'Incredibles 2': Signs At Movie Theaters Warn Of Seizure Risk

Warning signs have been placed at movie theaters screening the Disney Pixar movie "Incredibles 2" because some scenes in the movie could affect viewers with photosensitive epilepsy. Moviegoers have posted photos on social media of the warnings popping up at various movie theaters.

"Incredibles 2 contains a sequence of flashing lights which may affect customers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy or other photo sensitivities," read a warning posted at an AMC theater in Ohio, a photo of which was posted to Twitter by Kristin Supe.

Supe, a lecturer at Ohio State University, took the photo at the AMC Dublin Village near Columbus. Supe said she is not an expert on epilepsy but does briefly teach about the topic in a behavioral neuroscience class. She took the photo because she had mentioned the condition in class the previous week. When she saw the warning, she hoped no one had suffered an episode to prompt it.

Other photos of warnings posted at various movie theaters had similar language.

SEE ALSO: Marcus Theatres Posts 'Incredibles 2' Seizure Warning

The Epilepsy Foundation has called on Disney Pixar to post a warning to its website and all social media channels but so far there are no such warnings on the "Incredibles 2" Twitter page or on the "Incredibles" Facebook page. There is also no warning on Disney's website. Disney did not respond to a request for comment.

"Members of our community have expressed concerns about flashing lights in the new Disney Pixar movie 'Incredibles 2,' and, in certain instances, people having experienced a seizure during the movie," the Epilepsy Foundation said in a press release. "We stand with our epilepsy warriors and their families as they voice their concerns about the movie and appreciate the efforts some theaters have already made to post warning signs for people waiting to see the movie."

The foundation said those diagnosed with photosensitive epilepsy or those who may be sensitive to flashing lights should be aware that flashing lights may trigger a seizure in some people watching the movie. According to the foundation, exposure to flashing lights at certain intensities or to certain visual patterns can trigger seizures.

Supe told Patch that for individuals with photosensitive epilepsy, specific frequencies of rapidly alternating visual patterns of light and dark can be a trigger that causes seizure activity. She also said even individuals without photosensitive epilepsy can have sensitivities to similar stimuli, which could cause migraines and other conditions.

"Warnings are useful to let these people know that the stimuli could trigger an event, so they can adjust the stimuli or their behavior to help protect themselves," Supe said.

A blog post written by a visually-impaired woman published last week highlighted the issue. Veronica Lewis wrote that there are at least five scenes in the movie that use bright white flashing or strobe lights for more than 15 seconds. Lewis also pointed out in her blog post that many different people can be sensitive to flashing lights and probing lights, not just those with photosensitive epilepsy.

One man interviewed by The New York Times said he suffered a seizure while watching the movie. Marcos Gardiana, 27, told the paper he saw no warning signs at the theater in Las Vegas where he went to see the movie.

The movie has a $180 million domestic opening and took in about $51.5 million from the international market, making it the biggest opening of all time for an animated film, according to Vox.

Photo courtesy Kristin Supe