Universal Pictures andMarc Platt, who both produced the stage musical, announced the film adaptation in 2012. After a long development and multiple delays, partlydue to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chu was hired to direct, with Erivo and Grande cast in 2021. The adaptation was split into two parts to avoid omitting plot points and further develop the characters.Principal photography on both films began in England in December 2022, was interrupted in July 2023 by the2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and resumed and concluded in January 2024.
In theLand of Oz,Glinda the Good joins the citizens ofMunchkinland as they celebrate the death of theWicked Witch of the West. When asked whether wickedness isinherent or learned, Glinda explains that the Witch was the product of an affair between Governor Thropp's wife Melena and a mysterious traveling salesman. The salesman offered Melena a green elixir, causing the Witch to be born with green skin. Maligned from birth for her skin and impulsive use of magical powers, the Witch fostered a wish to meet theWonderful Wizard of Oz, the ruler of Oz famed for his power to grant wishes. When theMunchkins ask if Glinda was friends with the Witch, she reflects on their relationship back at school.
Years earlier, green-skinnedElphaba Thropp escorts younger sisterNessarose on her first day at Shiz University. Nessarose'sparaplegia causes the staff to patronise her, prompting an emotional outburst of Elphaba's powers. Shiz's Dean of Sorcery Studies,Madame Morrible, offers to enroll and privately tutor Elphaba in sorcery. She accepts, hoping she can fulfill her dream of working with the Wizard. Elphaba clashes constantly with her roommate, the popular Galinda Upland, who longs to become Morrible's student.
Elphaba follows the history professor, Dr. Dillamond, atalking goat who faces discrimination as one of Shiz's last Animal professors, to a meeting of Animals off-campus. Learning the Animals are somehow losing their ability to speak, Elphaba assures Dillamond the Wizard will set it right. Rebellious prince andtransfer studentFiyero Tigelaar takes a group of students to a party at the Ozdust Ballroomnightclub.Boq Woodsman, a Munchkin, asks Galinda to accompany him; to ensure she can attend with Fiyero, Galinda convinces him to invite Nessarose instead. Nessarose is overjoyed, and in thanks, Elphaba convinces Morrible to allow Galinda to study sorcery as well. When she is ridiculed at the Ozdust for wearing anugly black hat gifted by Galinda as a practical joke, a remorseful Galinda dances with her and the two begin to bond.
When Dillamond informs the class that Animals are no longer allowed to teach at Shiz, he is forcibly removed from the classroom and replaced by the unscrupulous Professor Nikidik who demonstrates a cage containing a frightened lion cub, designed to prevent Animals from learning to speak. Elphaba angrily spinspoppy dust over the room, and escapes with Fiyero when the class falls unconscious. They release the cub into the forest and Elphaba laments herunrequited feelings for Fiyero, who has chosen Galinda.
Elphaba receives an invitation from the Wizard, made aware of her powers by Morrible. She arrives in theEmerald City with Galinda, now calling herself "Glinda" in misguided solidarity with Dillamond, who constantly mispronounced her name. Their meeting with the Wizard, in which they're surprised to learn he's an ordinary man, is witnessed by Morrible. They urge Elphaba to cast a levitation spell from the sacredGrimmerie, aspellbook that only powerful sorcerers can read and comprehend, causing the Wizard'smonkey guards topainfully sprout wings. As the Wizard and Morrible rejoice over their newfound ability to use the monkeys as spies, Elphaba realizes that they are the ones behind the Animals' oppression and that the fraudulent Wizard, unable to read the Grimmerie and lacking real magic of his own, used her to subjugate them further. A horrified Elphaba seizes the Grimmerie and flees.
Glinda follows Elphaba, who refuses to apologize to the Wizard as Morrible denounces her to all of Oz. Elphaba tries to escape the Emerald City in the Wizard'shot air balloon, but the way up is barred and the balloon burns up. High in a palace attic, Elphaba repeats the levitation spell on a broom. She urges Glinda to come with her, but Glinda chooses to remain behind. The two share an emotional farewell before Elphaba flies west. Fiyero leaves Shiz on horseback amidst a mass evacuation while Governor Thropp suffers a heart attack when he and Nessarose receive the news.
Multiple cameos take place during the "One Short Day" sequence.Idina Menzel andKristin Chenoweth, who starred as Elphaba and Glinda in the original Broadway production of the stage musical, portray the leading members of the Emerald City Players. Michael McCorry Rose, who also played Fiyero in the Broadway production, appears as theWiz-O-Mania narrator.[39]Winnie Holzman, who wrote both the script for the stage musical and the film, appears as an audience member who exclaims, "He can read it [theGrimmerie]! He must be a Wizard!", while composerStephen Schwartz appears as the Emerald City Guard, who announces to Elphaba and Galinda that "the Wizard will see you now".[40][41]Adam James andAlice Fearn (who played Elphaba in the musical'sWest End production) appear briefly as Galinda's parents, nicknamed "Popsicle" and "Momsie" by Galinda.[42]
In 2011, Universal began making plans for a film adaptation of the musical. Chenoweth, Menzel,Lea Michele, andAmy Adams were all rumored to be potential leads, Holzman and Schwartz were rumored as potential writers, andJ. J. Abrams,Rob Marshall,James Mangold, andRyan Murphy were all mentioned as possible candidates for director.[49] In 2012, after the screen success ofLes Misérables,[50][51] Platt announced that the film was going ahead,[52] later confirming it was aiming for a 2016 release.[53] After a long development, Universal announced in 2016 thatWicked would be released in theatres on December 20, 2019, withStephen Daldry directing.[54] Daldry was reported consideringLady Gaga andShawn Mendes for the roles of Elphaba and Fiyero.[55] By 2024, Holzman was credited as the sole writer.[56] In August 2024, it was determined by theWriters Guild of America thatDana Fox collaborated with Holzman on the screenplay, and thatCraig Mazin contributed additional literary material.[1] Like the stage musical, the script includes made-up words such as "braverism", "hideoteous", and "confusifying", giving the Land of Oz its own "Ozian" language.[57]
In May 2017, Schwartz saidWicked would feature "at least two" new songs.[58] On August 31, 2018, Universal put it on hold to accommodate its production schedule, and gavethe film adaptation ofCats the release date formerly held byWicked.[59] On February 8, 2019, Universal announced a new release date of December 22, 2021.[60] On April 1, 2020, Universal putWicked on hold again due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, and gaveSing 2 the 2021 release date.[61] On October 20, 2020, it was announced that Daldry had left the production due to scheduling conflicts.[62] On February 2, 2021, it was announced thatJon M. Chu would take over as director.[63] In August 2021,Alice Brooks was confirmed as the cinematographer.[64]
In November 2021,Cynthia Erivo andAriana Grande were cast asElphaba andGlinda.[9] Grande initially auditioned for Elphaba due to a miscommunication causing Chu to believe that she expressed interest in that role over Glinda.[65] Grande had previously recorded "Popular Song" (a remix of "Popular") in 2012,[66] and performed "The Wizard and I" in the 2018NBC specialA Very Wicked Halloween.[67] Erivo had previously performed "I Couldn't Be Happier" (an excerpt from "Thank Goodness") in the 2021PBS specialWicked in Concert.[68][69] Grande revealed that she auditioned three times for the role of Glinda.[70] She stated that she began taking acting lessons a year before her first audition, also adding that "transforming [her] voice to sing Glinda'ssoprano parts took months".[71]Dove Cameron,Reneé Rapp, andAmanda Seyfried were also reported to have auditioned for Glinda.[72]
In April 2022, Erivo expressed her desire to watch the stage version on Broadway again before filming and stated that she has been "relearning everything". She also said at that time that talks were in progress about the visual style, and confirmed the hiring ofPaul Tazewell as costume designer. Erivo mentioned that she envisioned Elphaba's costume to incorporate "aJean Paul Gaultier collection with a 'new world, kind ofgilded age' feeling".[77] Erivo also contributed to Elphaba's hair and nails: "I knew I wanted [Elphaba] to have micro braids and I wanted her to have a full set [of nails] for two reasons: [they are] a nod to my culture and a nod to the world of Oz." She also stated: "I imagined that her nails were a part of her magic — that they just grew out of her and she hadn't yet discovered why, like her green skin."[78]
On April 26, 2022, Chu announced that the adaptation would be filmed in two parts (the other beingWicked: For Good), saying that it was difficult to incorporate the entire story into one movie without "doing some real damage to it" and compromising the story. Thus, he said, it was decided to split the story into two films; doing so would allow for more "depth and surprise to the journeys for these beloved characters."[79]
Schwartz echoed Chu's sentiment in June, while also confirming that a new song was in the works. He said that it was tough to get past the song "Defying Gravity" with no break since it was "written specifically to bring a curtain down". He added, "[I]f we all continue to have the same degree of input, I could have a conversation with anyone who has a question about any of the changes made from the stage show and justify why I think it's better for the movie."[80]
New characters inWicked include Miss Coddle; Dulcibear, Elphaba's childhood nanny; and Galinda's parents, who drop her off at Shiz University.[81] Miss Coddle is the university's headmistress, previously Madame Morrible's role in the stage musical, with Morrible now the Dean of Sorcery.[81][82][83] New scenes include Elphaba's tutoring sessions with Madame Morrible as she learns to control her powers, flashbacks to her childhood as she's ridiculed for her green skin,[84] and moments showing her and Nessarose's dynamic as sisters.[85][86] In the musical, Dr. Dillamond was the only Animal professor at Shiz; this is changed in the movie. The sexual content of the novel and the musical was toned down so both films could reach a wider audience and attain a PG rating from theMotion Picture Association (MPA).[87] Pfannee, who was female in the novel and is cast as such in the musical, is portrayed as male inWicked.[27] In the musical, Elphaba is already enrolled at Shiz University alongside Nessarose; in the film, she is there to accompany and look after Nessarose at their father's request, before Morrible enrolls her later on.[88] Elphaba and Fiyero's first meeting inWicked happens in the forest, rather than with a group of classmates at Shiz University.[89]
The "Something Bad" sequence is changed from a conversation between Dr. Dillamond and Elphaba to a private meeting of the talking Animals at Dillamond's off-campus residence, where they sing to each other about the state of Oz.[90] "Dancing Through Life" takes place inside the university's circular, rotating library and includes an extended dance break. The Ozdust Ballroom is also reimagined as what Chu called a nightclub in "the underbelly of Oz", complete with a musical band of Animals.[91][92] The "Popular" performance is extended and features additionalkey changes.[93] "One Short Day" is also significantly extended to include the Emerald City Players, who delve into the origins of the Grimmerie.[94] "Defying Gravity" is extended to work as thecliffhanger, featuring an extra vocal section.[95][89][96] Elphaba'sbattle cry, which normally ends the song, is followed by a score extension inspired byRichard Strauss'sAlso sprach Zarathustra (made famous by the 1968 film2001: A Space Odyssey).[97][98]
Principal photography was set to commence in June 2022 atSky Studios Elstree in the United Kingdom.[99] In July 2021, Schwartz indicated there were plans to film in Atlanta that year.[100] In July 2022, it was revealed that rehearsals forWicked would start in August, withprincipal photography beginning in November.[101] Grande later revealed her crown fittings for costuming took place in September.[102] On December 9, Chu confirmed onTwitter that filming had begun.[103] Early into filming,paparazzi were seen flying over the Munchkinland set inIvinghoe, England, byhang glider withGoPro cameras attached to their feet, in order toleak photos and videos from the set.[104][105] Grande toldVMan: "I think we were very spoiled to have done this with [Chu]. It felt like a teeny, little secret student thing – it's intimacy... It felt so small and private until all of a sudden, we were outside, and theDaily Mail was hand gliding [sic] over our set".[106][107] Filming was scheduled towrap in late July 2023.[108][109] Shootingwas suspended on July 13 due to the2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.[110] Filming resumed and concluded in January 2024,[111] lasting for 155 days.[112] Christopher Scott choreographed the musical numbers.[113]
The song vocals were recorded live on set at the insistence of Erivo and Grande.[114][115] Chu citedSteven Spielberg's 1991 filmHook as inspiration for the large-scale sets and practical effects, including nine million colorfultulips planted on location to surround theMunchkinland set, a pavedyellow brick road with real mud, and a life-sizeart deco-inspired train to transport Elphaba and Glinda to theEmerald City.[116][117] Chu also cited the 1998 filmsPleasantville andThe Truman Show as influences on how bothWicked andWicked: For Good thematically portray the Land of Oz, saying, "It helps create this idea of the rebelliousness that this new younger generation are discovering... How far will that take everybody in Oz throughout the course of the whole story of both movies? It's an awakening of a generation. You start to see the truth about things that maybe you were taught differently."[118] The interior of the Wizard's castle was inspired byHans Poelzig'sGroßes Schauspielhaus.[119][120]
Industrial Light & Magic andFramestore provided thevisual effects forWicked, withPablo Helman serving as the production visual effects supervisor.[121] On February 6, 2024, it was confirmed that post-production work was in progress, with Chu working remotely with editorMyron Kerstein via with the newly releasedApple Vision Pro.[122][123] Throughout editing, Kerstein felt emotionally connected toWicked and its story, particularly during post-production work on the Ozdust Ballroom and "Defying Gravity" sequences. Reflecting on the former scene, he stated: "We always felt like the Ozdust Ballroom was basically the set piece we had to get right, because if that didn't work, the rest of the movie was going to fall apart." The sequence involved watching the entireties of every ten-minute-long take of Elphaba and Glinda's dance duet and picking the right portions that provoked the most emotional response.[124] Editing on the entire film was done throughAvid Media Composer.[125]
Wicked has 2,200 visual effects shots.[112] Team Aspect handled the main-on-end title sequence and motion design, using 1930s stylization in homage toMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer's filmThe Wizard of Oz (1939); this included a recreation of the Universal logo at the start, along with onscreen typography for the title and "To be continued" cards similar to the font used inThe Wizard of Oz.[126][127][128][89]
Ceci de la Cueva andDanna Paola (left) as Glinda and Elphaba in 2014, and Myra Ruiz (right) as Elphaba in 2016
Wicked wasdubbed in several countries where local productions of the original musical were staged.[129][130][131][132] Many of the dubs have actresses reprising their roles as Elphaba and Glinda after previously portraying them on stage, includingDanna Paola and Ceci de la Cueva inLatin American Spanish,[130] Myra Ruiz and Fabi Bang inBrazilian Portuguese,[131] and Park Hye-na andJeong Sunah inKorean.[133][134][135] In theGerman dub, Elphaba was voiced by Sabrina Weckerlin, who was an alternate for the character in the original 2007 production.[136][137] Johanne Milland, the voice of Glinda inDanish, portrayed the character in the 2024 production.[138][139]Dutch actress Vajèn van den Bosch, who portrayed Elphaba in the German production in 2021,[140] instead returned as Glinda in the Dutch dub.[141]
Additionally, certain local performers were brought in to dub Menzel and Chenoweth's cameos.Willemijn Verkaik, who first played Elphaba in the original 2007 German production and again in several international engagements (including the original 2011 Dutch production, as well as the West End and Broadway in 2013),[142][143][144][145] dubbed over Menzel in the Dutch and German versions,[146][147] together with Chenoweth's dubbers and original Glinda actressesChantal Janzen[148][146] andLucy Scherer.[142][147]Maria Lucia Rosenberg, who portrayed Elphaba in the original 2011Danish production,[149][150] returned to dub Menzel in Danish.[151] Other dubs, particularly in countries where the musical had not premiered, saw Menzel dubbed over by actresses who had voiced another character she originated:Elsa fromDisney'sFrozen. Such instances included Elke Buyle inFlemish,[152][153] Nikolett Füredi inHungarian,[154][155] Taryn Szpilman in Brazilian Portuguese,[156][157] andAnnika Herlitz inSwedish.[158][159]
In Norway,Wicked was released without the musical ever being staged there. Two days before the release, a first-time Norwegian production of the musical was announced,[160] and premiered on March 6, 2025.[161] Sanne Kvitnes reprised her role as Elphaba,[162] whileAlexandra Rotan took over the role of Glinda[162] from Trine Bariås.[163]
The soundtrack album forWicked was released on November 22, 2024, throughRepublic andVerve Records.[164] The score album was released on December 6, 2024.[165] Schwartz composed the score alongsideJohn Powell.[166]Jeff Atmajian updatedWilliam David Brohn's original orchestrations for the songs and enlarged the orchestra from the stage version's original 23 musicians to 80.[167] The recording sessions took place atAIR Studios in London,[165] with the musical's original music directorStephen Oremus conducting the song cues[168] and Powell conducting the score cues alongsideGavin Greenaway,[166] all with theLondon Symphony Orchestra.[165][169] Schwartz, Oremus, andGreg Wells were the soundtrack's producers.[168] Asing-along edition of the soundtrack was released on December 20, 2024. It features the original album's 11 tracks without lead vocals, but keeps the ensemble's vocals and some of the dialogue parts intact.[170] On April 4, 2025, a new version of the soundtrack was released featuring spoken commentary on all songs byWicked's cast and crew.[171] Some songs fromWicked: For Good appear in the film, most prominently "For Good" in scenes showcasing Elphaba and Glinda's friendship.[89]
On April 16, 2023, first-look pictures of Elphaba and Glinda were released through social media.[172]Work-in-process footage, featuring first listens to Erivo and Grande's renditions of "Defying Gravity" and "Popular", was presented atCinemaCon on April 26, 2023.[173][174] A 60-secondteaser trailer premiered duringSuper Bowl LVIII on February 11, 2024.[175] On April 10, 2024, new footage was presented at CinemaCon, whereWicked's cast gathered to promote the film. Costumes and props were on display in the venue's lobby during the event.[176] The three-minute theatrical trailer was released on May 15, 2024, followed by aLego version made in thebrickfilm style on May 29.[177][178]NBC promotedWicked extensively during its coverage of the2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, featuring multiple TV and streaming advertisements.[179][180] Erivo and Grande attended theopening ceremony and the qualifying round of thewomen's gymnastics event.[181][182] On September 4, 2024, character posters were revealed ahead of the release of a new trailer the next day, which remixed "Defying Gravity" with the "Wicked Witch" theme fromThe Wizard of Oz (1939).[183][184] A behind-the-scenes television special,Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked, aired on NBC on November 19, 2024.[185] After debuting in the TV special, the "What Is This Feeling?" performance was uploaded toYouTube on November 22, 2024, coinciding with the film's release.[186][187]
Wicked was promoted with the "Journey Through Oz" Press Tour during the weeks leading up to its release, with each city being transformed into some of the film's locations: Sydney (Munchkinland), Los Angeles (Shiz University), Mexico City (Enchanted Forest), New York (Ozdust Ballroom), and London (Emerald City).[188] Universal released a wide range ofWicked merchandise, including toys, apparel, books, beauty products, and accessories.[189][190] The company had 450 promotional partners, with a media value of$350 million, the most ever for a Hollywood theatrical film.[191] Universal launched an interactive website for Shiz University, including a welcome brochure for new students and a guided tour of the campus.[192] Grande's cosmetics brandR.E.M. Beauty released a collaboration inspired byWicked to coincide with its release.[193] A 96-pageWicked-focused special-edition issue ofPeople magazine was released in November2024, featuring exclusive cast interviews and pictures from production.[194]Wicked was featured at the 2025Rose Parade onNew Year's Day inPasadena, California, with a 55-foot-long "Defying Gravity" float decorated with 60,000 tulips.[195] Promoting the streaming release onPeacock, Universal sold its most Pay 1 movie ad spots ever with sixteen brand partners.[196]
The film's promotional poster (left) recreated the stage musical's original poster art (right), which led to many re-edits and parodies. One poster in particular was criticized by Erivo.[197]
On October 9, 2024, to coincide with tickets going on sale, a poster was released with Erivo and Grande in-character recreating the original poster art of the stage musical.[198][199] Reception towards the poster was mixed, resulting in the creation offan edits andinternet memes designed to bring the poster closer to the original art, usingAdobe Photoshop andgenerative artificial intelligence tools.[200][201] ATwitter user created their own edit, attempting to more accurately match the poster to the original artwork by obscuring Elphaba's eyes, raising Glinda's hand to cover her mouth, and giving Elphaba smirking red lips.[202][203] Many fans considered it an improvement.[197] On October 16, Erivo reposted the re-edit onInstagram and stated:[204]
This is the wildest, most offensive thing I have seen, equal to that awfulAI [sic] of us fighting, equal to people posing the question "is your [p__] green" [a reference to a 2014 meme[205]] ... None of this is funny. None of it is cute. It degrades me. It degrades us. The original poster is an ILLUSTRATION. I am a real life human being, who chose to to [sic] look right down the barrel of the camera to you, the viewer ...because without words we communicate with our eyes. Our poster is an homage not an imitation, to edit my face and hide my eyes is to erase me. And that is just deeply hurtful.
The user later deleted the post out of respect for Erivo, adding that their intentions were not malicious and they had not anticipated the reaction.[206] However, on October 20, the user reposted their edit, saying while they felt Erivo's feelings were valid, they stood by the image as "an innocent fan edit to pay homage to the original Broadway poster".[203][207] On October 19, Grande responded to the controversy, saying, "I think it's very complicated because I find AI so conflicting and troublesome sometimes, but I think it's just kind of such a massive adjustment period... This is something that is so much bigger than us, and the fans are gonna have fun and make their edits... I have so much respect for my sister, Cynthia, and I love her so much."[208] On October 29, Erivo was asked byEntertainment Tonight about the nature of her comments, and said that "it wasn't necessarily a clapback... Because I think I'm really protective of the role... I am passionate about it, and I know that the fans are passionate about it, and I think, for me, it was just like a human moment of wanting to protect little Elphaba. It was a human moment. I probably should've called my friends, but it's fine."[209][210]
Mattel produced a series of dolls portraying Glinda, Elphaba, Fiyero, Madame Morrible, as well as Nessarose in a wheelchair.[211][212] In August 2024, two song snippets, ("Popular" and "Defying Gravity"), were leaked through asound chip in Mattel's line of singing dolls.[213][214]
In November 2024, the boxes for many dolls were found to contain links to the website of the adult film studioWicked Pictures (wicked.com) instead ofWicked's official website (wickedmovie.com).[215][216][217] Mattel apologized for the error, and asked parents who had bought products with the incorrect website to destroy the packaging.[218] In December 2024, Mattel was sued by a mother inSouth Carolina, citing the emotional distress that she and her daughter had suffered due to the error.[219] Consequently, Mattel issued a statement to some media outlets, indicating that the dolls had returned for sale with correct packaging and that "the previous misprint on the packaging in no way impacts the value or play experience provided by the product itself in the limited number of units sold before the correction."[220][221]
Wicked was screened exclusively for influencers, awards season pundits and entertainment industry personnel on theUniversal Studios Lot on October 16, 2024.[222] A private screening was held at the home ofKim Kardashian on October 22, 2024, exclusively attended byher family alongside Erivo and Grande.[223] Another private screening was at theDGA Theater inManhattan, New York on October 28, 2024, attended by Erivo, Grande, Chu, Platt, Schwartz, original Broadway cast members Kristin Chenoweth,Norbert Leo Butz, andChristopher Fitzgerald, members of the Broadway cast and other actresses who had played Elphaba and Glinda on Broadway and national tour over the years. The screening was preceded by a video greeting from Idina Menzel, who could not attend due to rehearsals being underway for the new musicalRedwood.[224] A screening hosted byAnna Wintour was held at theMetropolitan Museum of Art on November 14, 2024, attended by the cast members and other celebrities.[225] Screenings for the general public took place at the State Theatre in Sydney from November 20 through November 22.[226]
Wicked was previously scheduled for release on December 20, 2019, December 22, 2021, December 25, 2024, and November 27, 2024.[79] The latter's release date was set to avoid competition withAvatar: Fire and Ash andSonic the Hedgehog 3 (the former of which was later delayed to 2025 afterThunderbolts*, and laterMufasa: The Lion King took its date).[239] It then moved forward to November 22 to avoid competition withMoana 2, with the new date putting it againstGladiator II.[235] This triggered speculation about a scenario later termed "Glicked", similar to theBarbenheimer phenomenon which was a result ofBarbie andOppenheimer both being released on July 21, 2023.[240][241] WithWicked released two weeks after the2024 United States presidential election, Marc Platt reflected on the story's increasing relevance in the currentpolitical climate, saying, "It's a significant election for both of us, but our story aspires to be about the distance people travel to connect with each other, about seeing the other as not the other, about living in a world where sometimes the truth is not real."[242]
Wicked was re-released in 100 North American theaters on June 4, 2025, with screenings accompanied by the "fan first" trailer premiere forWicked: For Good.[243][244][245] A second re-release took place from November 14–21, while a one-timedouble feature ofWicked andWicked: For Good was released in select theaters on November 20.[246]
Prior to its theatrical release inKuwait,Wicked was pulled from some theatres due to "public ethics".[247] However, it continues to be screened in various cinemas in the country.[248] After its release in the United States, the conservative Christian groupOne Million Moms called for a boycott, claiming that it "promotes witchcraft and pushes the LGBTQ agenda on families, particularly children". On Instagram, Chenoweth wrote: "Everyone knows the 'one million Moms' are a mere few hundred. Maybe. It's called entertainment. Artistry. I am a Christian woman or [sic] originated the role of Glinda and all the silliness that these women spew out of hate. No no no. I can't help it: I try to love 'em anyways. For they don't get it. For anyone who wants to see girl power, then go so [sic]Wicked. Onstage or in a movie theater."[249]
Wicked was released onvideo on demand on December 31, 2024, in the United States.[250] It was released on4K Blu-ray,Blu-ray, andDVD on February 4, 2025, byUniversal Pictures Home Entertainment. Both the digital and physical releases contain the theatrical and sing-along versions, with bonus features such as extended and deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes featurettes.[251][252] It began streaming onPeacock on March 21, 2025.[253]Wicked made its broadcast television premiere onNBC on November 19, 2025, two days beforeWicked: For Good was to be released in theaters.[254]
Tickets forWicked went on sale on October 9, 2024, the day afterParamount Pictures released their tickets forGladiator II. On October 10,Fandango reported that it was the site's number 2 first-day ticket pre-seller of 2024, behindMarvel Studios'Deadpool & Wolverine, as well as the best PG-rated first-day ticket pre-seller of the year and the number 3 best PG-rated first-day ticket pre-seller of all time, behindFrozen 2 and the 2019 remake ofThe Lion King (both fromDisney).[255] According toDeadline Hollywood, Quorum projectedWicked to gross$67–74 million in its domestic opening weekend, whileBox Office Theory projected it would gross$96–150 million andBoxoffice Pro projected it would be$100–125 million, topping the box office ahead ofGladiator II. Initial skepticism was directed towards the notion that musical films post-pandemic would not be profitable.[256][257][258] By the week of its release, projections were raised to a$165–200 million worldwide opening (and$125–150 million domestically), with positive word-of-mouth and the awards season buzz cited as the reasons.[259]
Wicked grossed$475 million in the United States andCanada, and$283.8 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of$758.8 million.[7][8][260]Deadline Hollywood calculated the net profit as $230million, accounting for production budgets, marketing, talent participations and other costs; box office grosses, television and streaming, and home media revenues, makingWicked the fifth-most profitable film of 2024.[69]
In the United States and Canada, it made$46.47 million on its first day, which included$19.2 million from preview screenings in the week leading up to its release:$2.5 million on Monday,$5.7 million on Wednesday, and$11 million on Thursday. It debuted with$112.5 million domestically and$162.9 million worldwide, topping both box offices.[261][262] It was the largest opening ever for a film based on a Broadway musical, surpassing the$31.1 million domestic opening ofInto the Woods (2014) and the$103 million worldwide opening ofLes Misérables (2012).[263] The next Thursday, it made$16.9 million, the second-bestThanksgiving Day total ever behindMoana 2 ($28 million), released the day prior. It grossed$32 million onBlack Friday.[264]
Wicked grossed$80 million in its second weekend (and a total of$117.5 million over the five-day frame), dropping by 29% and finishing behindMoana 2.[265] At the end of the holiday weekend, it reached over$250 million domestically, making it thehighest-grossing stage musical-to-screen adaptation of all time in North America, beating the$190 million lifetime domestic gross ofGrease (1978).[266] In its third weekend, it made $34.9 million, remaining in second, for a running total of $455 million worldwide.[267][268] By December 15, 2024, it had grossed $525 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film based on Baum'sOz works, surpassing the $493 million worldwide gross of Disney'sOz the Great and Powerful (2013). By Christmas Day, it had grossed $392.4 million domestically, becoming the49th highest-grossing film of all time in the United States and Canada.[269] By December 29, 2024,Wicked surpassedMamma Mia! (2008), breaking theGuinness World Record to become the highest-grossing musical film adaptation of all time.[260][270] By January 2025, it surpassedDune: Part Two to become the fifth highest-grossing film of 2024, and surpassedE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) andF9 (2021) to become Universal's third highest-grossing film in North America and nineteenth highest-grossing film worldwide, respectively.[271]
In the first week of its release onvideo-on-demand (VOD) services,Wicked topped the charts on every platform, includingiTunes Movies,Google Play,Fandango at Home andAmazon Prime Video. Universal reported thatWicked earned more than $70 million in premium VOD sales in the United States and Canada during its first week, including more than $26 million onNew Year's Eve. It surpassedThe Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023) to become the biggest first-week performance for a Universal theatrical film on VOD.[272][273] As of April 2025, the movie's sales revenue across all video platforms exceeds $100 million.[274] During the first weekend of its streaming release on Peacock,Wicked toppedNielsen's preliminary streaming chart for the period of March 17–23, 2025 as the most-streamed film on the platform with 882 million minutes watched, ahead ofPlane,The Wild Robot and eventual Best Picture Academy Award winnerAnora. The result made it Peacock's biggest Pay 1 film ever for a title in its first seven days and marked the second time a film on the platform has achieved this record followingOppenheimer the year before.[275][276][196]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 88% of 406 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Defying gravity with its magical pairing of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande,Wicked's sheer bravura and charm make for an irresistible invitation to Oz."[278]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 73 out of 100, based on 63 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[279] Audiences polled byCinemaScore gave it an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while those surveyed byPostTrak gave it a 92% overall positive score, with 80% saying they would "definitely recommend" it.[263]
Kyle Smith ofThe Wall Street Journal calledWicked "the most entertaining film of the year and the most dazzling live-action Hollywood musical sinceChicago".[280] Jazz Tangcay ofVariety called it "a musical masterpiece that is much more than we could have ever expected" and praised Chu's direction, the performances and the sets and costumes.[281] Antonia Blyth ofDeadline Hollywood felt it is "a blast from start to finish" and "a delicious, hilarious romp that shows off Erivo and Grande's next-level talent and laugh-out-loud comedy chops. They serve up every number with surprises, delights and genuine depth."[282][283]Manohla Dargis ofThe New York Times wrote that Erivo "is the strongest draw in this splashy, overly long movie",[284] while Gregory Ellwood ofThe Playlist wrote that Grande "often delivers startling depth to her character before jumping into a musical number that will have you grinning from ear to ear".[285]
Odie Henderson ofThe Boston Globe calledWicked "visually unappealing", commenting that "it can't handle the tonal shifts. Authoritarianism and broad comedy make strange and uneasy bedfellows."[298] Christy Lemire ofRogerEbert.com said that "When it's all about the spectacle of big, splashy production numbers, this prequel toThe Wizard of Oz is thrilling" but that "far less effective is the way Chu... wedges in the movie's heavier themes of authoritarianism".[299]James Berardinelli of ReelViews wrote that "AlthoughWicked: Part 1 has its share of high points (some of which aim very high), the filmmakers seem to have embraced the concept of 'bloat' as a beneficial characteristic."[300]
In December 2024,Collider's editorial staff rankedWicked at number 16 on their list of the "25 Best Musicals of the 21st Century", with David Caballero describing it as a "worthwhile offering with irresistible songs and a few jaw-dropping sequences".[301]The Washington Post named it the 10th-best musical film of the century in February 2025, with Naveen Kumar writing that it "surpasses the stage musical".[302] In March 2025,Time Out named it the 38th-best film musical, writing that "it pops with vibrancy and energy, effervescence and sincerity, adding the odd tweak, expanding the occasional storyline, but largely visualizing the musical in a way that's delighted the many millions who have seen it on stage since its Broadway premiere".[303] In August 2025, listeners of the UK radio stationClassic FM voted it number 55 in its annual "Movie Music Hall of Fame" poll.[304]
"I watched Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as the cameras rolled. Their ability to inhabit their characters – and Jonathan Bailey's ability too – were intimidatingly powerful."
— AuthorGregory Maguire in his introduction for the movie tie-in edition of the original novel.[305]
Idina Menzel andKristin Chenoweth, who originated the roles of Elphaba and Galinda on Broadway, lauded the performances of their film counterparts, with Chenoweth adding: "The whole cast is amazing. Jon Chu nailed it. I was so moved, emotional, happy, filled with joy."[306][307] Menzel said, "The film is so loving and respectful of the original show, but then builds on it in so many beautiful ways I never thought possible."[308][307]Lorna Luft, one of the daughters ofJudy Garland, who portrayedDorothy inThe Wizard of Oz, calledWicked "breathtaking to look at" and "everything I wanted it to be".[309] ActressesCarol Kane andSheryl Lee Ralph, both of whom played Madame Morrible on Broadway, in Los Angeles, as well as touring productions of the musical, praised the film, with Kane saying "Having done this show for years, it's sort of amazing that I was still bowled over by what I saw in the film."[310][311]Mark Hamill,Paul Mescal,Ryan Reynolds,Kieran Culkin,Fernanda Torres,Millie Bobby Brown,Billie Eilish, andTaylor Swift expressed their admiration, with Hamill calling it an "instant classic".[f]
Elle UK's Panashe Nyadundu wrote thatWicked was a "much-needed escape" with a powerful message of kindness and acceptance that was warmly welcomed by audiences in the wake of the2024 United States presidential election. Nyadundu added: "FromLGBTQ+ representation, to shining a light ondisabilities,animal rights, female friendship and more,Wicked not only offersescapism to a world of utter fantasy, but equally, acts as a sharp reminder of how to navigate a world marred by corruption and discrimination."[321] In November 2024, a clip from an interview in which the journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist told Erivo and Grande that viewers were "holding space" for the lyrics of "Defying Gravity" wentviral, creating multiplememes. Gilchrist later explained what she meant: "For me, it means being in the moment, not being distracted and feeling something on a cellular level... I think you can hold space with lyrics of a song — one you've heard hundreds of times — and it can suddenly take on new meaning when you're a queer person."[322]
The choreography for "What Is This Feeling?" was recreated onTikTok andInstagram Reels by fans and the casts of various Broadway and West End productions.[323] The widespread praise of the "Defying Gravity" scene ledAvid to release a 14-minute video breakdown of Myron Kerstein's editing of the sequence on December 23, 2024, showing him analyzing his creative choices using the Media Composer timeline. Kerstein would later repeat this demonstration in person at the 2025NAB Show on April 5, 2025, as part of a conversation panel with him and Alice Brooks.[324][325][326]
In February 2025,The New York Times reported that Universal Destinations & Experiences was in early development on creating attractions based onWicked for one of their theme parks. Some thought they would be added to theUniversal Epic Universe park atUniversal Orlando sometime after its opening in May 2025 or to theUniversal United Kingdom park expected to open in 2031.[327][328]
Wicked receivedseveral awards and nominations. It received three awards at theNational Board of Review, where it made history as the first fantasy film to winBest Film, and the first musical film to win sinceMoulin Rouge! (2001). Chu received the award forBest Director, while Erivo and Grande received the NBR Spotlight Award in recognition of their creative collaboration.[329] It additionally was named one of the top 10 films of 2024 by theAmerican Film Institute.[330][331] The AFI jury rationale states:
Wicked soars into the stratosphere of cinema history–a modern classic born from an evergreen concoction of cultural landmarks. The screen has rarely seen–or heard–towering performances like those delivered by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, leaving audiences Oz-struck across generations... with Jon M. Chu the wizard behind the curtain, a brilliant creative ensemble creates an immersive world where one fights for what is right while encouraging us to believe we all can fly beyond the rainbow.
Originally announced as one film,Wicked was split into two films in April 2022.[79] The sequel,Wicked: For Good, was released on November 21, 2025, and adapts the events of the musical's second act.[339][340] In November 2024, Schwartz and Holzman said they had discussed the possibility of "something" more associated with theWicked film adaptation, but that it would not necessarily be aWicked Part Three orFour.[341]
^Holzman is credited twice for writing the screenplay; first as a solo writer and as part of a writing team withDana Fox.[1]
^abcPer her own request, Grande is credited on-screen with her full name, Ariana Grande-Butera.[2]
^Glinda's full identity is given as "Glinda the Good Witch of the North" in the film's script. It is not mentioned by that title in the film's dialogue and credits.[12]
^Fiyero's Horse is named Feldspur in the film's script. It is not mentioned by that name in the film's credits.[12]
^Frei, Vincent (February 12, 2024)."Wicked: Part One".The Art of VFX (in French). Archived fromthe original on February 14, 2024. RetrievedApril 19, 2024.
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