People are bragging on social media about hosting illegal watch parties of Wicked starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Disney’s Wicked, starring Cynthia Erivo as the defiant Elphaba and Ariana Grande as the bubbly Glinda, has taken the world by storm—but not just in theaters. In a stunning twist that has Hollywood furious, X (formerly Twitter) is ablaze with s bragging about streaming pirated copies of the blockbuster hit, posting screenshots of their home setups under captions like “Wicked at home.” While fans revel in this brazen act of piracy, studios and lawmakers are left grappling with the fallout.
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The film itself is nothing short of a spectacle. Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked transforms the beloved Broadway musical into a cinematic masterpiece. It dives deep into Elphaba’s tragic backstory, her complicated friendship with Glinda, and the societal prejudices that shape the land of Oz. Audiences have been enchanted by the dazzling visuals, powerful performances, and heartfelt themes of acceptance and identity. Critics were quick to shower it with praise, calling it the “most dazzling live-action musical since Chicago” and hailing it as a triumph for Chu and his star-studded cast.
But while Wicked racks up glowing reviews and packed cinemas, the internet is busy undermining its success. Social media platforms are crawling with posts flaunting illegal s of the movie, complete with memes and jokes about bying the theater altogether. Some even smugly videos of their viewing parties, adding insult to injury for the creators who poured years of work into bringing the film to life.
This isn’t just a moral quandary—it’s a legal minefield. Watching pirated films in Australia can land you a fine of up to $117,000 or, in extreme cases, jail time under the Copyright Act 1968. In the United States, the stakes are just as high, with penalties including hefty fines and imprisonment under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Recent court cases, like the billion-dollar verdict against Cox Communications for enabling piracy, show how seriously authorities are cracking down on these violations. Yet, with the sheer audacity of these posts on X, it’s clear the message hasn’t hit home for many.
Piracy isn’t just a crime—it’s a blow to the future of entertainment. By choosing the illegal route, these so-called fans are robbing artists, actors, and everyone behind the scenes of their hard-earned revenue. It’s a stark reminder that the cost of “free” entertainment is often paid in the form of crushed creative industries and fewer ambitious projects down the line.
The irony is hard to miss. Fans loudly cheer for their favorite franchises and stars but then casually undermine their efforts with illegal streams. Disney’s Wicked deserves better than this. If audiences want to continue seeing breathtaking spectacles like this one, it’s time to films the right way—at the box office. Otherwise, the next big story might not be about dazzling performances but about an industry brought to its knees by piracy.