Any couple can have an entire movie theater to themselves

The coronavirus outbreak is leading to the creation of new movie-going experiences.

Theater-related fantasies - such as a couple renting out an entire theater for a romantic evening - are becoming affordable realities as theaters struggle to find ways to survive the plummeting of ticket sales due to the outbreak.

From Thursday, CGV started allowing couples to rent out entire theaters to watch a movie for 30,000 won ($25) at three of its branches: Kangbyun, Sangbong and Junggae. Up to 10 people can join them with additional fees of 10,000 won per person.

The promotion is reported to be highly popular. Although it is supposed to continue until April 28, the multiplex chain reported that all reservations may be booked soon.

Although it was possible to rent out an entire theater before, it would have cost around 1.9 million won as each seat in a 200-seat-theater had to be reserved.

“We chose the branches and the time schedules that are nearly empty, and in which the recent reservation rate is between 1 to 2 percent,” CGV said.

The Seoul Cinema is to hold a similar promotion until next month. Those who wish to apply need to share on social media such as Facebook or Instagram why they want an entire theater to themselves. They should do so before May 5. Theater staff will contact winners personally through their accounts on May 6.

Daily box office sales have been doing poorly since the virus outbreak. As of Saturday, the No. 1 film in terms of ticket sales was a re-release of 2016’s “La La Land” with 5,846 tickets sold across 294 screenings.

By Lee Jae-lim