Wicked boss speaks out after cinemagoers lodge complaints about sound issues in Ariana Grande musical
Wicked director Jon M Chu has urged cinema-goers to request higher sound volumes, claiming theatres are not playing the blockbuster musical as intended.
The filmmaker took to social media to address widespread concerns about audio levels in screenings of the Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo-led film.
Chu revealed that many cinemas are playing the film at a sound level of 6.4, rather than his intended level of 7, potentially impacting audiences’ experience of the musical numbers.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Chu wrote: “Tell your movie theatre to turn it up to a 7… I’ve gone to a couple screenings and they are more like a 6.4. If you want it the way it was intended 7 is the way.”
The director’s comment refers to sound levels for Dolby audio systems, which are widely used by major cinema chains and independent theatres across the globe.
The film’s co-writer Dana Fox supported Chu’s stance, responding that turning up the volume “a clock tick” at their screening was “perfect”.
Viewers have taken to social media to voice their frustrations about sound quality issues during screenings.
“Sound was quiet, tinny and the balance was all wrong. Ruined it for me,” wrote one fan on X.
Others reported that vocals seemed “muffled and buried in the mix”, while some noted the sound felt “compressed” even in premium formats like IMAX and Dolby Atmos.
Many complained they couldn’t properly hear the lyrics beneath the orchestral score, though some audiences reported no issues at all.
Despite the sound issues, Wicked has achieved remarkable box office success in its opening weekend.
The film earned £114m in North America and an additional £50.2m internationally, bringing its global total to £165m – marking the fourth-largest opening in history for a musical.
Critics have also warmly received the adaptation, with the film earning a 90 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Audiences have been equally enthusiastic, awarding the film a 97 percent approval score on the review aggregator site.
Audio company Dolby responded to Chu’s post stating “We’ve got you covered”, though some viewers disputed this claim.
Alex Temesvari, general manager of Sydney’s Hayden Orpheum Cinema, said they had received no requests to increase the volume for Wicked screenings.
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Tell your movie theater to turn it up to a 7…. I’ve gone to a couple screenings and they are more like a 6.4 :/ if you want it the way it was intended 7 is the way.
— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) November 23, 2024
Melbourne IMAX general manager Jeremy Fee explained their sound levels are preset through digital cinema packages, noting: “On occasion, we might get an instruction to turn the sound up – across the IMAX network – but for this one, no.”