In the highly anticipated movie-musical "Wicked," which has taken the box office by storm and set numerous records, the topic of whether it's okay to sing at the movies has sparked a lively debate. With 86% of respondents firmly stating it's 'never' okay to sing during a movie, opinions vary widely.

The Battle Over Singing in Movie Theaters

Section 1: The Disapproval

Many readers firmly believe that singing during a movie is a definite no. As one reader pointed out, "Why do people in public ever think other people want to hear them sing? It's bad enough when people sing along in stores, etc. I absolutely don't want to hear random people singing anything in public. Even if they have a good voice (which is doubtful!) It absolutely detracts from the enjoyment of the movie." Gail from Stow echoed this sentiment, saying, "I am going to see the movie to see the acting and hear the professional vocalists without the interference of other voices, whether they are speaking, have beautiful tones or are offensive to my senses. If you want to sing along, purchase the CD or stream the music. The video will be out soon enough and you can then sing your brains out at home."

Section 2: The Support

However, there are also those who believe there's nothing wrong with singing along. One reader stated, "People pay for their seats to go out and have fun!!! When we pay to see a live concert with the most talented for years and years before these young actors were even thought of, they encourage their audience to sing along and enjoy!!! get over yourselves, sing alongs have been around forever, they bring people together." This view shows that not everyone is against the idea of singing in the theater.

Section 3: The Middle Ground

Some readers believe that singing is only appropriate in certain situations. For example, Gail from Quincy said, "If it's okay to sing along at the live event, it's okay to sing at the movies. So movie musicals like Wicked are a NO, but concert movies like the Taylor Swift Eras Tour are a yes." Mike from Southie also added, "I'm not paying to sit in a theater and listen to your terrible rendition of a song. I paid to watch and listen to the professionals on screen. HOWEVER, theaters should have viewings that allow singing as there is clearly a market for it and it would also give an outlet to people who want to, which would hopefully eliminate people singing in the other showings."

Section 4: The TikTok Solution

If one really wants to sing, perhaps they can follow the example of this user on TikTok. As shown in the video, they waited until they were out of the movie to belt out their favorite tunes. This shows that there are alternative ways to satisfy one's singing urge without disturbing others in the theater.Nia HarmonCommunity Co-opNia Harmon is a community co-op for Boston.com and a journalism student at Emerson College. She is a native of Dallas, Texas.Sign up for The Queue newsletterTwice a month, discover the best movies and TV shows streaming now.