“No New ‘Movies’ Till Influenza Ends” blared a
New York Times headline on Oct. 10, 1918, while
the deadly second wave of the Spanish Flu
was unfolding.
A century later, during another pandemic,
movies — quotes no longer necessary — are
again facing a critical juncture. But it’s not
because new films haven’t been coming out.
By streaming service, video-on-demand, virtual
theater or actual theater, a steady diet of films
have been released under COVID-19 every week.
The Times has reviewed more than 460 new
movies since mid-March.