Being Heumann Opens in Theaters Friday
The film follows disability rights activist Judy Heumann and the 1977 San Francisco Federal Building sit-in she led.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Special Needs
Being Heumann, based on Judy Heumann's book, opens in select theaters on Friday, Nov. 6. Regal Cinemas is offering open-caption showtimes Nov. 9 to 11 at $5.04 per ticket at more than 100 locations nationwide.
Why it matters
The film dramatizes a nearly monthlong 1977 protest that pressured the government to enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Its wide release and discounted open-caption screenings make the story accessible to a broad national audience.
Regal Cinemas is offering open-caption showtimes at $5.04 per ticket at more than 100 locations nationwide from Nov. 9 to 11, in partnership with Apple Original Films. Standard pricing for comparison and the number of showtimes available were not included in the source.
The players
Judy Heumann
Judy Heumann was a prominent American disability rights activist whose 1977 sit-in helped secure enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Ruth Madeley
Ruth Madeley is a British actress with spina bifida who plays Judy Heumann in the film.
Regal Cinemas
Regal Cinemas is a major American movie theater chain that operates more than 100 locations nationwide.
Apple Original Films
Apple Original Films is the film production division of Apple that backed Being Heumann and streams it on Apple TV.
The details
Ruth Madeley, who has spina bifida, stars as Heumann, who led more than 100 people with disabilities in a 1977 sit-in at the San Francisco Federal Building. The film, directed by Siân Heder, also features Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O'Brien, and Madeline Delp, and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Timeline
September: Being Heumann premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Friday, Nov. 6: Being Heumann opens in select theaters.
Nov. 9 to 11: Regal Cinemas offers open-caption showtimes at $5.04 tickets.
Nov. 13: Being Heumann begins streaming on Apple TV.
Legacy of Section 504
The film revisits the 1977 San Francisco sit-in that pushed the federal government to enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the first U.S. civil rights law protecting people with disabilities from discrimination in federally funded programs. Its release places renewed public attention on how that protest reshaped disability access in the decades since.
Viewers can see the film in select theaters starting Friday, Nov. 6, with open-caption showtimes at $5.04 per ticket at Regal locations from Nov. 9 to 11. The film will also be available to stream on Apple TV beginning Nov. 13.
The takeaway
Open-caption screenings make the film accessible to viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, a practical step toward wider access to disability-focused cinema. Check local Regal listings for showtimes before the Nov. 9 to 11 discount window closes.
What happens next
Being Heumann begins streaming on Apple TV on Nov. 13, following its theatrical release.
Further reading
For more on the policies that shaped disability access, explore Special Needs coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Disability Scoop.
