Contrary to what some new media outlets are reporting, Wicked wasn’t technically banned in Kuwait. According to a contact at Cinescape, the censors requested cuts to certain dance scenes, unrelated to any LGBTQ+ characters. The studio refused these edits, which is why the film isn’t being shown in local theaters.
So similarly to when Barbie was released, if you’re in Kuwait and want to watch Wicked, you’re going to have to drive to Saudi to do that. Here are the three closest cinemas currently showing the movie:
Vox Cinemas
Location: Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia Google Maps
Distance: 2 Hours and 13 Minutes from borders
Muvi Cinemas
Location: Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia Google Maps
Distance: 2 Hours and 24 Minutes from borders
AMC Cinemas
Location: Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia Google Maps
Distance: 3 Hours and 24 Minutes from borders
Alternatively, you can also just wait a bit until the film becomes available to rent and stream online, although that might not be as fun as a roadtrip. If you’ve never driven to Saudi before, it’s super easy and the roads are in great shape. You also don’t have to worry about visa since any resident of Kuwait can get one.
19 replies on “How to Watch Wicked if you Live in Kuwait”
“if you’re in Kuwait and want to watch Wicked, you’re going to have to drive to Saudi to do that”
That was so strange to read.
I’m trying to go to Riyadh for the weekend – but would ideally like to go by car. If anyone is driving there next weekend please leave a reply to this
Mark has a few posts about this subject on this blog, so check out the below posts for more info:
https://248am.com/mark/information/kuwait-to-saudi-and-bahrain-by-car-everything-you-need-to-know/
https://248am.com/mark/travel/road-trip-to-riyadh/
https://248am.com/mark/automotive/new-rules-for-leaving-kuwait-by-car/
Thanks! Unfortunately I don’t have a car and not a huge fan of flying for a weekend tbh (fear of flying)
I want to know if anyone ever thinks about leaving Kuwait to head over to Saudi Arabia to work. Doesn’t that sound like a plan.
There’s a new cinema in Khafji called Noir Cinema, which is way closer.
I know but they aren’t playing Wicked
Tf? No movie is ever worth driving to saudi for, especially a shitty musical. Get real.
I wouldn’t drive down the street to watch Wicked, to each his own
Here we go again. I knew it was too good to be true.
In the 80s and 90s I used to be terrified of Saudi even if it meant the airplane was making a mere stop en route to our home country but that was then and this is now. Fast forward to 2024- for most people in Kuwait, Al Ula and Taif are suddenly the new Beirut, Cairo, Dubai and London rolled in one.
Well, I already applied and bought a saudi visa, took a sudden leave so I can exit Kuwait(ministry worker) and booked a movie ticket in Jubail.
Today, they released the news that theyre actually releasing the film in theatres. I literally checked everyday for the prebooking of tickets. I was even on all of the cinemas apps and websites here in Kuwait when they removed the movie. Literally saw it disappear after so many refresh. They even removed the post on their instagram accounts.
Wasted my money and effort. SMH. Total BS.
That’s what you get for listening to this dumb post.
In the not too distant past, we had some folks from KSA fly in for a couple of meetings. At the end of the work day, they would head straight to the cinemas to watch back to back movies, as there weren’t any options in Saudi. I thought that was really funny back then.
Oh how the turntables!
Earlier we had instances of people working in Khafji and doing the daily commute from their residence in Kuwait. Soon you can expect the reverse happening with people calling the oil patch in the Eastern province their weekend home and zipping in and out of Kuwait all the time.
I’m so confused.
Why is the movie still available to book at Cinescape, as it was yesterday? Many seats already booked for todays showing as well.
Because it’s no longer banned
So it was edited eventually or it wasn’t banned to begin with?
Kuwait doesn’t usually reverse bans for no reason, so it makes no sense to me.
supposedly nothing edited and it wasn’t banned