Aug. 14--Universal Pictures has offered to pay for enhanced security during screenings of West Coast hip-hop biopic "Straight Outta Compton" during the film's opening weekend.
The opening of the highly anticipated movie, which chronicles the rise of Los Angeles rap group N.W.A., is prompting security concerns at some theaters. The film, produced by Universal, opens in North America on Thursday night.
"We're very proud of our association with 'Straight Outta Compton,' and the film's been seen nationwide by thousands of people in hundreds of screenings and all of those have occurred without incident," said a Universal spokesman. "The studio has not solicited enhanced security for theaters who will begin showing the film this weekend, but it has partnered with those exhibitors who've requested support for their location."
Universal Pictures is owned by Comcast Corp.
Downers Grove-based Classic Cinemas, which operates 13 movie theaters in the Chicago area, said it will provide security at some of the 10 locations where it will show the film this weekend.
CEO Chris Johnson declined to provide specifics on what security measures would be taken or the cost. "Security is important," Johnson said. "As far as hired security (staff), that is as circumstances dictate."
The decision to offer increased security comes in the wake of attacks in movie theaters, racial tensions across the country and the film's "gang-oriented," subject matter, sources told The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the story on Wednesday night.
Additional security would likely be needed at locations where sell-out crowds are anticipated, Johnson added. "We just want to make sure that where there's a lot of people, that everything's in control," he said.
Johnson said he couldn't recall the last time that more security was needed at a film screening. Midnight showings of films used to require additional security, but films are now typically released on Thursday evenings, relieving the pressure of sellout crowds, Johnson said.
"This is definitely the last big hurrah for the summer, and my gut is that everything is going to go fine and people will enjoy it," he said.
Studio Movie Grill, which operates the Chatham 14 in Chicago and the Studio Movie Grill in Wheaton also said it will have added security at the film's screening this weekend.
"The safety and comfort of every guest and team member is Studio Movie Grill's number one priority, and we take it extremely seriously," spokeswoman Lynne McQuaker said in an email to the Tribune. "We do have an increased security presence for the weekend at all our locations, as we did after the recent incidents, to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests," she said.
AMC Theaters, another large operator of movie theaters in the Chicago area, did not respond to requests for comment.
crshopshire@tribpub.com
