Moviegoers Are Warning People About Flashing Lights in Incredibles 2

This post has been updated to reflect Disney’s request to post warnings at theaters about the movie. A second update includes information about the modified version of the film for the U.K.’s release.

Disney Pixar’s highly anticipated Incredibles 2 premiered on Friday, but some moviegoers are warning people about the strobe lights throughout the movie.

Strobe lights, or lights that flash at a high speed, can be dangerous for people with epilepsy, migraines or other chronic illnesses. Veronica Lewis, who blogs about vision impairment and chronic illness, posted a Twitter thread warning people about the movie.

HEALTH ALERT I haven’t seen this mentioned in a lot of places, but the new Incredibles 2 movie (#incredibles2) is filled with tons of strobe/flashing lights that can cause issues for people with epilepsy, migraines, and chronic illness. This thread is spoiler free

— Veronica Lewis (@veron4ica) June 15, 2018

So, the villain’s weapon of choice in the movie is bright white lights that are at a rapidly flashing/strobing frequency, with the intent to disorient people. One of these scenes lasts over 90 seconds with continuous strobe light, other scenes last anywhere from 5-30 seconds

— Veronica Lewis (@veron4ica) June 15, 2018

These scenes are also spread out across the movie and often come without warning. My descriptive audio device warned me about the larger scenes, but other times it was light strobe lights came out of nowhere for no reason.

— Veronica Lewis (@veron4ica) June 15, 2018

While Lewis isn’t calling for a boycott or changes to the movie, she said she wishes Disney Pixar, as well as movie theaters, would post warnings about the potential health concerns. She noted other venues of entertainment do this on a regular basis. Amusement parks post strobe light warnings on some rides. Concerts, video games, etc. have warnings as well.

After Lewis’ thread went viral, Disney asked all theaters showing the film to include warnings about the flashing lights, Variety reported. Lewis tweeted pictures of the posted warnings for moviegoers who are “susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy and other photosensitivities.”

Thank you to everyone for retweeting this, writing articles, and signal boosting my message! My goal of having signs at the ticket counter was reached so that people can be warned about the flashing lights in Incredibles 2. pic.twitter.com/JljozWlojd

— Veronica Lewis (@veron4ica) June 17, 2018

Lewis told The Mighty she experiences photosensitive migraines connected to Arnold-Chiari malformation, a brain condition that leads to low vision, balance problems, migraines and other chronic pain. The movie gave her a migraine, and she wanted to let others know about this potential problem as soon as possible.

Twitter users have thanked Lewis for warning them about the movie. They also mentioned that the flashing lights could be an issue for people with sensory processing disorders or people on the autism spectrum.

Can confirm! I had to be carried out of the theater because the movie triggered a serious fainting episode, and I’m still feeling the effects a day later. Disney needs to put a proper warning on the movie before someone else gets seriously hurt.

— tangled series trash (@nacholatkes) June 16, 2018

Thank you for saying this! I have chronic migraine and this would have wrecked me.

— Queen of the Northwest (@hazelmaddie) June 16, 2018

Also terrible for people like me with sensory processing disorders!!!

— Gayest Bisexual (@Holo_its_Maris) June 16, 2018

I’m really glad now that I wasn’t interested in seeing it. I’m autistic and strobe lights can be an issue for me depending on intensity/frequency. Seeing things like this on the big screen could easily cause a meltdown.

— Mary (@BoydGirl0) June 16, 2018

One Twitter user pointed out that movies usually go through a safety check called the Harding test, which checks for risk to people with photosensitive seizures, but does not include other health concerns.

Ok just read your blog estimating 3hz, which would explain how it could have passed the Harding. It’s probably low risk for PSE but I’m not sure about the other conditions you mention. I wonder if the standard needs to be updated to consider more than just PSE

— Reece A. Jones (@ProfShred) June 16, 2018

The film will be released in the U.K. on July 13. On July 6, the British Board of Film Classification emailed Lewis that the organization recently reviewed a modified version of the film that passes the Harding test. This modified version will be released in the U.K.

I received this email from BBFC confirming #Incredibles2 in UK has been modified to not include the intense flashing scenes. While I only requested a warning to be posted at theaters in the US, I am glad Disney UK is looking out for its viewers with photosensitive conditions pic.twitter.com/ctzJXfwGJP

— Veronica Lewis (@veron4ica) July 6, 2018