Poll finds opposition to reopening 8 kinds of businesses — especially movie theaters


Most Americans aren't on board with reopening businesses like movie theaters, gyms, and dine-in restaurants just yet, a new poll has found.
In a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll released Tuesday, Americans were asked if they believed eight kinds of businesses should be allowed to open in their state, and a majority said no to all eight. This includes 74 percent who said dine-in restaurants shouldn't reopen, 78 percent who said gyms shouldn't reopen, and 82 percent who said movie theaters shouldn't reopen. "Opposition to opening businesses is just about as high in the states that have loosened restrictions so far as states with stricter restrictions," the Post writes.
Additionally, 70 percent of respondents opposed reopening gun stores, 74 percent opposed reopening nail salons, 69 percent opposed reopening barbershops and hair salons, 66 percent opposed reopening retail shops like clothing stores, and 59 percent opposed reopening golf courses. Movie theaters drew the highest percentage of Americans opposed to their reopening.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
This comes as many states have allowed some nonessential businesses to begin resuming operations. But the poll also found many Americans don't feel comfortable returning to some of them just yet, as 78 percent said they'd be uncomfortable going out to eat at a restaurant right now. According to the Post, "People in states with looser restrictions report similar levels of discomfort as those in states with stricter rules."
The Washington Post-University of Maryland poll was conducted by speaking to a random national sample of 1,005 U.S. adults over the phone from April 28 to May 3, although the questions about businesses reopening used a random half-sample of respondents with a margin of error of 5 percent. Read the full results at The Washington Post.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Political cartoons for October 17
Cartoons Friday's editorial cartoons include Tomahawk missile talk, the price of red meat, and the bestest boy reports from the Pentagon press room
-
The ‘swag gap’: are you better than your partner?
In The Spotlight The viral terminology sheds light on power dynamics in modern relationships
-
Climate change is getting under our skin
Under the radar Skin conditions are worsening because of warming temperatures
-
Gold tops $4K per ounce, signaling financial unease
Speed Read Investors are worried about President Donald Trump’s trade war
-
Electronic Arts to go private in record $55B deal
speed read The video game giant is behind ‘The Sims’ and ‘Madden NFL’
-
New York court tosses Trump's $500M fraud fine
Speed Read A divided appeals court threw out a hefty penalty against President Trump for fraudulently inflating his wealth
-
Trump said to seek government stake in Intel
Speed Read The president and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan reportedly discussed the proposal at a recent meeting
-
US to take 15% cut of AI chip sales to China
Speed Read Nvidia and AMD will pay the Trump administration 15% of their revenue from selling artificial intelligence chips to China
-
NFL gets ESPN stake in deal with Disney
Speed Read The deal gives the NFL a 10% stake in Disney's ESPN sports empire and gives ESPN ownership of NFL Network
-
Samsung to make Tesla chips in $16.5B deal
Speed Read Tesla has signed a deal to get its next-generation chips from Samsung
-
FCC greenlights $8B Paramount-Skydance merger
Speed Read The Federal Communications Commission will allow Paramount to merge with the Hollywood studio Skydance