The director of “Wicked” encourages spectators to request louder sound levels while viewing the musical adaption, sparking an unusual buzz about the film’s audio presentation. Jon M. Chu turned to social media on opening weekend to advise cinemas to adjust their volume to a specified level, emphasizing the importance of sound quality in musical films.
During the film’s successful opening weekend, expected to gross $117 million domestically, Chu recommended that fans ask theater workers to turn up the noise. “Tell your movie theater to turn it up to a 7,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding that current screenings felt a little subdued at around 6.4 volume.
The desire for stronger sound has elicited varied reactions from viewers and industry professionals. Dana Fox, the film’s co-writer, agreed with Chu’s proposal, stating that a little volume increase improved her viewing experience. Dolby, a premium theater audio firm, also commented on the issue, pledging to fix sound complaints.
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
Sound design is an important part of musical film adaptations. John Marquis, the film’s sound designer, addressed the difficulties in keeping auditory consistency. “The challenge with the musical is trying to keep it grounded, not have it pop on and off,” Marquis explained, emphasizing the delicate balance required when combining narrative and musical performances.
Wicked depicts the narrative of Glinda and Elphaba from The Wizard of Oz, with strong performances from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Marquis commended the women’s vocal performances, which offered valuable content for the film’s sound mix.
As the film competes with “Gladiator II” at the box office, Chu’s volume directive emphasizes the importance of audio quality in modern filmmaking, particularly in musicals where sound can make or break the audience experience.
