Wicked
There's two sides to every story
Elphaba, a young woman ridiculed for her green skin, and Galinda, a popular girl, become friends at Shiz University in the Land of Oz — until the emergence of the Wizard threatens to divide them forever.
Directed by Jon M. Chu · Fantasy · Musical · Romance · 160 min · 2024
Trailer
Director
Jon M. Chu
Studio
Universal Pictures
Release
November 22, 2024
Runtime
160 min
Genres
Fantasy, Musical, Romance
Box office
$701 million worldwide
Full Plot
A vivid reimagining of the classic The Wizard of Oz, Wicked spotlights the untold stories of Oz's most famous (or infamous) characters, namely the Wicked Witch of the West and her unlikely friend, Glinda the Good Witch. The show follows green-skinned star Elphaba from birth to college and through the life-changing events which eventually label her "wicked," introducing spoiled rich girl Glinda, local prince and heartthrob Fiyero and even the Wizard of Oz himself, a troubled man very unlike the one you may remember. As Elphaba, a passionate political activist if there ever was one, fights injustice and seeks to undo the mistakes of the past, dark secrets and personal tragedies shape the history of Oz, paying homage to the classic Wizard of Oz story while simultaneously changing fans' understanding of it forever. A cautionary tale about love, friendship and trust, Wicked effortlessly reveals that there are indeed two sides to every story.
Cast & Characters
Elphaba
Cynthia Erivo
↔ Galinda / Glinda
Galinda / Glinda
Ariana Grande
↔ Elphaba
Madame Morrible
Michelle Yeoh
Fiyero
Jonathan Bailey
young Elphaba
Karis Musongole
Boq Woodsman, a Munchkin in love with Galinda
Ethan Slater
Pfannee, one of Galinda's college friends
Bowen Yang
Nessarose Thropp, Elphaba's paraplegic younger half-sister
Marissa Bode
young Nessarose
Cesily Collette Taylor
the voice of Dr. Dillamond, a talking goat and history professor at Shiz University who befriends Elphaba
Peter DinklageLuisa Guerreiro was the movement artist for Dr. Dillamond
the Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Jeff Goldblum
Did You Know?
Wicked is Part One of a two-film adaptation of the Broadway musical, split to preserve the full story.
Source: Universal Pictures announcement · verified 2026-07-29
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande performed all vocals live on set rather than lip-syncing to studio recordings.
Source: Behind-the-scenes production notes · verified 2026-07-29
Principal photography was set to commence in June 2022 at Sky Studios Elstree in the United Kingdom.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
Wicked holds a 7.4/10 on IMDb (191,746 votes), a 73/100 on Metacritic, and an 88% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes — a strong reception, with particular praise for Erivo and Grande's performances.
“Erivo is a revelation, bringing real emotional weight to Elphaba.” — Variety “A lavish, faithful adaptation that justifies the two-part split.” — IndieWire
Critics (88%) and audiences responded warmly and consistently, with the film's musical theater roots translating successfully to the screen — a rarer outcome for stage-to-film adaptations.
Ratings as of July 29, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedWicked's 88% RT score and $701M gross prove that splitting a beloved musical into two films can work when the performances — especially Erivo's — carry the emotional weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wicked's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Wicked holds a 88% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Wicked's IMDb rating?+
Wicked has a 7.4/10 rating on IMDb from 191,746 votes.
What is Wicked's Metacritic score?+
Wicked has a Metascore of 73/100 on Metacritic.
Is Wicked good? What are critics saying?+
Wicked holds a 7.4/10 on IMDb (191,746 votes), a 73/100 on Metacritic, and an 88% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes — a strong reception, with particular praise for Erivo and Grande's performances.
How long is Wicked?+
Wicked has a runtime of 160 min.
Who directed Wicked?+
Wicked was directed by Jon M. Chu.
Where can I watch Wicked?+
Wicked is available to stream, rent, or buy on Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling, Sky Go, Now TV Cinema, Rakuten TV, Sky Store, Netflix, JioHotstar, Zee5.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to "Wicked" has been largely positive. Many reviewers praised the film's faithfulness to the musical and its ability to bring a new life to the story, with some noting that director Jon M. Chu did an excellent job of capturing the essence of the show. Others were more critical, finding that the trailer gave away too much of the plot and that the pacing was uneven.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
The film adaptation of Wicked is based on the Broadway musical, which is a loose adaptation of the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Both Maguire’s novel and the musical are expansions of L. Frank Baum’s original The Wizard…
Chris Sawin · 2/10*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS* I've been a Wicked fan since 2010. My expectations for this film were extremely high! And I was blown away by how Jon M. Chu was able to bring this story a new life. Everyone involved did an excellent job! The choice to sing live paid off! Not one…
Almando · 10/10OK, so I'm going to be swimming against the tide a bit with this, but I didn't love it. We start where the "Wizard of Oz" story finishes off, only without the catchy "Ding Dong the Witch is...". Instead we get an ensemble dance number that is energetically performed, colourful an…
CinemaSerf · 7/10It’s quite a rare occurrence these days when a much-anticipated film actually lives up to all of its pre-release hype, but this screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical truly does so in every regard. Director Jon M. Chu has brilliantly brought to life the back story behind t…
Brent Marchant · 10/10Very good! I enjoyed <em>'Wicked'</em>. Always impressive when a long run time flashes by - no doubt a sign of a sturdy movie. 2hr 40mins is how long this one lasts, I thought I might have felt that whilst watching but, honestly, I didn't. Since sharing my reviews online I have a…
r96sk · 8/10https://good.film/guide/haters-will-tell-you-wicked-sucks-heres-why-theyre-wrong Broadway hits rely on a suspension of disbelief. With the right ingredients, even the oddest of ideas can take flight on stage… but in the delicate translation to screen, they crash-land. Take Cats:…
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://movieswetextedabout.com/wicked-review-cynthia-erivo-and-ariana-grande-butera-shine-in-a-riveting-musical-experience/ "Despite a few technical and narrative missteps, Wicked shines brightly with its compelling story, outstanding performances, and…
Manuel São Bento · 8/10I so wanted to hate it. I didn't like the decision to split the musical into two films. I didn't like the casting. I HATED the trailer, where it made the film look like it was baked with plastic, glossy CGI, or even worse Gen-AI. And I was wrong. Erivo and Grande are stellar. The…
rssp55 · 8/10Wicked by Jon M. Chu is an ambitious adaptation that largely delivers on its promise to bring the magic of the beloved musical to the big screen. Visually, the movie is stunning, with vibrant set pieces and a cinematic take on Oz that feels both familiar and fresh. Cynthia Erivo…
RalphRahal · 7/10Movie Review: Wicked (2024) A vivid and meticulously crafted introduction to Oz, with rich production design and striking visual effects. Its light-hearted tone and confident pacing build to an exhilarating finale that will delight long time fans. A polished, enjoyable adaptation…
Henry | The Reel Verdict · 7/10This is a movie based on a musical based on a book based on a movie based on a book. > (4.5/5, originally reviewed 11/28/24)
honeybee <3 · 9/10
From the trailer's comments
''Are people born wicked or did they have wickedness thrust upon them?'' The most important question of the entire movie / musical
@DarthKay093 · 50481 likesariana and cynthia’s vocals are insane! the casting here is top tier!
@nator.72 · 14596 likesYou can hear Kristin’s influence when Ariana sings popular. Her mannerisms are all over the trailer. I’m so excited!!
@Rebeverse · 19225 likes3:16 im not afraid its the wisard who should be afraid of me
@morganandmom · 28 likesAri’s first response to getting the role being “I love her so much. I’m going to take such good care of her.” Makes me so happy!
@Rasim98 · 13115 likesI’d normally complain about a trailer showing pretty much every moment of the plot, but since I’m already so familiar with the show it just makes me glad to know they’re covering everything
@soltandvinegar · 18301 likes"Of course she does. She just pretends not to." Respect! I know a lot of people have to act strong because otherwise they will be bullied.
@phoenix5054 · 3343 likes2:23 this part is so good!
@Pqurxte · 24 likes
