Ahem, fellow moviegoers! There's no need to overly prepare your vocal cords before heading to the theater this week. Instead, don armor yourself with your best pink ensemble and paint yourself green. But hold back the urge to make watching the film adaptation of the Broadway musical a full-blown sing-along, especially at AMC Theatres. According to an ad shown in the lead-up to the November 22nd release of the first part of this anticipated blockbuster, singing is on the list of prohibited activities.

AMC Theatres' Rules and Policy Reminders

AMC Theatres is running down the rules in an advisory that features scenes from the upcoming movie. As it says in the 30-second advisory, "At AMC Theatres, silence is golden." This means no talking, no texting, no singing, no wailing, no flirting, and absolutely no name-calling. Just enjoy the magic of the movies. Ryan Noonan, an AMC spokesperson, explained in an email to IndyStar that this is an example of an occasional policy reminder tailored to a specific movie. "AMC has a long-standing policy that prohibits disruptive behavior," he said. "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."

Guidelines for Concert Films

Kansas-based AMC, the world's largest movie theater chain, did issue guidelines ahead of the concert films "The Eras Tour" and "Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé." Guests were allowed to sing and dance during those showings, but they were asked to avoid dancing on seats or blocking the views of other guests. For the Renaissance release, they were also asked not to record the film and were advised to remove any parts of their outfits that might block the screen from other patrons. They were reminded that masks not used for health and safety reasons were prohibited in the theater. Enforcement of the policy might vary from location to location. Izzy Stewart, a supervisor at AMC Castleton Square 14, 6020 E. 82nd, Indianapolis, said, "In previous movies we have had people sing and dance and then it gets loud in there. If there's a little girl singing and stuff, it's not a big deal. But if someone is belting out and now everyone can't hear...We're lenient when it comes to certain circumstances."

About the 'Wicked' Movie

The "Wicked" movie is an adaptation of the stage musical based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel of the same name. It takes on characters from "The Wizard of Oz" books and films and spotlights the relationship between green-skinned political activist Elphaba and privileged Glinda, who meet as students. The film stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, known as The Wicked Witch of the West, Ariana Grande-Butera as Glinda the Good Witch, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Ethan Slater as Boq, Bowen Yang as Pfannee, Marissa Bode as Nessarose, and Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible. Jeff Goldblum plays the Wizard.

Returning Cast Members

Yes, the actors who originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda on Broadway have parts in the film adaptation. This adds a special touch to the movie, as these performers bring their unique talents and charisma to the screen.

Runtime and Release Dates

The first part of the "Wicked" film runs for 2 hours and 40 minutes. The second part of the film will be released on November 21, 2025, continuing the story and providing audiences with a complete cinematic experience.Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X: @cherylvjackson.