Wicked began as a novel by Gregory Maguire, became a well-renowned Broadway play, and is now tackling screens. Following its release on Nov. 22, Wicked is rapidly gaining recognition as a film, amassing $358 million in under two weeks.
This film features Ariana Grande as Galinda, a bubbly blond who is notably obsessed with her looks, and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the eldest daughter of the Governor of Munchkinland who has experienced discrimination against her green skin all her life. The two characters ultimately form a strong bond as friends, despite the strong differences in their backgrounds and beliefs. The friendship between the two characters seems to have translated into the actresses’ lives, as they share a strong mutual admiration for each other during various interviews. The two also revealed during these interviews that they had several matching tattoos commemorating their time during the film.
The story follows the interactions between Elphaba and Galinda during their time at Shiz University and portrays the evolution of their friendship. The two came from polar opposite worlds, as Elphaba grew up isolated and always made an outcast by the people around her simply because of her skin color. Her green skin evoked a lot of fear in those around her, and this feeling of isolation was heightened by Elpheba’s father’s hatred for her as a result of the death of her mother. Contrastingly, Galinda grew up with people falling at her feet and always viewing her as perfect. She never had to face adversity, so the two had extremely different perspectives on the world, which caused them to clash at first.
This movie only shows the first part of the story, so fans can expect a cliffhanger and a second part to enter theaters on Nov. 21, 2025. Director Jon M. Chu explains that this decision was made to give themselves a larger canvas, allowing them to include as much detail as possible without cutting certain characters or songs. Thus, trying to cram the whole story in one movie may have left readers feeling unsatisfied or confused at parts of the film because it would not have portrayed each aspect of the plot fully.
The movie contains a vivid color scheme to match the enchanting setting, and it is filled with songs from talented actors. The special effects are also very well done in portraying the magical aspect of the film. Wicked is a very entertaining and family-friendly movie that deserves the recognition it has so far amassed.
Get your Wicked Tickets here: https://wickedthemusical.com/tickets/
