Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the wildly “Popular“ musical, Wicked. The movie musical, featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, came out in theaters on November 22, 2024. While the movie has only been out for less than a month, the story has been around for much longer. Gregory Maguire wrote the novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, in 1995. The Broadway musical, originally starring Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, debuted in 2003. 21 years later, it makes its way to the big screen.
The beginning of the movie takes place after the Wicked Witch of the West is melted by The Wizard of Oz heroine, Dorothy Gale. In the midst of the munchkin’s celebration, Glinda (the Good Witch) floats down in a bubble to explain to them how her and the Wicked Witch, also known as Elphaba Thropp, were once friends. Over the course of the movie, audiences learn the tragic backstory of Elphaba, and how her and Glinda became friends at their school, Shiz University. The movie will be split in two parts, or Act One and Act Two, as it is performed on Broadway. The first movie ends just as the first Act ends in the stage show, with Elphaba belting out the final lyrics of Defying Gravity as she soars above Oz, and the screen goes dark. Although part one of Wicked does not tell the full story of Elphaba, the second half of the movie will be out on Nov. 21, 2025, in which the full story will come to its conclusion. Wicked Part Two resumes its place right after Dorothy has melted Elphaba with the pail of water as she does in The Wizard of Oz.
Wicked has been receiving a generally positive rating from viewers all across the world. Some of Spring Grove’s own students have seen the movie, and have been willing to put their two cents in about the film. Bryan Myers, Sophomore, when asked what his favorite thing was about the movie, responded with, “I love how the movie pays homage to the show while giving its own little touch. The cinematic differences in the movie really amplify the characters and the story in such an amazing way, and I really hold space with that.”
Lucas Burhman, Senior, said, “The movie is an exceptional adaptation of the stage show, and I think my favorite part is some of the cameos from the original stage show; I won’t spoil too much, but if you know the original show, you are going to SCREAM when you see this.”
Sky Beck, Senior, said, “Something I really enjoyed, which is something I come to appreciate across all media, is the portrayal of the original story whilst tackling other topics and subjects throughout the movie version. Wicked does this very well throughout multiple different points in the movie version, but my favorite time is when Elphaba gets to the university and the events after that unfold. It is overall a beautiful movie and I am incredibly glad I was able to see it in theaters.”
Overall, Wicked is a highly rated movie that people all over the world seem to be enjoying. See it while it’s still in theaters!
