AMC Owings Mills Reminds Moviegoers Of Mask Ban

OWINGS MILLS, MD — AMC Theatres issued a reminder recently that audience members are not allowed to wear anything that obscures their faces at its locations across the country, including in Owings Mills. 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 statement. "AMC does not permit weapons or items that would make other guests feel uncomfortable or detract from the movie-going experience."

The chain banned masks in its theaters after the 2012 mass shooting in Colorado, which took place during an earlier Batman film.

In response to growing concerns about the violence depicted in "Joker" and after hearing from the families of those killed in Colorado, Landmark Theaters announced it will ban moviegoers from wearing masks, painted faces or costumes to screenings of the upcoming "Joker" film. The only Landmark Theater in the region is in Baltimore at Harbor East.

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

In the weeks before the film’s opening, 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.

"Joker" is set for release Friday.

AMC Owings Mills 17 is at 10100 Mill Run Circle.

— By Gus Saltonstall and Elizabeth Janney