Video surveillance is legal in publicly accessible areas of a movie theater, including the lobby, hallways, ticket counters, food areas, entry gates, parking lots, external facades, and more.
However, installing cameras inside the actual theater/screening rooms is subject to individual state laws. It is necessary to post signs indicating that active CCTV cameras are in operation. Privacy laws determine if back rows or seating areas inside rooms themselves can be monitored directly, so certain restrictions may apply.
That being said, film piracy deterrence laws enable catching illegal camcorder use during screenings via long-range cameras.
Overall, while video surveillance in theaters is legal, room surveillance itself may fall into gray areas depending on the region.
Read also: Do Movie Theaters Have Cameras? Insights on Privacy and Security