The Movies Return To Cookeville…As AMC Reopens

The big screen returned to Cookeville Thursday night with AMC Highland 12 reopening.

People gathered with their popcorn buckets in hand. Some came to watch classics while others came for the premieres of long awaited titles. Cookeville’s Christiana Allen said she came to the theater to enjoy some hot, fresh popcorn.

“I missed the movies, I missed the popcorn,” Allen said. “I missed socializing.”

Cookeville’s Nicole Belknap said she was going to go horseback riding Thursday night but remembered the theater reopened. She said the atmosphere of a movie theater is something you can not replace.

“The popcorn and just being able to go out and have a nice evening,” Belknap said. “And, watch something new.”

The Highland 12 first closed in March at the beginning of the pandemic. Cookeville’s Rita Anderson said she is a premier member with AMC. Anderson went to the movies three times a month before the shut down.

“Well, I like all Sci-Fi movies,” Anderson said. “Romances and everything and my popcorn.”