The theater chain wants to get back to business, but consumer sentiment may not be on their side.

One of the industries hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic is the movie theater business, with US industry leader AMC Theaters in especially bad shape. The theater chain was forced to close nearly all of its 1,000 theaters around the world, leaving over 11,000 screens blank from March onward. Not only has the chain lost revenue from the loss of customer in seats and snack sales, but several films that would normally pack cinemas opted for online streaming instead, further diverting customers away. By the company’s own admission, their profits in the latter half of March were nearly zero. In their eagerness to get back to full operation, AMC has announced that they are hoping to reopen 99% of their theaters around the world by mid-July.

The linchpin to AMC’s reopening is the release of new big name films like Tenet and the live-action Mulan. The company is counting on the desires of customers to get out of their houses and see movies in public spaces again. According to the company’s CEO, Adam Aron, “We believe there will be a significant pent-up demand to get back into the world.”

However, the statistics may not be in AMC’s favor. According to a survey of 2,200 US adults from data intelligence firm Morning Consult, only 22% of people currently feel comfortable with the idea of going to a public movie right now. 14% said they would be willing to go to a movie next month, while 33% said they would not feel comfortable going to a public movie for at least another six months. Medical experts are skeptical as well. According to a survey of 511 epidemiologists conducted by the New York Times, 64% don’t expect notable turnout at large public spaces like sports stadiums, theaters, and concerts for at least a year.

Still, AMC does have some numbers of its own. Three of the chain’s theaters in Norway recently managed to reopen, and attendance has apparently been quite strong. The theaters were required to operate at a reduced capacity to allow for social distancing, but of the available seats, 83% were filled. According to Aron, the chain could make up for the reduced capacity by showing popular films on more screens.