Northern Virginia Open Captioned Movies

06/20/2024

Showplace Icon in Tysons Corner has closed. That theater had offered open captions. It is apparently going to become a Look dine in theater. Look does not offer open captions unless forced to by law in places like new york city where the law mandates that they offer at least some open caption screenings. So this is bad news for the Northern Virginia open caption audience. A theater has been lost and the replacement theater won't offer open captions.
https://patch.com/virginia/vienna/s/ix9r7/shuttered-movie-theater-tysons-reopen-under-new-owner-report
...reason number 1,001 why we need a law for open captions in Virginia!

Although the ShowPlace Icon Theatre in The Boro showed its last movie on Sunday night, a new owner has already signed a deal to reopen it.

05/10/2024

Washington, DC just did it - they passed a bill for open captions in DC movie theaters!

This is the update we thought we would NEVER, EVER write. After four tries, Washington, DC has succeeded in passing legislation for open captions!!! The DC bill passed unanimously on May 7, 2024. DC is now the second city to get a law for open captions. Move over, New York City! What does this law d...

04/19/2024

He's from NoVA but cheering Maryland!

03/31/2024

Help needed to collect data on open caption and non-open caption ticket sales at Virginia movie theaters. We need this data to aid the effort to get a bill/pass a bill for open captions in Virginia in 2025. Message this page or leave a comment if you are willing to help. We especially need help from people who are currently retired and able to capture data on daytime screenings before 4 pm on Mondays to Fridays. This can be done from the comfort of home, no need to go to the movie theaters.

03/28/2024

Never saw the original Godzilla movie from 1998? You're in for a treat it seems...looks like University Mall is the only NoVa theater offering a screening of it, Sat and Sun with open captions! And it is the only screening, with or without OC.

02/11/2024

Do you want to see legal protection for open captions in Virginia movie theaters? We are building a team to try for legislation in 2025. Actually, we already have a small team, but we need more people. Virginia is a big state and we will need a lot of help. We need people to join the following sub-teams:

legislative
social media
video
ally outreach
website/email
graphics
data

If you are interested in joining one of those teams, message this page or leave a comment, and we will go from there to get you on that team.

02/02/2024

While Virginia does not have a bill for open captions this year, we want to try for one for 2025! To be able to do that, we need to be able to show legislators that there is support for open captions in Virginia. Here's a form you can submit to demonstrate that support:

http://tinyurl.com/vaopencaptionsnow

Please share - the more Virginians that submit this form, the easier it will be to get a legislator to sponsor a bill for 2025!

The time has come to ensure that movie theaters provide more open captioned movie options since there are currently only so many options when theaters decide for themselves voluntarily. We need your input to take to our state government to make effective changes for the betterment of our community.....

01/16/2024

See what's happening in our sister state!

[Video Description: A balded white man with glasses, goatee, dark blue buttoned down shirt with blue background.]Transcript:Hello! I am Fred Hartman and I se...

01/09/2024

Alamo Drafthouse seems to have CEASED offering open captions at two Northern Virginia locations:

1. Woodbridge (see comment for proof of earlier OC)
2. Loudoun (see comment for proof of earlier OC)

Before, they had "open caption" offerings regularly. Now, when you go to their website to check, all they have are "sensory friendly" screenings and the description of sensory friendly does NOT include open captions. Unless someone can confirm the sensory friendly screenings do have open captions, we assume that they don't.

THIS is proof of why we need a law in Virginia to protect open captions. Theaters can stop anytime they want!

The only Alamo Drafthouse in Northern Virginia still offering open captions is the one in Crystal City, near the Crystal City metro.

12/03/2023

It's not going to be a happy holiday for the Deaf and hard of hearing community of the Reston/Herndon area. The new Look cinema that opened one month ago, is not offering open captions. To pressure the theater, we need more people from Reston/Herndon to contact us.

10/27/2023

UPDATE: The theater now says that open captions will be added in a few weeks. That means they may not have open captions when they first open, but will in a few more weeks.

REMINDER: On November 2, the new Look Dine-in Cinema opens in Reston Town Center. As of now, we do not know if they will have open captions - and so far, it looks like they won't!! Why: A deaf resident of the area talked to the new theater's manager and that manager told the deaf resident that he/she could not do anything. The Look Dine-in Cinema in New York City, the Look West 57th theater, DOES offer open captions regularly - BECAUSE of the law in New York City. In fact, that theater was in violation of the NYC law for some time before they were forced to comply. Go to the Look Cinemas facebook post promoting the coming opening and post comments that you want open captions there! https://www.facebook.com/LOOKCinemas/posts/pfbid035vwE3cvkiVTVSLcea17Se9cUBeWU9sSgVsVzZ92XLMnwsttBLB1jYy1Cx6Vz4jrfl

10/14/2023

Update! The Look Dine-in Cinemas at Reston Town Center is opening on November 2! Again, if you have not yet pushed them to offer open captions, now is the time! https://www.lookcinemas.com/contact

10/03/2023

Countdown to Taylor Swift film in theaters starting October 13; this is the data for Northern Virginia theater open caption screenings so far. Only the first day of open caption screenings is listed.

Tell your friends/family about the availability of these open caption screenings for Taylor Swift's film. The future will mean more non-movie films; Beyonce just announced her own concert film, Renaissance, will be in theaters starting November 30 (early sales)/December 1 (official first day). As of now, there are no open caption screenings for the Beyonce film which is being distributed by AMC Entertainment and which just started selling tickets.

09/10/2023

Are you a fan of the singer Taylor Swift? Her film The Eras Tour will be in theaters starting October 13. Tickets went on sale on August 31 with no open caption version available. Yesterday, an open caption version became available! However, theaters may be unaware an open caption version is available now because of how much time has passed since August 31 - so if you want to see Taylor Swift with open captions, contact your preferred Northern Virginia theater to let them know. Right now, it appears no Northern Virginia theaters have scheduled any open caption screenings for Taylor Swift.

08/31/2023

Soon, the Look Dine-in Cinema in Reston Town Center will open. Will it offer open captions? That is up to YOU. We can do just so much in trying to persuade them to offer open captions. Their New York City location does have open captions, but that is because of the LAW in New York City, a LAW that we lack here in Northern Virginia. We NEED for this theater to offer open captions because right now, the Reston/Herndon area has NOTHING.

Send Look your desire for open captions using this form:
https://www.lookcinemas.com/contact

08/17/2023

Today ran into Jane LateDeaf again, on way to pool. This time, showed her the BigScreen Cinema Guide open caption search and how to use it to find Virginia theaters' open caption screenings. Jane LateDeaf appeared to be rather pleased!

This advanced search tool looks for Open Caption presentations in movie theaters.These showings display the captions on the screen for all to see, with no extra equipment needed. While one might think that on-screen captions are just for moviegoers who are D/deaf and hard of hearing, they can be use...

08/06/2023

You never know when you're going to run across someone who can benefit from open captions. This happened earlier today after leaving the swimming pool:

Noticed young woman (let's call her Jane LateDeaf) had a hearing aid. Decided to strike up a conversation by asking Jane LateDeaf if she had a hearing aid.

Turned out Jane LateDeaf had a cochlear implant plus a hearing aid. After a bit of conversation, told Jane LateDeaf about open captions. Jane LateDeaf had never heard of the availability of open captions in Northern Virginia.

In fact, Jane LateDeaf had seen "Barbie" the previous week using closed caption devices. Jane LateDeaf said the cc devices gave her a headache. Jane LateDeaf was delighted to learn about all the theater choices here in Northern Virginia.

Food for thought: Jane LateDeaf's negative experience with cc equipment could have meant that she would never go back to a theater. Instead, because Jane LateDeaf now knows that she has the choice of open captions, NoVA theaters will get to keep a customer who will buy tickets and snacks.

07/31/2023

Today's open caption screening of "Oppenheimer" at the Cinema Arts. And this doesn't capture any walk ups after online sales closed. Have you seen Barbie or Oppenheimer yet? Which theater?

07/21/2023

The Big Screen Cinema Guide has just released an Open Caption search to help people find open caption screenings of movies like Barbie!
It works like this:
1. Go to https://www.bigscreen.com/advsearch/advsearch.php?id=oc
2. Select the movie you want
3. Select the theater name

This advanced search tool looks for Open Caption presentations in movie theaters.These showings display the captions on the screen for all to see, with no extra equipment needed. While one might think that on-screen captions are just for moviegoers who are D/deaf and hard of hearing, they can be use...

07/07/2023

This is the full list of Virginia theaters offering open captions. Could have listed only NoVA theaters but providing full list in case you go out of town. And at reddit.com there is a theater guide to finding open caption screenings. https://www.reddit.com/r/opencaptions/comments/zejfhl/theater_guide_for_finding_open_captions/

VIRGINIA

1. Alexandria: AMC Hoffman 22
2. Alexandria: Regal Kingstowne 16
3. Arlington: Regal Ballston Quarter
4. Arlington: Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City
5. Ashburn: Alamo Drafthouse One Loudoun 8
6. Ashland: Ashland Theatre (1 screen)
7. Blacksburg: B&B Blacksburg 11
8. Blacksburg: The Lyric
9. Centreville: Cinemark Centreville 12 (Sundays and Wednesdays)
10. Chantilly: Airbus IMAX theater
11. Charlottesville: Regal Stonefield
12. Charlottesville: Violet Crown
13. Colonial Heights: Regal Southpark Mall
14. Fairfax: Angelika Mosaic 8
15. Fairfax: AMC Tysons Corner 16
16. Fairfax: Regal Fairfax Towne Center 10
17. Fairfax: University Mall Theatres (3 screen)
18. Fairfax: Cinema Arts Theatres
19. Fairfax: Cinemark Fairfax Corner and XD 14 (Saturdays and Mondays)
20. Fredericksburg: Paragon Theaters 12
21. Gainesville: Regal Gateway Stadium 14
22. Glen Allen: Regal Virginia Center 20
23. Hampton: AMC Hampton 24
24. Leesburg: CMX Village 14 (Wednesdays)
25. Manassas: Regal Manassas
26. McLean: Showplace Icon Tysons 14
27. Midlothian: Regal Commonwealth & IMAX 16
28. Richmond: CMX Cinebistro Stony Point 6 (Wednesdays)
29. Roanoke: AMC Classic Roanoke 10
30. Staunton: Visulite Cinemas (2 screen)
31. Stephens City: Family Drive-In
32. Sterling: Regal Dulles Town Center
33. Virginia Beach: AMC Lynnhaven 18
34. Williamsburg: Movie Tavern Williamsburg Cinema 8
35. Wi******er: AMC Classic Apple Blossom 12
36. Woodbridge: Alamo Drafthouse Woodbridge 8
37. Woodbridge: AMC Potomac Mills 18

Reddit is a network of communities where people can dive into their interests, hobbies and passions. There's a community for whatever you're interested in on Reddit.

07/07/2023

Don't know what to do with this page. With most NoVA theaters offering open captions regularly, there are too many open caption screenings to list. The DC Deaf Moviegoers and Allies has also long since stopped listing NoVA screenings. Any suggestions or should we close this page down? Keep it alive in case a new theater opens and need to share the news? Keep it alive to share other things related to open captions?

03/03/2023

Going to see Creed III? It includes a young deaf actress. AMC recently released a new video promoting open captions, with this young deaf actress in it!

(See the comments for long list of where to go in Northern VA on Saturday/Sunday to see Creed with open captions!)

The AMC CEO has been hosting movie screenings all over the country but has never hosted an open caption screening. There won't be one of this movie, either.
So there is now a petition to AMC CEO Adam Aron asking him to host an open caption screening!

Here are the links to the video and the petition:

https://fb.watch/iW8ZoFPr6C/

https://www.change.org/HostOpenCaption

01/22/2023

Live in or near Reston? Enjoy visiting Reston Town Center? Need your help!! Look Cinemas is going to open in March at the Reston Town Center. Have tried, but been unable to, get Look to commit to offering open captions at this new location. Look apparently does not offer regular open captions at any of its locations nationwide. We need for this new theater to offer open captions - the Reston/Herndon area has no theaters offering open captions. Go to the Look Cinemas Contact Us page and fill out the form to demand open captions at the new Reston location! In numbers there is strength! https://www.lookcinemas.com/contact

01/20/2023

Regal is closing theaters. Variety already posted a list of 39 theaters closing. None in northern Virginia, but the AMC CEO tweeted that Regal told the bankruptcy judge that Regal will close 108 theaters. That means there's a good chance that either the Regal Kingstowne or the Regal Springfield will close. They are a short drive apart, so it makes sense that one of them will be targeted for closure.

If Regal has to close one, we hope it will be the Regal Springfield because the Regal Kingstowne is the one that offers open captions not the Regal Springfield.

01/14/2023

Just saw that the Cinema Arts Theatre in Fairfax has redone its website and it is now easy to find open caption listings. Saturdays/Sundays only. This is how a typical listing looks now:

01/14/2023

We're sorry but the previous post was incorrect. The university mall website is now not showing a daily open caption screening only the Saturday and Sunday open caption screenings. They must have made an error with their programming software. We will delete the earlier post.

12/21/2022

Tonight, found that additional Regal theaters in Virginia are offering open captions. Three of them are in Northern Virginia area.

Regal Stonefield (Charlottesville)
Regal Ballston Quarter (Arlington)
Regal Manassas (Manassas)
Regal Dulles Town Center (Sterling)

12/15/2022

Avatar: The way of Water opens today. Opening weekend open caption screenings listed here:

“Virginia /41”

12/07/2022

Critical reaction to the upcoming Avatar: The Way of Water is overwhelmingly positive. Dates and times for open caption screenings in Northern Virginia can be found on this Twitter thread (you do not have to have a Twitter account to be able to read it):

“Virginia /41”

11/22/2022

By now you may have heard the news...Avatar:The Way of Water tickets are now available for advance purchase. We checked and some NoVA theaters have already posted open caption screenings. Tickets just went on sale yesterday (Nov 21) and someone already bought a seat at the open caption screening at Cinemark Fairfax Corner.

Please help us by letting us know if any open caption Avatar 2 screenings sell out. We need proof that open captions can sell in order to convince theaters to offer more oc or to get legislation to protect the oc we already have. Did you know that the northern Virginia area is one of only four locations with Cinemark theaters that offer open captions? We can help other states get OC at their Cinemarks if it does well here.