Many different businesses and products have advertised on trams over the years, with the number of adverts probably now at an all-time high across many different systems in the UK. In that time one product which has surprisingly not seen too many adverts are movies (in fact we can only think of one previous full advert on a modern tramway) – so step forward West Midlands Metro where the forthcoming Wicked For Good movie is being advertised on 51 (so far).
Wicked For Good is the second (of two) films based on Wicked The Musical, which has been on Broadway for 22 years and in the West End since 2006, and is due to hit cinemas from 21st November.
The advert on 51 features artwork for the film’s release with it using the familiar green and pick writing with the background of the advert featuring stills taken of the cast in character for the movie. As we’ve become used to the ends of the tram remain in fleet livery with the rest of the tram covered in vinyls.
51 only lost its previous advert for University of Wolverhampton last month and so has been in fleet livery for just a few short weeks. This is the second time the tram has carried an advertising livery.
It looks like 51 isn’t going to be alone either with a second tram noted having received the vinyls too (well there are two witches in the story!).
Whilst plenty of theatre productions and television series have previously had full advertising liveries on UK tramways the only previous movie we can think of is The Simpsons Movie. This has an ad from late 2007 into early 2008 on London Tramlink CR400 2548.
The new look for 51 as its seen with its Wicked For Good advertising vinyls. (Photograph by Shiv Patel, 24th October 2025)
Another shot of 51 and its new advert with it heading to Library (where trams are temporarily terminating as works take place on Broad Street). (Photograph by Mark Cufflin, 24th October 2025)