While no official announcement has been made, reports of theaters searching bags have been made public, and the company’s website does mention the possibility that your bag could be searched.
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On its website, the company’s admittance procedures read in part: “To ensure the safety of our guests and employees, backpacks and bags of any kind are subject to inspection prior to admission”. Regal Entertainment Group wants our customers and staff to feel comfortable and safe when visiting or working in our theatres.
A local Casselberry, Florida, resident, when asked when was the last time she went to a movie theater, responded, “I’m not going to any theater unless I put on a bullet-proof vest”.
Regal Entertainment Group has theaters in Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile. He likes games, sports, musicals, and his adorable dog, Wrigley, and his wife.
It is unclear exactly when the policy went into effect, but the decision comes on the heels of two recent theater incidents.
The manager confirms this is a new corporate security policy. But Naeem Gibson sees it differently, “I do understand safety but to just randomly search people that are coming there to enjoy a movie, it just gives a different type of energy to the whole movie experience”, he says. Some on the Regal Columbus Stadium 12 Facebook page claim the new policy is turning them away.
The Regal Entertainment Group, based in Knoxville, Tenn., is the first national cinema chain to announce that backpacks and bags of any kind are subject to inspection before being allowed inside.
“In light of what’s been going on in the world, it is the right thing to do”, Rogers said.
“I understand that, but I think it would be nice if people didn’t have guns in the movie theaters”, Jay Weinisch said. With Regal Cinemas, and the Edwards and United Artists chains under its aegis, REG has theaters in nearly every state.
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A printed sign hangs in the front ticket counter at Regal Cinemas Winter Park Village 20 alerting customers to the change.
