After the pandemic caused a number of movie release delays last year, COVID-19 is impacting cinemas again.

Movie studio Sony has made the decision to delay the release of 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage.'

The move comes after a surge in COVID-19 cases in the USA due in large part to the delta variant.

A poll from the National Research Group (via THR) found that cinema attendance has decreased significantly in recent weeks from 81% on July 11th to 66% as of Monday.

Thus it comes as little surprise that 'Venom 2' has been pushed back.

Its initial release date was September 24th and its new release date is October 15th.

Paramount previously moved the release for 'Clifford the Big Red Dog'.

Thus the 'Venom' sequel is the second movie to move out of September.

It now faces competition with 'Halloween Kills', which shares its release date of October 15th.

Another major title set for release in September is 'No Time to Die', which was originally meant to arrive in cinemas in March 2020.

Whether the release date of the latest Bond venture will also be impacted remains unclear.

It is also unclear at this time how the variant will impact the release of 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' and other titles in Irish and UK cinemas.