This completely slipped off my radar, but Moana 2 is out in theaters this upcoming weekend. Dwayne Johnson and Auli’i Cravalho are returning as Maui and Moana, but Lin-Manuel Miranda didn’t come back to do the music. I love the first movie. I used to rock out to “How Far I’ll Go” while cooking, haha. Does anyone else have any songs they belt out to for designated tasks? I have shower songs, cooking songs, cleaning songs, workout songs, etc. Anyway, with all of the excitement about Wicked, which I’m seeing on Wednesday night, and Gladiator II, which I saw on Saturday, I totally forgot M2 was a thing this holiday season as well.
Last week, AMC Theaters issued a reminder to all of us theatre kids not to sing along to Wicked. I think most theatergoers understand the proper etiquette, but people still decided to argue about it on social media. This week, Dwayne decided to weigh in on the debate. He’s on #TeamSingAlong and urged anyone who’s planning on seeing Moana 2 to please, feel free to sing along!
Dwayne Johnson has said fans should feel free to sing in the cinema, as he attended the UK premiere of Moana 2.
“Especially if you love music, that’s the fun part,” the US star, aka The Rock, told BBC News on the red carpet.
Recently, there has been a debate on social media around whether people should sing along in cinemas, sparked by the release of Wicked a few days ago. Some have argued fans should be able to express their enjoyment as they like, while others say singing ruins other people’s experiences.
Johnson, however, made his views on cinema etiquette clear.
“Sing! You’ve paid your hard earned money for a ticket, and you’ve gone into a musical, and you’re into it. Sing,” he said.
The original film followed an adventurous Polynesian teenage girl who sets on a mission across the ocean to save her people. Moana 2 reunites Moana and Maui three years later for a new voyage alongside a crew of “unlikely seafarers”, Disney has said.
I think the obvious difference here is that Moana is a movie made for kids while Wicked is supposed to appeal to a broader, more mature audience. I don’t think anyone taking their kids to see a movie alongside dozens of other little kids expects a quiet setting. When we took our older son to see Cars 3 for his third birthday, it was crawling with kids who were standing up (but not running around), talking to one another and their parents, and just visibly having a great time. I kinda expect every movie geared towards kids under age 10 to be like that. That said, as an adult, I still would not sing out loud because…ya know, etiquette lol.
And while we’re talking about Dwayne, while at the Hawaii premiere of Moana 2 last week, he fulfilled five wishes from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He arranged for transportation and a meet-and-greet with families and reportedly gave them gifts. His daughters, Jasmine, eight, and Tiana, six, were with him, which made it all the more special for Dwayne. I love this. It’s always really nice to hear these kinds of stories. I hope those five children had a blast at the premiere and sang out loud to their heart’s content.
Photos credit: Lounis Tiar/Avalon/Avalon, James Shaw/Avalon/Avalon, IMAGO/Steve Vas/Avalon/Avalon, Getty
No one is going to sing in Moana 2 because no one knows the songs yet.
Don’t sing along to Wicked people. Please, we all paid for a ticket not just you.
Came to say the same thing! No one knows the Moana songs yet, unless they bring back how far ill go… excuse me while I pull that up on youtube
I do think there is a difference between a new Disney movie aimed at families/children and Wicked, which is a film version of one of the most popular Broadway shows of all time. I want to hear the music in Moana 2 and I doubt there will be a lot of singing because people dont know the songs yet.
Anyway in general I think there are a lot of fun movies out right now and I haven’t felt this way in a long time – I want to see Wicked, GII, Moana 2, Mufasa in December, and a few others – and I want to see them all in the theater if I can.
I’m seeing most of these, and Mufasa if it’s an option, in Imax 🙂 Gladiator was already cool, Moana this weekend and Wicked the next!
No…
I am all in favor of designated sing-along showings, where people can all sit and croak out defying gravity together, But if I’m paying to see a movie, I want to see the movie and be able to hear it.
How do I get more people to talk about my movie opening this weekend, hmmm….
Exaaaaactly.
Adult theatre kids screaming Wicked songs like they’re trying out for American Idol isn’t the same as a new Disney movie for kids, and he knows it.
No thank you. I’m there to hear the movie not to hear other people sing.
The same as the musical Six I saw a few weeks ago, two people behind me started to sing along at one point but stopped after a look from me.
Go see a sing a long a performance.
My friends and I were up dancing at a stadium David Bowie concert and were told to sit down by the people behind us. Ottawa, Canada does not put up with that kind of nonsense! Luckily we have lots of singalong venues here like Singalong Messiah, Choir Choir and special theatre showings. But don’t you dare sing with Loreena McKennitt when she blows through town.
Singing songs with tasks…. I sing “Cleaning out my closet” while – well cleaning my closet. My kids don’t get it.
What does he care he got paid. And he is always pandering for approval.
It’s a bad message, he should have said. Be respectful of the person sitting next to you and not sing. And wait for any special sing along showings if they happen.
They are having sing along Wicked showings in December. It’s a great way to get repeat customers and everyone is in agreement what will happen when you buy the ticket.
Society really has no idea how to act anymore post-pandemic.
When I went to see Wicked I saw two girls in pajamas and blankets. It’s a movie theatre not your living room. Have some dignity.
Yeah, thanks a lot, bro.
I just found this presumptuous — him speaking on behalf of the movie.
Man, Texas is such an evil, broken state. I hate that I’ll probably have to go there next year to see my nephews because I really don’t want to give the state any of my tourist money.
Oh sorry this was meant to be on the links post with the story about TX prosecuting people who assist with abortions over state lines.
I always wondered how people managed to reply on the completely wrong post and well here I am, humbled lol.
🙂 I feel ya, on both counts!
Ummm, excuse me but no. Wicked is doing sing-along showings in December for this very reason. Otherwise, please zip it. I saw Wicked on Sunday. My theater was sold-out but fortunately no one sang along, although they did applaud throughout which was more charming than disruptive.