Going to the movies isn’t something I do often. For years, I’ve skipped theaters altogether, sticking mostly to news on the radio or the occasional podcast. As someone who’s legally blind, the visual spectacle of film has felt out of reach for a while. But on a recent Thursday, my wife Deana and I decided to change that. We headed to our local AMC Theatre in Norman, Oklahoma, to catch Scream VII, and it turned out to be one of the most immersive movie experiences I’ve had in ages.

Deana had been excited about Scream VI ever since it hit theaters back in March 2023. The film, the sixth installment in the long-running slasher series, brought the action to New York City and earned solid reviews for its inventive kills, fresh setting, and strong performances (it even became the highest-grossing Scream film domestically in years). I’m not usually a fan of horror or slasher movies, but Deana insisted the Scream franchise stands apart. It’s self-aware, dramatic, and funny at times, with plenty of clever twists and pop-culture commentary.

To prepare me, she made me watch the entire series from the beginning: Scream (1996) through Scream (2022, often called Scream 5). It was quite the marathon! I hadn’t seen most of these films before. The humor, the whodunit mystery, and the way the movies poke fun at horror tropes made them more tolerable than I expected. By the time we got to Scream VI, I felt like I had some context for the returning characters and the ongoing Ghostface saga.

Our local spot is the AMC is a smaller theater compared to the massive multiplexes in bigger cities. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in cleanliness and friendliness. The staff greeted us warmly, and the place felt welcoming from the moment we walked in. We grabbed our tickets, loaded up on popcorn (because what’s a movie without that buttery smell?), and found our seats.

Before the lights dimmed, Deana headed to the front counter and returned with an audio description receiver and a pair of headphones. This is part of AMC’s Assistive Moviegoing program, which provides accessibility tools at all locations. For blind and visually impaired guests, they offer audio description devices: headsets that deliver narrated descriptions of on-screen action, settings, expressions, and other visual elements throughout the film. (They also have closed captioning and assistive listening devices for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.)

When the movie started, the audio description kicked in right away. The narrator described everything from the bustling streets to the characters’ movements, facial reactions, and the sudden appearances of Ghostface. The pace was fast, and at times the narrator sounded almost breathless trying to keep up with the rapid cuts and chaotic scenes. But that energy only added to the excitement.

For the first time in years, I felt truly engrossed in a movie. I wasn’t just listening to dialogue and sound effects, I was getting the full picture. The tension built as the narrator detailed a chase or a jump scare, and the popcorn crunching in the background mixed perfectly with the theater’s ambiance: the rustle of seats, distant laughter, the occasional gasp from the audience. It was like the film came alive in a whole new way.

Scream VII delivered on its reputation, gory, clever, and full of surprises. The return to a quieter, small-town setting brought a nostalgic energy, and Sidney Prescott’s fierce comeback carried the story well. But more than the plot, what stood out was how accessible technology transformed the experience for me.

From now on, I’ll be requesting audio description every time we go to the movies. It’s a simple ask at the box office or concessions stand.  Inquire about the Assistive Moviegoing devices. Not every film has audio description available (it depends on the studio providing it), but when it does, it’s a game-changer.

My hope, and the hope of many in the blind and visually impaired community, is that tools like these become even more commonplace across theaters everywhere. Accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought; it should be standard so everyone can enjoy the magic of cinema.

If you’re sighted and have never thought about this, next time you’re at a theater, appreciate how much visual storytelling happens on screen. And if you’re blind or low-vision, don’t hesitate to try it out. Grab those headphones, settle in, and let the narrator paint the picture for you. The movies are waiting.

Have you experienced audio description at the theater? 

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!