Starting January 1, 2026, all Washington State movie theaters will be required to offer open-caption screenings each week under ESSB 5486, also known as the John Waldo Act. The new law honors attorney and hearing-access advocate John Waldo, who passed away in 2023. It aims to give Deaf and hard of hearing moviegoers the same access as everyone else, while allowing for slightly different guidelines for smaller theater companies.
Read on for all the info!
What are open captions and why are they preferred?
Open captions appear directly on the movie screen—just like subtitles on a TV—so viewers don’t need special devices, glasses, or cup-holder screens. For moviegoers who are Deaf or hard of hearing, this removes the uncertainty of whether a cinema’s equipment is available, charged, or functioning. And the benefits extend beyond hearing access: captions also support non-native English speakers, young readers, and anyone who receives information better with visual reinforcement (such as those with auditory processing difficulty).
What the new law will require
According to the John Waldo Act, any movie theater open to the general public must include open-caption showings in its weekly schedule. Requirements differ based on theater size:
- Large theater companies (five or more locations):
- If a movie plays at least five times in a specific theater, the theater must offer two open-caption showings during the film’s first two weeks.
- At least one of those showings must fall during peak hours—Fridays 6–11 p.m., or Saturdays/Sundays 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.
- After the first two weeks, the theater must continue offering at least one weekly peak-hour open-caption showing.
- Smaller theater companies (four or fewer locations):
- They may either follow the rules for larger chains or agree to provide an open-caption screening within eight days when requested.
The rules apply only to theaters serving the general public; private screening rooms are exempt. Films that are released without open-caption files are also excluded.
How to find open-caption showtimes
Theaters must list open-caption screenings the same way they advertise all other showtimes, clearly marking them with “OC.” If you find open captions to be distracting, you can avoid showings that are marked “OC.” Theaters must also provide a method for patrons to request open-caption showings.
Note that personal captioning devices will still be available. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires theaters to provide individual captioning equipment for films distributed with caption tracks.