Wicked was banned in Kuwait just a day before its theatrical release in the country; many speculate that it might be a result of an odd apprehension.

When it was first announced that Wicked was going to be adapted as a movie, the anticipation was sky high. If the success of the Broadway musical it was inspired by was anything to go by, it was on the path to Box Office royalty. With the hype around its release fueling excitement among both diehard fans of the Broadway musical and cinema, it was already a writing on the wall.

No wonder it has managed to break many records in a small span of time. By becoming one of the most successful adaptations of a Broadway musical of all time, it has already created history. But it is making headlines in Kuwait for other reasons altogether.

Wicked has gone bonkers at the Box Office

Wicked has made a lot of money at the Box Office || Universal Pictures
Directed by Jon M. Chu, the movie was already making waves before it first hit theatres. With Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande all set to star in the leading roles, the excitement was already high amongst fans about the movie’s prospects going forward.

Sadly, apart from the good reasons, it was also making news for all the wrong ones – with a row about a edited poster gaining a lot of traction. While Erivo laid bare her hate for discrimination, some people began to start a smear campaign against her (and the movie).
Wicked had made a whopping $46.74 million on its domestic opening || Universal Pictures
While many were singing ‘Go Woke to go broke’, the movie allayed all fears with its release. Hitting the theatres alongside Paul Mescal’s Gladiator 2, Wicked made some stellar records in its opening week. To start things off, the $46.74 million it bagged on its opening day at the domestic box office was the highest ever for a musical adaptation.

If that wasn’t enough to paint a picture of how successful an endeavor it was, marching on to $359.3 million worldwide within just 10 days is no mean feat. And it looks set to gross a lot more.

Kuwait bans Wicked over a strange reason

Wicked has been banned in Kuwait because the authorities believe that the characters are gay || Universal Pictures
While Wicked has been winning hearts all over the world, there are some odd stories which make people think twice about the world we live in. One such story comes from Kuwait, where the movie has been banned for a rather odd reason.

As the Ariana Grande starrer has been removed from cinema listings in Kuwait, many were left wondering why the movie did not see the light of day. With the ban coming just a day before its theatrical release, all sorts of rumors began to do the rounds. And one has gained a lot of traction.

‘WICKED’ has been banned in Kuwait following speculations that the characters might be gay. (Via @Variety) pic.twitter.com/wHpciuCPw4

— Pop Tingz (@ThePopTingz) December 4, 2024

Local media outlets from across Kuwait have expressed that they feel that Wicked was banned as the authorities believed that the characters might be gay. Another story suggested that having a LGBTQ+ in the cast was enough for the movie to be banned. Both reasons are unbelievable for anyone to wrap their head around.

This isn’t the first movie to be banned in recent history in Kuwait, with Barbie also not getting the green light from the authorities. Talk to Me was also not screened over the fact that a trans actor was included in the movie.

When it came to the Margot Robbie starrer, the ban could not stop everyone. Enthusiasts crossed borders to watch the movie. Don’t be shocked if you see a return of the phenomenon this time around as well.