Wicked fans are furious after cinemas issued a ban on singing during film screenings of the musical starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. 

After a frenzied press tour and weeks of anticipation, filmmaker Jon Chu’s adaptation of the beloved Broadway production will be released in cinemas around the world on Friday. 

The musical is billed as the ‘true story’ of The Wizard of Oz characters, Glinda the Good Witch and Elphaba, or the Wicked Witch of the West – brought to life on-screen by Grande and Erivo respectively. 

Ahead of the film’s release tomorrow, cinemas in the US have warned that singing along to the musical’s hit numbers is strictly prohibited – following reports of disruptions during early screenings across the country. 

According to The New York Times, some fans struggled to contain themselves during Grande and Erivo’s renditions of hits such as Popular and Defying Gravity – triggering the ire of fellow cinemagoers. 

Subsequently, American cinema chain AMC has reminded movie-goers that ‘silence is golden’ and singing during the screenings will not be tolerated. 

‘At AMC Theaters, silence is golden. No talking. No texting. No singing. No wailing. No Flirting. And absolutely no name-calling. Enjoy the magic of movies,’ a pre-show advisory issued by AMC read, as reported by The Independent. 

A spokesperson for AMC also told American newspaper IndyStar that while this has always been the theatre’s ‘long-standing policy’, they wanted to reiterate the rules because of the widespread popularity of songs such as Defying Gravity and What is this Feeling. 

A still from Wicked, which is released worldwide on November 22 

Cinemas in the US have banned Wicked fans from singing during the screenings of the movie 

‘The WICKED preshow spot incorporates the themes of the film as a fun, engaging reminder to moviegoers to not disrupt the experience for those around them as they enjoy the show,’ AMC’s official statement to the publication read. 

Fans have also been sharing images of signs banning singing during screenings of Wicked on X, with one such message reading: ‘We ask that you allow everyone to enjoy the cinema experience. 

‘Please refrain from singing during the show.’

The ban sparked a furious row about theatre etiquette on TikTok and Reddit, as fans debated whether it is appropriate to sing along during movie screenings. 

Comedy band Lewberger Music also weighed in on the debate in a minute-long song that begins with the group asking: ‘Did you hear there’s going to be strict rules about the Wicked movie?

‘Several people have made waves about what they’ll do if people sing during the film which raises some questions about contemporary movie theater etiquette because they didn’t buy tickets to hear some rando, they want to hear Ariana Grande,’ the band continued. 

‘You better not sing during the gosh darn movie.’

Comedy band Lewberger Music weighed in on the debate around singing at the cinema in a TikTok that sparked a spirited debate

Fans took to the comments section to express their views on the Wicked singing ban 

They suggested cinemas should organise ‘singalong’ screenings that are ‘explicitly rowdy’ so that no one feels like they are missing out on the fun of Wicked. 

Fans took to the comments section to express their own views, with several people suggesting the ban would not stop them from singing. 

One comment read: ‘I paid for my ticket…If I want to sing, I will sing.’ 

Another user said: ‘I’m singing quietly to myself and no one can stop me…It’s not like they could hear me over the movie.’ 

A third added: ‘Oh, the f***ing FUN POLICE.’ 

Another user confessed they would probably get ‘the shakes while trying to stay quiet during Defying Gravity’. 

Some people were confused by fans who sing along over artists such as multiple Grammy-winner Grande, with one user writing: ‘I don’t get people who want to hear themselves over the performances. 

‘This goes for concerts too. I’ve never understood it! And I’m a singer! If I want to sing I do it on stage or in my car.’

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda in Jon Chu’s adaptation of Wicked

Erivo plays Elphaba, who turns into the Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West 

Grande plays Glinda the Good Witch in the screen adaptation of Wicked, a beloved Broadway production that first premiered in 2003

Another argued the same etiquette rules enforced at Broadway shows and the theatre should be upheld at the cinema, explaining: ‘When I go to broadway shows, I mouth the words. I would never sing out loud. I don’t even like people talking during shows let alone sing.’ 

Most people, however, agreed that having singalong screenings was a good solution, with one person writing: ‘They should do a sing along version and have those showings…that way I can go to both.’ 

Another noted: ‘There are some people who just wanna watch and some people who just wanna belt it out and they should have CLEAR screenings that do both so you know what you’re getting yourself into.’

Fans who want to belt out the musical’s hit songs will get their wish for singalong screenings – and just in time for Christmas – as Variety reported there will be interactive showings of Wicked in around 1,000 cinemas across North America. 

These screenings will be held around on December 25, or roughly one month after the film’s theatrical release tomorrow.