More movies were probably seen on planes than in theatres over Thanksgiving, which says something about lobbying power in Hollywood vs. the airline industry.
Despite desperate warnings from health authorities across the nation not to travel over Thanksgiving, millions of Americans did just that because it was what they wanted to do. Most airlines packed them in like sardines since there were no mandated restrictions on social distancing or seating capacity.
To board those planes, passengers had to work their way through shoulder-to-shoulder security check lines at airports. News coverage of airports showed people didn’t care about risking infection and authorities weren’t insisting on or enforcing airport social distancing or crowd limitations.
The exhibition hasn’t fared nearly as well at the hands of state and local governments, especially in NYC & LA County where cinemas remain closed. Authorities there consider movie going to be a non-essential activity.
Unless something changes, NYC & LA moviegoers could wind up seeing films like THE CROODS 2 (pictured) on a plane before their local theatres are allowed to open.