The Avalon Atmospheric Theater in Bay View is reopening today, showing movies for the first time since March and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The theater will welcome audiences back with $6 showings of the remastered re-release of "Inception," followed by Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated action movie "Tenet" starting Thursday night as its first new film since the spring.

The Avalon is the latest area movie theater to reopen, with more and more unlocking their doors across the nation with the highly anticipated release of "Tenet." Most recently, the Downer Theatre on the East Side and the AMC at Mayfair Mall reopened last weekend, and Marcus Theatres reopened most of its Wisconsin locations in mid-August. 

Going to the movies is still considered by many health experts as a high-risk activity during the pandemic, so the Avalon has made changes to make the experience as safe as possible, working with the guidelines put forward by CinemaSafe, a program instituting health-first protocols and procedures throughout theaters nationwide. For the time being, the Avalon will operate under 30 percent capacity, with the backstage theater still closed, and in order to ensure distancing between moviegoers, the theater will move to a reserved seating system. Masks are required at all times – save for when eating and drinking – purchases are now cashless to encourage as little contact as possible, and extra cleaning and sanitizing measures are now in place. For more information on CinemaSafe, click here. 

While the Avalon is reopening, the Neighborhood Theater Group's other two theaters – the Times Cinema and the Rosebud – will remain closed for the time being. 

For tickets, showtimes and more information on safety protocols, visit the Avalon's website. Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for more reopening news and updates.