--- title: Deadpool Star Ryan Reynolds Donates to Utah Movie Theater description: Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds helps Brewvies Cinema Pub in Salt Lake City Utah in fight against claims that it violated state liquor laws. canonical: https://time.com/4307702/ryan-reynolds-deadpool-salt-lake-city-utah/ author: Olivia B. Waxman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-04-26T15:39:36.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:31:52.139Z og:title: Ryan Reynolds Supports Theater Under Fire for Showing 'Deadpool' og:description: Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds helps Brewvies Cinema Pub in Salt Lake City Utah in fight against claims that it violated state liquor laws. og:url: https://time.com/4307702/ryan-reynolds-deadpool-salt-lake-city-utah/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7a5d2be40d48573d/698890a4bc6cfc53613dcbab/gettyimages-509085358.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: "Deadpool" Fan Event og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Ryan Reynolds Supports Theater Under Fire for Showing 'Deadpool' twitter:description: Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds helps Brewvies Cinema Pub in Salt Lake City Utah in fight against claims that it violated state liquor laws. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7a5d2be40d48573d/698890a4bc6cfc53613dcbab/gettyimages-509085358.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Ryan Reynolds Supports Theater Under Fire for Showing _Deadpool_ ## Video: 'Deadpool' Gives Us A Fresh, Raunchy Take On Marvel Heroes [Watch (HLS stream): 'Deadpool' Gives Us A Fresh, Raunchy Take On Marvel Heroes](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/IBURwhQW.m3u8) (1:32)  _Published 2015-08-05. 20th Century Fox introduced a new take on Marvel universe characters with Ryan Reynold's "Deadpool," and we're okay with that._  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer Apr 26, 2016 3:39 PM UTC  Actor Ryan Reynolds attends the 'Deadpool' fan event at AMC Empire Theatre on February 8, 2016, in New York City. Actor Ryan Reynolds attends the 'Deadpool' fan event at AMC Empire Theatre on February 8, 2016, in New York City.Dimitrios Kambouris—Getty Images  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer Apr 26, 2016 3:39 PM UTC [_Deadpool_](http://time.com/4274867/deadpool-box-office-record/)star [Ryan Reynolds](http://time.com/4288051/salt-n-pepa-ryan-reynolds-mtv-movie-awards/) donated $5,000 toward a legal defense fund started by a Salt Lake City movie theater and pub that screened the Marvel film, which contains explicit content that state officials say violate Utah liquor laws that forbid serving alcohol during films with simulated sex scenes. Three undercover agents filed a complaint against Brewvies Cinema Pub after going to see the film there in February. Utah’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (DABC) “has threatened to fine us or suspend or revoke our liquor license, just for showing R-rated films like _Deadpool,_ _Hangover 2_, _Magic Mike XXL_ and _Ted 2_,” the movie house claims on a crowd-funding [site](https://www.gofundme.com/nfzx5vqc). “The money that we are raising will go towards a legal defense fund to be used for legal fees seeking an injunction against the enforcement of a statute that violates our freedom of speech.” Reynolds also voiced his support for the campaign on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/VancityReynolds/status/724190356917641217): “Thank god, they’ve found a way to legislate fun.” The Associated Press [reports](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8a83233d6be0437ebe1b015f1bc35e17/utah-threatens-liquor-permit-theater-showing-deadpool) that the state agency “has scheduled a meeting in May to discuss or possibly settle the complaint before further disciplinary action.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4307702/ryan-reynolds-deadpool-salt-lake-city-utah/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4307702/ryan-reynolds-deadpool-salt-lake-city-utah/"},"headline":"Ryan Reynolds Supports Theater Under Fire for Showing Deadpool","datePublished":"2016-04-26T15:39:36.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:31:52.139Z","description":"A \"heroic\" deed from the star of the superhero movie","url":"https://time.com/4307702/ryan-reynolds-deadpool-salt-lake-city-utah/","keywords":["Newsfeed","celebrities"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7a5d2be40d48573d/698890a4bc6cfc53613dcbab/gettyimages-509085358.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Olivia B. 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