Northeast U.S. Buried in Snow, Cinemas Close

Winter storm forces theater closures across New York, New Jersey, and other Northeast states.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A major winter storm has dumped over two feet of snow across the Northeast U.S., leading to widespread power outages and the closure of numerous movie theaters, particularly in the New York, New Jersey, and Boston areas. While some Manhattan theaters have managed to reopen, the storm has also forced the cancellation of Broadway shows for a second consecutive day.

Why it matters

The Northeast is a crucial moviegoing market, and the closure of theaters during this period could significantly impact box office revenues, especially for smaller films. The storm also highlights the challenges that extreme weather events can pose to the entertainment industry.

The details

According to reports, over 600,000 households are without power due to the storm, and over 10,000 flights have been canceled. AMC has closed 60 theaters across the affected region, while other major chains like Regal have also shuttered some locations. However, some Manhattan theaters, including the Paris Theater, AMC Lincoln Square, Regal Union Square, and Regal Times Square, have managed to reopen later in the day.

  • The winter storm hit the Northeast on February 23, 2026.
  • Broadway shows were canceled for a second consecutive day due to the storm.

The players

AMC

A major movie theater chain that has closed 60 locations across the Northeast due to the winter storm.

Regal

A major movie theater chain that has also closed some locations in the Northeast due to the storm.

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What’s next

It remains to be seen how long the theater closures will last and how they will impact box office revenues in the coming days.

The takeaway

The Northeast winter storm has highlighted the vulnerability of the entertainment industry to extreme weather events, with movie theaters and Broadway shows forced to close due to the heavy snowfall and power outages. This serves as a reminder of the importance of contingency planning and resilience in the face of such disruptions.