No Time to Die—Literally: Risk, Fandom, and Theatergoing during the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Abstract

COVID-19 impacted moviegoing and fandom in profound ways. Such concerns were especially acute for properties delayed by the pandemic, like the 25 th James Bond film, No Time to Die. Original survey research shows that willingness to see the film opening weekend without social distancing was significantly lower amongst Bond fans who still perceived COVID to be a crisis. Interest in returning to the theater in general was also impacted by such assessments of the pandemic.