Silky Otter Cinemas, which runs two luxury cinemas in Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand, is planning to add three new theatres next year in Auckland, Richmond, and Queenstown. Chief executive Neil Lambert said movie going was still popular despite the pandemic and believes it has a future.
"Movies endure and the reason they endure is because you can't beat that experience of getting out of your home, off your couch and sitting in a darkened auditorium with a perfect picture, perfect sound and getting swept away in the emotion of it,” he said. "For me that was always key in [why] it was going to come back which is why we forged ahead with what we're doing."
Lambert said the world has changed and people don't want to be "crammed in like sardines", which suited Silky Otter's business model.
"All of our auditoriums are no more than 48 seats, all spacious so you're distanced within that space," he said. Lambert said their Auckland cinema had already sold out well into next week as the city reopened. Silky Otter said its cinemas all have recliner chairs, full-service bar and kitchen and food delivered to seats.
Managing director Ahmed Almukhtar said it catered to all film lovers. "As film lovers, we want people to not only see the films they want but have an experience so good that they keep coming back for more."
Silk Otter was one of many Auckland movie theatres that were forced to close on August 17 when the country went into lockdown. Unlike many businesses which have since opened as restrictions eased, cinemas have remained closed.
Today, their doors have finally opened once again as the country moved to the traffic light system. But going to the movies will be a different experience under the traffic light system.
As no area of the country has started off in green, only people who are vaccinated, or those aged under 12, are able to go to public screenings under the new framework, not just in Auckland but anywhere in the country.