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2020 was a dismal year for movie theaters. Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the domestic box office plummeted 80% from 2019, as theatergoers stayed home in droves, opting to watch programs and movies on streaming platforms like Disney Plus, Netflix, and Amazon Prime.
Locally, San Antonio-based Santikos Enterprises also felt the pinch, despite being open since May with COVID-19 safety measures such as weekly virus testing for employees, and advanced hygiene and sanitization methods at its theaters. A normal year of revenue would have been about $110 to $115 million dollars, according to CEO Tim Handren. Last year’s take was only about a quarter of that. Not only is that bad for keeping the business open, but it also meant no profits were funneled into the San Antonio Area Foundation, which Santikos contributes to per the directive of the cinema chain’s late owner, John L. Santikos.