“Wicked” stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz and a movie adaptation of the popular Broadway musical.
As a prequel to the Wizard of Oz, Wicked covers the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and how she became evil. The plot begins when two students, intelligent but ostracized Elphaba and popular and stuck-up Glinda are forced to room together. The two girls loathe each other at first but eventually warm up to and befriend one another. When the Wizard of Oz invites Elphaba to meet him in the Emerald City, Glinda comes along and discovers the evil doings of the Wizard. Elphaba then discovers her ability to fly, and after a tearful goodbye with Glinda, escapes the Wizard.
The film covers the first part of the musical, and at 1 hour and 40 minutes, it is longer than the entire musical. While a bit long for certain viewers, Wicked is an unforgettable cinematic experience. With incredibly moving songs such as “The Wizard and I” and “Defying Gravity” along with more playful songs such as “What is This Feeling” and “Popular,” Ariana and Cynthia’s vocals are unmatched. Along the way, several surprise cameos add to the overall mystified feeling “Wicked” brings to viewers.
This movie can be enjoyed by anyone, whether you are a major musical nerd or have never heard of it.
Since this is only part one of the musical, the movie ends on a cliffhanger. Part two will be released on Nov. 21, 2025, and fans who have seen part one are already looking forward to it.