Movie theaters are walking a fine line as they step up security in response to the recent deadly attacks at movie theaters in Lafayette, Louisiana and Nashville, Tennessee.
If theaters go too slowly to address safety concerns or wait for the government to act, they could face a massive backlash in the event of another multiplex tragedy. But if they move too quickly, they risk alienating skittish consumers with added security measures that could be expensive, don’t guarantee safety and could even bring added legal liability.
The first signs of retreat came this week when Regal Entertainment Group, the nation’s largest exhibition chain, announced that it would begin checking moviegoers’ bags, purses and backpacks before granting admission.