Gwinnett AMC Theaters To Ban Masks For ‘Joker’ Film

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — This is no joke. Landmark Theaters, a Los Angeles-based chain with screens across the country, will ban moviegoers from wearing masks, painted faces or costumes to screenings of the “Joker” film, which opens this weekend.

The move comes in response to growing concerns about the violence depicted in the film and after worries expressed by the families of those killed in a 2012 mass shooting at a Colorado theater screening of an earlier Batman film.

Separately, AMC Theatres, the biggest movie theater chain in the United States, previously banned masks in theaters after the Colorado mass shooting, but the company issued a reminder last week that audience members are not allowed to wear anything that obscures their faces. Costumes are still permitted.

“Guests are welcome to come dressed in costume, but we do not permit masks, face paint or any object that conceals the face,” AMC said in a widely reported statement. “AMC does not permit weapons or items that would make other guests feel uncomfortable or detract from the movie-going experience.”

“Joker” is set for release Friday, and is scheduled to be shown at three AMC theaters in Lawrenceville:

• AMC Sugarloaf Mills 18, 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite 415
• AMC Colonial 18, 825 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road
• AMC Dine-In Webb Gin 11, 1210 Scenic Highway North

The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as a failed clown who unravels into darkness and fights back against society. The movie has been criticized for glorifying mass violence, and Phoenix recently walked out of an interview after being asked whether the film could inspire real violence.

In the weeks before the film’s opening date, the FBI told local law-enforcement agencies across the country to watch for troubling online posts, according to the Washington Post.

U.S. military officials also warned about possible violence at screenings after they were contacted by FBI agents who reportedly found social media posts from extremists about possible violence at theaters.

The Army released a memo about online “chatter” on the dark web of threats at a Joker screening. The memo has caused theaters to plan extra security for the film.