WASHINGTON — (AP) — As movie theaters worked to entice Americans back into seats after COVID-19 lockdowns and labor strikes, the industry marketed blockbuster films like ” Wicked ” and the dueling releases of ” Barbie ” and ” Oppenheimer ” as no less than cultural events.
But when certain movies become “events” unto themselves, sometimes different behavior accompanies them.
During the theatrical run of ” Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour ” last fall, fans danced and belted lyrics in the theaters, sharing their glee on social media. Last year, fans at early screenings of ” Wicked ” did the same, to the chagrin of other moviegoers. One video of a woman dressed as Glinda the Good Witch racked up over a million views on TikTok and beyond for announcing to her theater, “I’m here to hear Cynthia and Ariana sing, not you.”
After a period of growing accustomed to watching …