Moviegoers Are Urging “Wicked” Fans to Stop Taking Photos of the Screen: 'Theater Etiquette Is Dead'

The film has sparked a debate about recording in cinemas — and whether the behavior is 'Wicked' or 'For Good'

The witch may be dead, but theater etiquette doesn't have to be!

Since Wicked: Part One hit theaters on Friday, Nov. 22, stills and scenes from the highly anticipated movie musical have been popping up all over social media, sparking an online conversation about proper movie-going behavior.

The debate blew up after a user on X (formerly known as Twitter), shared a photo they snapped of the film while watching it in theaters and encouraged others to do the same, writing, “Show ur ‘wicked part 1’ photosss.”

Related: Together They're Unlimited! See Wicked’s Star-Studded Cast Side-by-Side with the Broadway Actors Who Originated the Roles

In response to the request, which has been viewed over 18 million times, some people obliged, sharing pictures they captured of Wicked, including shots of stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, as well as spoilers from the film’s final scene.

Critics of the user, meanwhile, called the thread of posts “disgraceful” and “illegal,” with some even tagging the movie’s distributor, Universal Pictures, and asking them to “do your thing and take these down.”

Others tagged movie theater companies like AMC and Regal, requesting that they “kick these people out of the theater.”

“Theater etiquette is dead,” said one user who quoted the post, while cinema chain Alamo Drafthouse offered an alternative to sharing fan-captured footage from inside theaters: “Or, don't do that.”

Related: Jonathan Bailey Goes Upside Down and Gets Ariana Grande's Dress Stuck in His Groin in Wicked Behind-the-Scenes Photos

Others who reposted the original X post echoed this sentiment. “I’m humbly accepting defeat on the phones out at the movies thing,” one person wrote, garnering over 50,000 likes. “We fought hard but it looks like we lost this one folks.”

“PLEASE TURN YOUR PHONE OFF. It’s a simple matter of respect,” another user pleaded. “Respect for your fellow moviegoers. Respect for the hundreds of people who poured themselves into making the film.”

This phenomenon isn’t exclusive to X, either. On another app, TikTok, some users posted not only stills but clips from Wicked, violating movie theater regulations by sharing entire scenes from the film — and all within a week of its initial release.

Related: Wicked: All About the 9 Million Tulips Planted for Munchkinland and Where They Are Now

Federal law states that the use of phones — or any recording equipment — to record during movie showings “without the authorization of the copyright owner,” is illegal, according to Cornell University’s Legal Information Institute. 

It is also explicitly against theater rules. "No recording devices (cameras, video recorders, sound recorders, etc.) are permitted to be used within any Regal Entertainment Group facility,” Regal’s policies read.

AMC, meanwhile, states that “in support of federal law, camera use is not permitted in our auditoriums."

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Another theater etiquette debate, whether or not cinemagoers are allowed to sing along with movies, has also cropped up in the days following the release of Wicked.

In addition to its longstanding asks that people do not talk, text or take phone calls during films, AMC Theaters recently began playing a 30-second advisory featuring scenes from Wicked that re-emphasizes AMC's trademark "silence is golden" reminder that plays before the start of every movie.

The chain "has a long-standing policy that prohibits disruptive behavior,” AMC spokesperson Ryan Noonan told The Indianapolis Star. He also stated that the Wicked pre-show 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.”

Wicked: Part One is in theaters now, with Part Two due Nov. 26, 2025. Go behind the scenes of Wicked with PEOPLE’s new special issue, available here.