Christopher Nolan’s Tenet may not be screening at drive-in theaters as recently expected. Although theaters have since reopened in 44 US states after being temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, many moviegoers remain reluctant to see films in enclosed theater spaces. As a result, more and more drive-in theaters have opened to allow passionate fans to see their favorite movies from the comfort of their own cars.
While Tenet was originally scheduled to premiere on July 17, it’s since been pushed back multiple times due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As such, it is now slated to premiere within the United States on September 3 while opening in countries that have better curbed the virus as early as August 26. Although Nolan’s attachment to the film as both writer and director is enough to get fans excited, there’s relatively little known about Tenet’s plot. While the film’s trailers show a C.I.A. agent attempting to prevent World War III through time inversion, the remainder of the storyline has been kept quiet by the film’s cast and crew.
That being said, Variety reports that Tenet may no longer be shown at as many drive-in theaters as originally anticipated. Warner Bros. has issued a statement saying that Tenet can only be shown in drive-in venues if indoor theaters within that particular region are open as well. Fundamentally, this means the question of seeing Tenet boils down to COVID-19 controls and restrictions within individual areas; while the film will be shown in Chicago, where cinemas have re-opened alongside drive-in theaters, residents in New York City and Los Angeles, for instance, will have to wait a while longer to see Nolan’s latest.
While this news may be met with dismay, it’s also worth noting that the COVID-19 landscape in the United States is one that’s ever-changing. Although there are only two weeks left before Tenet is due to premiere, it’s entirely plausible that brick-and-mortar theaters could reopen in certain locations. In addition, there’s a small possibility that Warner Bros. might walk back its statement entirely, especially since Tenet’s $200 million budget means the studio could use every ticket sale possible to break even.
Although it’s difficult to predict what will happen in the United States within the next two weeks, it’s clear that Tenet is already receiving a warm welcome abroad. Nolan’s blockbuster film is currently dominating the U.K. box office, with some theaters scheduling as many as 29 showtimes on opening day. As such, while Nolan fans in the U.S. may see Tenet a bit later than their European counterparts, it appears this film will be well worth the wait.
Key Release Dates
Tenet
Release Date:2020-09-03
