AMC Theaters encourages evil fans not to sing during screenings

AMC Theaters is gearing up for potential unwanted sing-a-longs as Wicked: Part One coming to cinemas.

Ahead of the new movie musical’s release on Friday, November 22, America’s largest movie theater chain began playing a 30-second advisory featuring scenes from Evil which again emphasizes AMC’s trademark “silence is golden” reminder that plays before the start of each movie.

“No talking. No texting. No singing. No whining. No flirting,” says a voiceover for the spot, humorously tailored to moments from the upcoming big-screen Broadway adaptation. “And absolutely no naming. Enjoy the magic of movies.”

This was told by AMC spokesman Ryan Noonan The Indianapolis Star in a Nov. 19 statement that the chain “has a longstanding policy prohibiting disruptive behavior.” He also stated that the chain’s Evil pre-show spot “incorporates the film’s themes as a fun, engaging reminder to moviegoers not to disrupt the experience of those around them while enjoying the show.”

AMC Theaters did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

The discourse on whether audiences should feel brave enough to sing along in the film has found its way to social media with a fan TikTok posts warning users that the audience singing during the film is “worse than you’d expect” and generating over 500,000 views. A comedy band called Lewberger shared one minute long video for TikTok where they made light of the debate, arguing that there should be “explicitly rowdy” screenings of the film. Another TikTok user’s video mocking fans who might try to imitate the final notes of the film’s standout track “Defying Gravity” has become viewed over 600,000 times in the last three days.

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Although there appears to be some furore over unwanted sing-a-longs, fans of the musical will be able to attend screenings of the film held with audience participation in mind. Black reported on Nov. 18 that about 1,000 theaters in North America will offer interactive screenings of the film starting Dec. 25, nearly a full month after the film’s initial debut. The business noted that final plans for these interactive displays have not yet been finalized.

Jon M. Chu, the director behind 2018’s Crazy rich Asians and 2021’s adaptation of the musical In the Heightsdirects Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Evil along with a supporting cast that includes Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Keala Settle, Ethan Slater and Peter Dinklage.

Wicked: Part One is in the cinema 22 November with Second part set for publication on 21 November 2025.