Overview
A tale of friendship and rivalry unfolds in the magical land of Oz, where nothing is as it seems.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- whimsical
- witty
- earnest
- family movie night
- musical movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the ambitious, colorful Broadway adaptation for its vocal performances, musical spectacle, and emotional central friendship, while finding it somewhat overextended.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Elphaba's life is presented as the untold history behind the Wicked Witch of the West, challenging the audience's inherited view of Oz.
Elphaba's green appearance, Glinda's pink bubble, and the elaborate college and Oz environments create a large-scale stage-derived visual language.
Elphaba and Glinda move from unlikely college friends to opposing public symbols while their bond is pressured by status and political choices.
Elphaba is a passionate activist who fights injustice while authorities and social forces help define her as wicked.
Films like Wicked, and why
The Greatest Showman
shared cinematic musical spectacle, fairy-tale fantasy, female friendship, and themes of prejudice and social power
Into the Woods
shared fantasy musical adaptation, vivid production design, romantic conflict, and emotionally expansive songs
Les Misérables
shared beloved stage-to-screen musical format, friendship-centered drama, romantic entanglements, and heightened visual world-building
Maleficent
shared revisionist fairy-tale perspective, outsider protagonist, comic romance, and colorful fantasy production
Movie Details
- Director
- Jon M. Chu
- Release Date
- 2024-10-16
- Runtime
- 162 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (3254)
Cast
- Cynthia Erivo
- Ariana Grande
- Michelle Yeoh
- Jonathan Bailey
- Ethan Slater
- Marissa Bode
- Jeff Goldblum
- Peter Dinklage
- Andy Nyman
- Courtney-Mae Briggs
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Wicked about?
- A revisionist Oz musical follows Elphaba and Glinda from college friendship toward a clash over love, power, and who gets called wicked.
- What is Wicked like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Wicked as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Wicked violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Wicked.
- What did critics think of Wicked?
- Critics broadly praised the ambitious, colorful Broadway adaptation for its vocal performances, musical spectacle, and emotional central friendship, while finding it somewhat overextended.
- Which films are like Wicked?
- Films with a similar feel include The Greatest Showman, Into the Woods, Les Misérables, and Maleficent.
- How long is Wicked?
- Wicked runs 162 minutes.
- Where can I watch Wicked?
- In United States, Wicked streams on Hulu.
