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Wicked poster
7.7
Universal Pictures Acclaimed

Wicked

The Wizard of Oz · Wicked Collection

2024 160 min PG
Critic7.7
Musical Fantasy Romance
Peacock Prime Video Apple TV FindEdition
Trailer Where to Watch

Overview

In the land of Oz, green-skinned Elphaba arrives at Shiz University and rooms with popular Galinda. Their unlikely friendship is tested by the Wizard, animal rights, and a divided kingdom — setting the stage for the Wicked Witch legend.
Story 7.8
Acting 8.6
Direction 8.2
Cinematography 8.5
Music 9.0
Pacing 7.4
Originality 7.2
Emotional Impact 8.3
Overall 7.7

Editorial Review

By FindEdition Musical Desk

7.7 /10

Powerhouse performances

Cynthia Erivo delivers a transcendent Elphaba — her live-recorded 'Defying Gravity' is a career-defining moment. Ariana Grande is pitch-perfect as Glinda.

Oz on screen

Spectacular production design, nine million tulips, and practical Emerald City sets make this the most visually stunning musical adaptation in years.

Part One limits

Ending at 'Defying Gravity' leaves the story incomplete — a 160-minute runtime that still feels like half a movie.

Pros

  • Cynthia Erivo's Defying Gravity
  • Ariana Grande as Glinda
  • Faithful to the stage musical
  • Record-breaking box office
  • Oscar-winning costumes and production design

Cons

  • Part One ends on a cliffhanger
  • 160-minute runtime feels incomplete
  • Requires sequel for full story
  • Some pacing dips in middle act
Verdict A lavish, star-powered musical event that honors the stage show while expanding Oz for the screen — Cynthia Erivo's Defying Gravity is worth the price of admission alone.

AI Review

The Broadway phenomenon arrives on screen with powerhouse vocals and spectacular Oz production design — a pop culture event that redefined musical film box office.

A lavish, star-powered musical event that honors the stage show while expanding Oz for the screen — Cynthia Erivo's Defying Gravity is worth the price of admission alone.

See in theaters with sing-along version if available. Plan to watch Wicked: For Good immediately after for the complete story.

Awards

Academy Awards

Best Picture · Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Actress · Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Supporting Actress · Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Costume Design · Won

Academy Awards

Best Production Design · Won

Golden Globe Awards

Cinematic and Box Office Achievement · Won

Golden Globe Awards

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy · Nominated

Critics' Choice Awards

Best Director · Won

Critics' Choice Awards

Best Production Design · Won

Critics' Choice Awards

Best Costume Design · Won

National Board of Review

Best Film · Won

American Film Institute

Top 10 Films of 2024 · Won

Timeline

Release Date
Theatrical Date
Digital Date
Physical Date
Premiere
Festival
Status
Development

Universal announced film adaptation in 2012 after Les Misérables success. Jon M. Chu hired February 2021. Split into two parts announced April 2022.

Casting

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande cast November 2021. Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater joined 2022–2024.

Principal photography

Filmed December 2022 – January 2024 at Sky Studios Elstree, England. 155 days including SAG-AFTRA strike hiatus July–November 2023.

Post-production

Edited by Myron Kerstein. Extended musical numbers including 'Defying Gravity' with Also sprach Zarathustra-inspired score extension.

Release

Premiered Sydney November 3, 2024. US release November 22. Peacock streaming debut March 21, 2025 — biggest Pay-1 title in platform history.

Academy Awards

Best Picture Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Actress Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Supporting Actress Nominated

Academy Awards

Best Costume Design Won

Academy Awards

Best Production Design Won

Golden Globe Awards

Cinematic and Box Office Achievement Won

Golden Globe Awards

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Nominated

Critics' Choice Awards

Best Director Won

Critics' Choice Awards

Best Production Design Won

Critics' Choice Awards

Best Costume Design Won

National Board of Review

Best Film Won

American Film Institute

Top 10 Films of 2024 Won

Production

Development

Universal announced film adaptation in 2012 after Les Misérables success. Jon M. Chu hired February 2021. Split into two parts announced April 2022.

Casting

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande cast November 2021. Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater joined 2022–2024.

Principal photography

Filmed December 2022 – January 2024 at Sky Studios Elstree, England. 155 days including SAG-AFTRA strike hiatus July–November 2023.

Post-production

Edited by Myron Kerstein. Extended musical numbers including 'Defying Gravity' with Also sprach Zarathustra-inspired score extension.

Release

Premiered Sydney November 3, 2024. US release November 22. Peacock streaming debut March 21, 2025 — biggest Pay-1 title in platform history.

Streaming

Peacock Prime Video Apple TV FindEdition

Cast

Cynthia Erivo Elphaba Thropp
Ariana Grande Galinda Upland / Glinda
Jonathan Bailey Fiyero Tigelaar
Jeff Goldblum The Wizard
Michelle Yeoh Madame Morrible
Ethan Slater Boq
Marissa Bode Nessarose Thropp
Peter Dinklage Dr. Dillamond (voice)
Bowen Yang Pfannee
Bronwyn James Shenshen
Keala Settle Miss Coddle
Idina Menzel Emerald City Player (cameo)
Kristin Chenoweth Emerald City Player (cameo)

Characters

Elphaba Thropp Cynthia Erivo
Galinda Upland / Glinda Ariana Grande
Fiyero Tigelaar Jonathan Bailey
The Wizard Jeff Goldblum
Madame Morrible Michelle Yeoh
Boq Ethan Slater
Nessarose Thropp Marissa Bode
Dr. Dillamond (voice) Peter Dinklage
Pfannee Bowen Yang
Shenshen Bronwyn James
Miss Coddle Keala Settle
Emerald City Player (cameo) Idina Menzel
Emerald City Player (cameo) Kristin Chenoweth

Crew

Jon M. Chu Director
Winnie Holzman Screenwriter
Dana Fox Screenwriter
Stephen Schwartz Composer/Lyricist
John Powell Composer
Marc Platt Producer
Alice Brooks Cinematographer
Myron Kerstein Editor
Nathan Crowley Production Designer
Paul Tazewell Costume Designer
Christopher Scott Choreographer

Videos

Official Trailer

Soundtrack

  1. No One Mourns the Wicked — Ariana Grande & Ensemble
  2. The Wizard and I — Cynthia Erivo
  3. What Is This Feeling? — Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
  4. Dancing Through Life — Jonathan Bailey & Ensemble
  5. Popular — Ariana Grande
  6. One Short Day — Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
  7. Defying Gravity — Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande

Trivia

  • Highest-grossing Broadway musical film adaptation worldwide, surpassing Mamma Mia! ($611M). Also the highest-grossing Oz film ever.
  • Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande insisted on recording all song vocals live on set rather than in a studio.
  • Original Broadway stars Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth cameo as Emerald City Players during 'One Short Day'.
  • Nine million colorful tulips were planted on location for the Munchkinland set; a real paved yellow brick road was built with actual mud.
  • Development began in 2012; the film went through multiple directors (Stephen Daldry, Ryan Murphy) and release date changes over 12 years.
  • Paul Tazewell became the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Costume Design for his work on Wicked.
  • Released the same month as Gladiator II, sparking a box office battle won by Wicked's $112.5M opening weekend.

Quotes

"Everyone deserves the chance to fly."

"Defying gravity, and you can't pull me down!"

"Popular! You're gonna be popular!"

"I'm not that girl."

"Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?"

Goofs

  • The film is titled Wicked: Part I on-screen but ends mid-story at 'Defying Gravity' — viewers must see Wicked: For Good for the complete narrative.
  • Paparazzi used hang gliders with GoPro cameras to leak set photos from Munchkinland during production in Ivinghoe, England.

Community

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Collections

Part of Wicked Collection

Browse collection →

Universe

Oz / The Wizard of Oz / Wicked

Explore universe →

Franchise

The Wizard of Oz

Prequel to The Wizard of Oz — Part One of a two-film adaptation of the Broadway musical, based on Gregory Maguire's Wicked novel.

Browse franchise →

Recommendations & Alternatives

For higher ratings, consider The Odyssey (8.8/10). A similarly themed alternative is Enola Holmes 3.

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AI Recommendation Insight

The Broadway phenomenon arrives on screen with powerhouse vocals and spectacular Oz production design — a pop culture event that redefined musical film box office. Similar picks: Highly Rated Fantasy, Highly Rated Musical, Similar Fantasy