Wicked fans left disappointed at theater chain’s ‘stupid rule’ to get to screening

Some devotees Evil fans who turned up to AMC screenings of the film with their entire faces painted green have apparently been asked to remove the face paint before entering the theater.

Since Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of the Broadway hit was released in theaters last weekend, a number of social media users have been posting videos of themselves wearing green face paint to the theaters to mimic Cynthia Erivo‘s virile character Elphaba.

However, it appears that several fans have since been turned away and forced to wash their faces in the bathroom before being allowed into the screenings.

“This is the dumbest rule I’ve ever heard,” said a TikToker named Celine Serrano in a recent video. “Apparently AMC won’t let you put on face paint, so they make me wash it off in the bathroom – whatever.”

In the caption, she said: “@AMC Theaters sees some people on tiktok come in with face paint – why not me?!”

Another TikToker, whose friend was similarly rejected for wearing face paint, posted a clip of their friend wiping off their makeup in the bathroom. “PSA: Don’t show up to an AMC wearing face paint, they won’t let you in,” they noted, adding in the caption, “At least Burbank AMC in LA won’t.”

According to the company website: “(face) paint, helmets, masks (except standard face masks expressly used for health and safety reasons) or anything covering the face is prohibited” for safety reasons.

Other major film chains, i.a Shelf and Cinemark, Cineplex, landmark theatres and Marcus Theatres, also enforce similar rules.

It appears that there are some theaters that have actually embraced guests who have arrived in costume. “Can’t deal with being kicked out of the theatre. Mine let me in with all this,” another TikToker shared in a video of them in full head-to-toe costume as Elphaba. “(They) even took pictures of me.”

Earlier this week, AMC issued a warning informing moviegoers not to sing along Evil songs at any point in the film.

In short Evilpre-show advisory video, AMC said: “At AMC Theatres, silence is golden. No talking. No texting. No singing. No whining. No flirting. And absolutely no name-calling. Enjoy the magic of movies.”

speaks to IndyStarAMC spokesman Ryan Noonan explained that this has been the theater’s “longstanding policy” to prevent “disruptive behavior.” However, they wanted to emphasize those rules, especially now before the musical debuted in theaters with classic songs like “Defying Gravity” and “Popular.”

Evilwhich also stars Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch, is out in theaters now.