gales Ferry said they were at the Mystic venue for the first time, both for the theater’s $2 kids’ matinees.

Niantic Cinemas

While Regal Cinemas is temporarily shutting down awaiting studios to start releasing bigger movies, Niantic Cinemas did a similar thing a few months ago, manager Joe Couillard noted.

Niantic Cinemas opened in June and July but only had older movies at its disposal. It did such little business, though — fewer than 100 people a week, he said — that it wasn’t financially viable to stay open.

So the theater closed and waited until the studios began offering more big movies again. The latest hope was to reopen at the end of October, but then the releases of “Wonder Woman 1984” and “Black Widow” were pushed back. The same thing happened with the new James Bond film.

“Now, we’re holding our breath and hoping some of the Christmas movies stay ... I got a feeling they’re going to yank all those, too,” Couillard said.

In the meantime, he said, “We’re just taking it month by month.”