On Singing In Movie Theaters

I didn't think there was a need to have a conversation about this but the dual press tours for Moana 2 and Wicked have led to a wide discussion about what is and is not proper movie theater behavior, specifically when it comes to singing during movies. Anyone with sense should know this is unacceptable behavior in most circumstances.

The whole debate started when Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson said something like if you paid your money to see a movie, you should be allowed to enjoy it how you want. He's totally right if you are renting out your own theater, get lucky and end up in a theater by yourself, or are watching the movie at home. The problem is, in a theater viewing experience, you are sharing the space with other people and sold-out theaters could have up to 400 or 500 other people in the room with you if you see a movie in IMAX in a major market.

When you sing, talk, use your phone, are obnoxious about being in the space, or do other disruptive things while watching a movie in a theater, you are saying that your enjoyment is more important than everyone else who bought a ticket. You are the protagonist of reality, everyone else is a side character, and they should act as such. If you want to sing along with the movie, rent out your own theater, wait for it to hit streaming, or go to one of the sing-along showings that are plentiful for Wicked. Outside those circumstances, yes you paid to enjoy the movie but everyone else around you paid to hear Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, and the rest of the cast sing, not you so keep it to yourself.