The surge in COVID infections stemming from the Omicron variant has renewed moviegoers’ interest in private cinemas, cinema rentals and drive-in cinemas. Though still a fraction of the business that regular screenings of a new Marvel title might generate, they nevertheless point to a wider offering of cinema-going options. 

Korea’s Lotte has launched Cine Family, a private “viewing booth” for four to six people. German cinema Rex in Pforzheim is offering private rentals for two to Seven people. Several new drive-in cinemas have opened across Korea; many by regular cinema operators such as Lotte, CGV and Cine Q. Korean startup VX also has a private theatre called Another Watching Club, with three viewing rooms consisting of only four seats each in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province.