‘Sinners’ To Debut On Max As First Show With ‘Black American Sign Language’ Translation

On July 4th, the movie “Sinners” will become the first show to be interpreted into “Black American Sign Language (BASL),” per a press release from Warner Bros.

The entertainment company described it as “a major step forward in accessibility, representation, and visibility in streaming.”

“BASL is a distinct dialect of American Sign Language (ASL) with its own dynamic history and unique grammar, signing space, rhythm, facial expressions, and cultural nuances,” the release stated. “For the first time, the Black Deaf community will have streaming access to a more immersive experience in their language. Max subscribers, who sign in ASL but are unfamiliar with this dialect, will also be able to follow along with this interpretation.”

The press release noted that the interpretation will be done by Nakia Smith, “an influential voice in the Black Deaf community, who delivers a powerful interpretation with cultural depth and linguistic richness that aligns with the film’s themes and historical timeline.” 

“Accessibility within streaming is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Our goal at Max is to make these great stories accessible to all audiences in a way that is authentic to the content and the communities we serve,” Naomi Waibel, Senior VP of Global Product Management at Warner Bros. Discovery, said in a statement. “Sinners with Black American Sign Language is an example of how culturally nuanced access can enrich the viewing experience for our audiences.”

According to the movie’s summary, “Sinners” is about twin brothers who “return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.” It was released in theaters in April 2025.