After more than six months of struggles amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Hollywood issued a dire message about the state of the movie theater industry — the nation’s cinemas “may not survive” without help.

Dozens of famous filmmakers, including Judd Apatow, James Cameron, Greta Gerwig, Christopher Nolan, Jordan Peele and Ang Lee, signed a letter calling on the federal government to provide support for the industry, which remains shuttered or only partially open in much of the country.

According to the industry groups, 93% of exhibitors saw their revenue plummet 75% or more in the second quarter, compared with the same period of time last year. In the U.S., the theater industry employs 150,000 people, many of whom are part time and hourly. If the status quo continues, two-thirds of those jobs could vanish, the groups warned. “Our country cannot afford to lose the social, economic, and cultural value that theaters provide,” the letter said.

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