This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah movie theater says its fight against a state law that banned serving alcohol during the R-rated superhero film "Deadpool" cost more than $500,000.

Brewvies owners say the state should pay the bills after a judge found the law violated free-speech protections.

An online fundraiser that attracted a $5,000 donation from "Deadpool" star Ryan Reynolds brought in about $22,000, a small fraction of the bill, according to court documents filed Monday.

The theater went to court in 2016 after Utah regulators threatened to fine the company up to $25,000 under a law that prohibits serving booze during films with simulated sex or full-frontal nudity. Utah called alcohol and sexual content an "explosive combination."

But attorney Rocky Anderson, a former Salt Lake City mayor, successfully argued the law is so vague it would apply to Michelangelo's "David."

×

Related Stories