Wicked. First, a 1995 prequel to The Wizard of Oz, written by Gregory Maguire. Next, a 2003 Broadway musical that received three Tony awards. Now, a 2024 movie that has already grossed around $366 million (Box Office Mojo, as of 12/2/24). “$360 million! That’s a lot!” one might exclaim. And Wicked does not even cover the entire duration of the original musical; fans will have to wait to see the second act in November 2025.
The acclaim that the Wicked movie has already received is well-deserved in the eyes of many. “I loved it!” said Grace Gabelhouse, ‘25. Gabelhouse has seen both the musical and the play and said the movie was better “because it was longer and had more detail.” The detail is immense, as the length of the original musical is merely the length of the movie’s first act. As a result, the runtime of the movie has received criticism. Piper Naruko-Stewart, ‘25, agreed with this criticism and thought it was “a little too long.” Despite critiques of the movie’s length, others enjoy its in-depth look. The performances of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, however, the stars of the movie, have been all but unanimously received as powerful. Erivo’s rich and gorgeous tone fits the character of Elphaba – known in The Wizard of Oz as the Wicked Witch of the West – like a glove. Ariana Grande also surprised moviegoers with a brilliant “comedic and musical” performance as Glinda – the Good Witch in the original movie – that the Los Angeles Times speculated could “possibly [be] to the tune of an Oscar nomination.” Gabelhouse said that she enjoyed everyone in the movie but that Glinda was her favorite character. “I loved Ariana Grande’s performance very much,” Naruko-Stewart agreed. Naruko-Stewart also enjoyed Michelle Yeoh’s portrayal of Madame Morrible, a character who appears only in Wicked and not in The Wizard of Oz.
For those who have seen The Wizard of Oz but are unclear about the plot of Wicked, the names Elphaba and Glinda are sure to raise questions. Wicked is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz and follows the early life of Elphaba, a baby who is born with green skin. The first act, which is the duration of the 2024 film, primarily chronicles Elphaba’s struggles to fit in and find her place at boarding school. Glinda, whose peers view her as the model of a perfect girl, is assigned to be her roommate, a less-than- ideal scenario for them both. The film follows their relationship, as well as their relationships with others at the boarding school, which is called Shiz. Without spoiling the movie, the themes that appear in Wicked are of inequality and the idea that power can lead to corruption. The message that “looks aren’t everything” was “well-established and very clear in the movie,” said Gabelhouse; Naruko-Stewart thought that “the movie did a particularly good job critiquing institutions that exploit individuals for their own gain.”
Perhaps the most significant moment of the 2024 film is “Defying Gravity,” the powerful closing number sung by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. A vocally demanding song, “Defying Gravity” is brilliant when its full capacity is unlocked. And in the eyes of Sydney Therell, ‘27, Erivo’s “vocals are amazing,” and the closing number was “the best part of the film.” The song requires an extensive vocal range, and the richness of Erivo’s voice throughout the entirety of the song is a testament to her abilities as a singer. “I love her so, so much,” said Therell. The strong performances from the leading players in the movie help to make Wicked an enjoyable experience for all viewers, “even if they’re not theater lovers,” as Gabelhouse explained.
