Texans safety hands out gifts with games and prizes, meets fans

As supply chain bottlenecks create shortages on many items, some charities are struggling to secure holiday gift wishes from kids in need.

When the pandemic descended on the U.S., Associated Press entertainment photographer Chris Pizzello was left with nothing to shoot.

This combination shows Yifei Liu in the title role of "Mulan," left, and John David Washington in a scene from "Tenet." On Thursday, Christopher Nolans Tenet will arrive in U.S. theaters, the first big movie to head to cinemas since the pandemic began. I didnt expect that many people to show up.More Americans will make their way back to the movies this weekend than any since the pandemic shuttered theaters in March. After debuting in Europe, Canada and Korea last weekend, Tenet on Thursday lands in the 75% open U.S. theaters, along with cinemas in China on Friday. As long as its done in a sensible way.As difficult as the circumstances are, Warner Bros. also sees opportunity.

Mulan is no longer headed for a major theatrical release. The Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday that it will debut its live-action blockbuster on its subscription streaming service, Disney+, on Sept. 4. But this is no Hamilton: Customers will have to pay an additional $29.99 on top of the cost of the monthly subscription to rent Mulan." The company plans to release it in theaters in areas where Disney+ is not available. Originally set for a March 27 release, Mulan moved to late July, then late August and was then pulled from the calendar all together as COVID-19 cases spiked through the U.S.

AMC Theaters, the nation's largest chain, is pushing back its plans to begin reopening theaters by at least another two weeks. The company said Thursday that its now aiming to open its U.S. theaters in mid- to late-August. AMC had planned to open most of its U.S. theaters in mid-July before pushing the date to July 30. Disney indefinitely delayed "Mulan," which had been set to for release on Aug. 21 after various delays over COVID-19. Warner Bros. also delayed "Tenet," with no new release date announced.

AMC Theatres — the world's largest movie theater owner — announced Thursday that it is set to reopen its more than 600 US theaters next month with new safety and health measures to help curb the spread of coronavirus. The chain, which closed its locations earlier this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, said it will be implementing a health and sanitation program it calls "AMC Safe & Clean." Aron added that AMC was advised by the Clorox company and current and former faculty of Harvard University's School of Public Health while developing the measures. And in areas of the country where masks are not compulsory, AMC says it will "strongly" encourage guests to wear them. The movie theater industry has been ravaged by coronavirus.