Wicked (2024)
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The film explores the early relationship between the future Wicked Witch of the West and her popular schoolmate before the events of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
The story
Set in the Land of Oz before the events of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the film explores the early relationship between Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and her schoolmate Galinda, who becomes Glinda the Good. The story follows the two girls as they attend Shiz University, where Elphaba, a green-skinned girl maligned from birth, seeks to master sorcery and fulfill her dream of working with the powerful Wizard of Oz. Amidst a changing landscape where the rights of 'Animals' are being threatened, the two girls must navigate their differing paths, personal ambitions, and a growing bond that will ultimately define their destinies in the land of Oz.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In the Land of Oz, Glinda the Good reflects on her past with the Wicked Witch of the West, who was born with green skin due to a mysterious elixir. Years earlier, Elphaba Thropp and her sister Nessarose attend Shiz University. Elphaba, maligned for her green skin, seeks to study sorcery under Madame Morrible to reach the Wizard of Oz. She clashes with her roommate, the popular Galinda Uard. During their studies, Elphaba discovers that the Wizard is using magic to oppress 'Animals' who are losing their ability to speak. After a series of events, including a party at the Ozdust Ballroom and a confrontation in the Emerald City, Elphaba realizes the Wizard is a fraud. She seizes the Grimmerie and flees, while Glinda remains behind. The film concludes with a shared emotional farewell as Elphaba flies west, and the two women's paths diverge, setting the stage for their future roles as the Wicked Witch and Glinda the Good.
- Original title
- Wicked: Part I
- First release year
- 2024
- Runtime (minutes)
- 160
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jon M. Chu
- Writers
- Winnie Holzman · writer; Dana Fox · writer
- Cast and characters
- Cynthia Erivo · Elphaba Thropp; Ariana Grande · Glinda Upland; Jonathan Bailey · Fiyero; Ethan Slater · character; Bowen Yang · character; Peter Dinklage · Dr. Dillamond; Michelle Yeoh · character; Jeff Goldblum · the Wizard
- Genres
- musical; fantasy
- Themes
- friendship; prejudice; identity; power
- Tone and mood
- fantasy; musical
- Premise and plot tags
- prequel; origin story
- Source material / true-story basis
- Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, a re-imagining of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and its 1939 film adaptation; and the 2003 stage musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman.
- Franchise connections
- Wicked
- Reception
- The film was critically and commercially successful, described as a 'musical masterpiece' and a 'pop culture phenomenon' that was listed as one of the best musical films of the 21st century.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 73 · scale: 100 · review count: 63; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 92% · scale: percent; Cine21 · score: 6.83 · scale: 10
- Awards and nominations
- Best Film · National Board of Review · win; Best Director · National Board of Review · win; Spotlight Award · National Board of Review · win
- Production trivia
- The film was split into two parts to avoid omitting plot points and further develop the characters.; The production included nine million colorful tulips planted on location to surround the Munchkinland set.; The film's production was impacted by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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