Paramount Pictures UK Partners With The British Deaf Association
Paramount Pictures announced that it is partnering with the British Deaf Association, Cineworld Cinemas, Vue Entertainment and Showcase Cinemas for the release of Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning, to further its commitment to creating a better theatrical experience for the c.18m people in the UK registered as Deaf or Hard of Hearing, in an industry-first initiative. The film opened in the UK on May 21.
Building on the initiative started in 2024, Cineworld, Vue and Showcase cinemas across the UK and Ireland will guarantee a daily captioned performance of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning in every single one of their venues over the opening nine days of the film’s release.
From Wednesday, May 21 to Thursday, May 29, film fans will be able to see a daily captioned performance of the movie in every Cineworld, Vue and Showcase cinema. The shows are available for everyone to attend, but will mark the first time any movie opening has had this breadth of availability for Deaf or Hard of Hearing cinemagoers. Odeon Cinemas have also agreed a significant increase in programming of captioned performances across their UK and Irish venues, adding to the availability of accessible performances of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning over the first week of the film’s opening.
In addition, Paramount Pictures will continue its programme of offering their films for CAPTION ONLY screenings first, with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning available to see across the UK and Ireland, on Monday 19 May, two days ahead of the film’s opening.
John Fletcher, VP and Managing Director of Paramount Pictures UK said, ”We are very proud to be collaborating with our cinema partners to increase their regular programming of captioned shows for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. This commitment from Vue, Cineworld and Showcase is a major step forward and the biggest leap we have seen our industry make in this area. We also welcome the decision of Odeon and all other cinema operators that have increased their volume of captioned shows for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning. I’d like to thank Phillipa Reynolds, Paul Lofting and the entire Paramount Pictures UK & Ireland team for their determination to see this change fully realised.”
Paramount Pictures and Skydance present Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, produced by Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie; executive produced by David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Chris Brock; Based on the Television Series Created by Bruce Geller; written by Christopher McQuarrie & Erik Jendresen; directed by Christopher McQuarrie. The film stars Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny, Holt McCallany, Janet McTeer, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Tramell Tillman and Angela Bassett, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Charles Parnell, Mark Gatiss, with Rolf Saxon, Lucy Tulugarjuk.
Rebecca Mansell, CEO, British Deaf Association said, “This is more than just a milestone for accessible cinema — it’s a landmark moment in our journey toward a society where Deaf people can fully participate in every aspect of public life. As part of our 10-Year Strategy at the BDA, we envision a world where BSL is ingrained in all aspects of life. This unprecedented commitment from Paramount Pictures UK, Cineworld Cinemas, Vue Entertainment, and Showcase Cinemas to deliver daily captioned screenings of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is an exciting step towards making that a reality. Access is not just a luxury, it is a right. We are proud to stand alongside our partners in celebrating this progress during Deaf Awareness Week!”
Stuart Crane, International VP of Content, Cineworld Cinemas, said, “This is a fantastic and important initiative, and we’re proud to be supporting it — helping to create an inclusive environment where extraordinary experiences can be shared by all.”
Robert Lea, Head of Screen Content at Vue UK & Ireland said, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning demands to be seen on the big screen so we’re delighted to be part of this industry-first initiative that’s helping ensure the big screen experience is as accessible as possible to audiences across the UK and Ireland.”
Crispin Lilly, Managing Director at Showcase Cinemas UK, said, “Showcase are delighted to be supporting the British Deaf Association and Paramount on this important initiative. Cinema amplifies the film experience through both scale and social interaction and delivers moments of genuine escape. To be able to increase the accessibility of that to an even wider audience, with such a big film release, across all of our cinemas, is an exciting opportunity”.
Ben Richardson, Group Distribution Relations Director at Odeon Cinemas Group UK, said, “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is the perfect escapism for ‘any’ cinemagoer. Paramount should be commended for their work on supporting accessible cinema, and we would invite other distributors to join the movement. It is important that we continue to make films available for ‘every’ cinemagoer.”
