Universal stages sing-along screenings of Wicked

Approximately 1,000 theaters will be hosting the audience-participation events roughly one month after the musical film's November opening.
November 19, 2024

Keeping the momentum going for its ubiquitous Wicked promotional campaign, Universal will host sing-along screenings of the movie musical across North America starting on Christmas Day (December 25).

While the specific locations and showtimes are yet to be determined, these shows should hit roughly 1,000 theaters, according to a retweet by director Jon Chu. Coming a month after the  film’s big-screen premiere on November 22, audiences should have enough time to familiarize themselves with the story, music and lyrics. 

It’s a strategy that could help boost ticket sales during the crucial holiday season. The PG-rated pic is tracking towards a strong debut in the US$100 million-plus range on its domestic opening weekend. 

Family films like Moana (Disney) and The Greatest Showman (Fox) have already tapped into the appeal of sing-along releases. Such screenings typically feature on-screen lyrics to encourage the audience to sing along. This move by Universal will bank on the popularity of Wicked’s soundtrack, with well-known tunes like “Defying Gravity” and “Popular” (a short clip of which has racked up more than one million views on the Wicked YouTube channel in just three days).  

Based on Gregory Maguire’s book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that it inspired, Wicked explores the backstory of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo), and her complicated friendship with Glinda the Good Witch (Ariana Grande).

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