I just don't know how the movie theater thing can possibly work right now.

Even just setting aside if it's safe for theaters to reopen (it's not), who will actually go? Overwhelmingly cinephiles I've talked to say firmly they will not.

And I'm sure as long as new product is being released (say a Chris Nolan film) you'll get a smattering of irresponsible people who just want to see a movie to feel normal.

But both a) the audience willing to show up is a fraction of what's needed, and b) theaters will be operating at reduced seating.

I've asked theater owners how this model can be financially tenable and they tell me flat out that it is not.

Nolan is determined to release his film theatrically, but at the same time I'm not sure Warner Bros is prepared for this film to have a $4m boxoffice opening.

Which, when you compare with the success that Trolls Wolrd Tour was able to tout by moving to a premium digital premiere, Nolan may actually just be driving a nail deeper into the theatrical business.

I'm not looking at the books for theaters right now, and I'm sure every option is grim, but it seems to me theaters would be better off not incurring operating costs right now and waiting until they can operate at max capacity again.