AMC Theatres to offer open captions each week
The CEO of AMC Theatres Adam Aron announced on Twitter that the company would “permanently offer some Open Caption showtimes each week.” Aron said the showings would be well marked on the AMC website and on its mobile app. Aron said it’s “right in time” for Disney/Marvel’s “Eternals,” which features deaf actress Lauren Ridloff.
[Twitter/@CEOAdam]“I am proud to announce that @AMCTheatres permanently will offer some Open Caption showtimes each week. Well marked on our web site and mobile app. A real advance for those with hearing difficulties or where English is a second language. And right in time for Eternals from @Disney”
I checked AMC’s website and saw that some movies scheduled in the future had the words in bold, “OPEN CAPTION (ON-SCREEN SUBTITLES).”
One deaf person on Twitter, Larry Andersen, said he was concerned that the showtimes with open captions were mostly during the weekday early afternoons, which isn’t suitable for those who have daytime jobs or children.
[Twitter/@nVIDIASLiRig] “Wanted to watch #NoTimeToDie tonight @AMCTheatres but turned out theres open #caption available only during week at 3:45, really? I got a job and kids in school! Ofc they only save the best seat/time for others. #captionplease #deaf
@thedailymoth]
Andersen said he hopes AMC will do something and make an improvement with showtimes.
So it’s a step in accessibility for deaf movie-goers, but it’s still on a limited basis.
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The idea of open captions in movie theaters is starting to become more mainstream.
The film, “CODA,” starring three Deaf actors, was released in theaters with all showtimes having burned-in open captions. Right now the top streaming series on Netflix is “Squid Game,” which has subtitles because it’s a foreign film. Here’s hoping this trend continues with the hearing public and entertainment industry leaders’ acceptance of seeing captions on the screen.