After being seriously hit by COVID-19, the cinema industry seems to be recovering, since Alamo Drafthouse, famous for a no-cellphone policy and its in-theater dining, expands its North American footprint, finally coming to Chicago.
The Industry Has Been Slowly Recovering from Being Hit by the COVID-19 Pandemic
The news comes as North American movie theaters mount a recovery from COVID-19, which brought the industry to a near standstill. Prolonged theater closures and lack of new product forced Alamo Drafthouse to file for Chapter-11 bankruptcy in early 2021. The company has since dusted itself off and plotted significant growth plans in 2022. As part of its bankruptcy filing, Alamo Drafthouse had to close down several underperforming venues and currently maintains close to 40 locations.
With breathtaking lakefront views, unmatched entertainment, and cool breezes — the Navy Pier is a slice of heaven for tourists and locals alike in Chicago. Unfortunately, one of its best attractions, the Navy Pier IMAX, was permanently closed last year, leaving Chicagoans with less wide screens to enjoy movies on.
Fortunately, some options opened up during the last summer. After it has been limiting events for more than a year, Gallagher Way — the plaza right next to Wrigley Field, across from which Alamo now chose to open a six-screen cinema by the fall or 2022 in — invited Chicago’s movie enthusiasts to various free summer attractions, from Music Box Theatre-run movie screenings to art markets and concerts. The screening series of blockbusters started July 14th with Wonder Woman and continued throughout the summer, until September 29, with titles like Men in Black, Bring It On and Hocus Pocus.
Alamo Drafthouse Emerged from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy with Help from Investors
Last summer also brought good news for Alamo Drafthouse. The company has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy and announced, at the start of last June, it would open five new theaters in 2021 and 2002.
This also meant Fortress Investment Group and Altamont Capital could move ahead to take control of the company that had filed for bankruptcy on March 3. Alamo founder and executive chairman Tim League and other original investors remained among the minority partners. Fortress is a new investor in the company while Altamont was a pre-existing investor before the chain’s nationwide closure amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re so thrilled to be reopening theaters across the country and welcoming back audiences for an unparalleled moviegoing experience with films we’ve been eagerly awaiting for over a year now,” Alamo Drafthouse CEO Shelli Taylor said. “We’re so grateful to our incredible partners at Altamont and Fortress, who are completely aligned with our vision for Alamo Drafthouse’s growth. It’s incredibly exciting to be back on that path so we can bring the Alamo Drafthouse experience to new locations around the country, including our very first locations in Manhattan, St. Louis, and D.C.”
2022 Comes with New Plans, New Hope, and New Blockbusters
The last half of 2021 must have been working great for Alamo Drafthouse, since the plans to expand are becoming reality.
“We’re so thankful for the continued strength and recovery of the theater industry thanks to a packed slate of titles in 2022,” says Alamo Drafthouse CEO Shelli Taylor. “And we’re very eager to bring the unique Alamo Drafthouse experience to Chicago, St. Louis, Birmingham, and beyond.”
In the coming months, Alamo Drafthouse leaders feel optimistic about the range of blockbuster-hopefuls on schedule. They include Marvel’s “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness,” “The Batman” starring Robert Pattinson and Tom Cruise’s long-awaited “Top Gun” sequel. Jordan Peele’s mind-bender “Nope” and the Robert Eggers-directed adventure drama “The Northman” are other titles we are expecting to find on the menu.
“Curating a diverse mix of films and showcasing independent artists has always been a passion of ours,” says Alamo Drafthouse founder and executive chairman Tim League. “Expanding our reach into new cities allows us to celebrate these filmmakers with a wider audience.”
Services and Amenities to Improve Your Movie Experience
And nothing is too much for Alamo’s audience. Confort, immersive experiences and the best drinks money can buy. Each new location will feature state-of-the-art laser projection, immersive surround sound and luxury recliners in auditoriums. As Alamo Drafthouse always does, every cineplex will be paired with separate full-service bars with fine craft cocktails, wine and local craft beers on tap.
The upcoming cinemas will continue Drafthouse’s commitment to preserving 35mm film, although only venues in St. Louis and Staten Island will offer celluloid projection.
The company’s “Big Show” experience, the next-generation premium large format theaters with massive 66′ wide by 28′ tall screens, with immersive Dolby audio technology, is also going to expand, according to plans.
Alamo Drafthouse Staten Island is supposed to open in spring of 2022. The theater will be kung-fu themed and will feature nine screens and 893 fully-reclining seats. It will be home to the Flying Guillotine bar, a collaboration with Wu-Tang Clan founder RZA. This will also showcase an all-martial arts free-rental video store as a nod to an unique piece of cinema history, similar to the House of Wax and the Press Room bars at Drafthouse’s other NYC locations.
