Ariana Grande caught checking her phone during a movie screening

In the United States, a recent family screening of the film adaptation of the musical Wicked became a talking point for both fans and critics alike. Ariana Grande, who stars in the film, attended a private screening in Florida with members of her family, including her grandmother. During this experience, Grande revealed that she checked her phone a few times. Her mother, Joan Grande, noticed her actions and chided her for it, leading to a humorous exchange between them, where Grande defended her need to check messages due to her involvement in the film. This collision of family dynamics and modern phone etiquette raised further discussions about conduct in cinema settings, especially in light of the ongoing debate about audience behavior during screenings. Prior to Wicked's official release, theaters in the U.S. had expressed concerns regarding audience members singing along to songs during the film, as there had been reports of disruptions at early screenings. Some fans were unable to resist the urge to vocalize their favorite numbers such as “Defying Gravity” and “Popular,” much to the annoyance of other moviegoers. The management of AMC theaters reiterated their policies on audience conduct, emphasizing that no singing, texting, or talking should take place during screenings in order for everyone to enjoy the experience fully. The situation sparked considerable discussion on social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit, where fans debated the appropriateness of singing along in theatres. This conversation emerged alongside mixed responses from various actors involved in Wicked; for instance, Cynthia Erivo, Grande's co-star, suggested that she was open to people singing during the movie, expressing that sharing experiences and emotions through song was valid. The back-and-forth highlights a growing divide between traditional cinema norms and audience desires to engage more interactively with the films they love. Ultimately, it is a reminder of the balance between respectful viewing practices and the joy of shared artistic expression. All these events led to thoughts around the power and influence of musical films on audiences, and how they may respond to familiar melodies and lyrics in communal settings. As musicals continue to capture the imagination of many, the question remains whether the culture of audience participation will reform the way we experience films in theaters, or if conventional rules will persevere amidst rising trends of interactive viewing.