Wicked
Family FavoritePG

Wicked

Everyone deserves the chance to fly.

2024 • 162 min • Drama · Romance · Fantasy

Synopsis

In the land of Oz, ostracized and misunderstood green-skinned Elphaba is forced to share a room with the popular aristocrat Glinda at Shiz University, and the two's unlikely friendship is tested as they begin to fulfill their respective destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Our family guide

Best from age 8
85
Movie Knight Score
3155 reviews
  • 90 Reviewers · 10 · 75%
  • 69 Audience · 3145 · 25%

This musical fantasy reimagines the origin story of the witches of Oz. It follows Elphaba, an outcast with green skin, and the popular Glinda as they navigate university life and their unexpected friendship. Their bond is tested as they grow into their iconic roles in the Land of Oz.

Violence & peril
2/10
Language
1/10
Drinking, drugs & smoking
1/10
Romance & sensuality
1/10
Scary moments
3/10

Heads up

  • Some theatrical peril and magic
  • Brief moments of tension
  • Themes of misunderstanding

What it models well

  • The power of friendship
  • Embracing individuality
  • Challenging perceptions

Talk about it after

  • Judging others based on appearances
  • The complexities of good vs. evil
  • Standing up for what is right

Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Wicked. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.

Where to watch

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Top billed cast

Director: Jon M. Chu • Crew: Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox

Trailers & clips

ALL Behind-The-Scenes Clips

Cynthia Erivo Sings Live at Our Wicked Screening! | We Are Parable x Elphaba Q&A Round-Up

Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande On The Legacy Of Wicked

Ariana Grande On Discovering The Magic Of Wicked

'Wicked' Wins Best Production Design | 97th Oscars Speech (2025)

The Origins Of Elphaba And Glinda

Cynthia Erivo On Becoming Elphaba

Ariana Grande Talks Being Cast As Glinda

Reviewer notes

Recommended

Movie Review: Wicked (2024) A vivid and meticulously crafted introduction to Oz, with rich production design and striking visual effects. Its light-hearted tone and confident pacing build to an exhilarating finale that will delight long time fans. A polished, enjoyable adaptation. Rating: 7/10

Recommended

Wicked by Jon M. Chu is an ambitious adaptation that largely delivers on its promise to bring the magic of the beloved musical to the big screen. Visually, the movie is stunning, with vibrant set pieces and a cinematic take on Oz that feels both familiar and fresh. Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba brings an emotional depth that truly captures the character’s struggles, while Ariana Grande’s Glinda adds a balance of charm ...

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

I so wanted to hate it. I didn't like the decision to split the musical into two films. I didn't like the casting. I HATED the trailer, where it made the film look like it was baked with plastic, glossy CGI, or even worse Gen-AI. And I was wrong. Erivo and Grande are stellar. The co-stars aren't who I'd have picked, but they're quite excellent themselves. (Particularly the folks playing Bok and Nessa.) ...

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://movieswetextedabout.com/wicked-review-cynthia-erivo-and-ariana-grande-butera-shine-in-a-riveting-musical-experience/ "Despite a few technical and narrative missteps, Wicked shines brightly with its compelling story, outstanding performances, and astonishing musical sequences. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-Butera deliver truly remarkable, award-worthy performances, groundi...

Recommended

https://good.film/guide/haters-will-tell-you-wicked-sucks-heres-why-theyre-wrong Broadway hits rely on a suspension of disbelief. With the right ingredients, even the oddest of ideas can take flight on stage… but in the delicate translation to screen, they crash-land. Take Cats: something about that core premise of humans playing felines – which theatre audiences lapped up (sorry) for decades – just didn’t work...

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

Very good! I enjoyed <em>'Wicked'</em>. Always impressive when a long run time flashes by - no doubt a sign of a sturdy movie. 2hr 40mins is how long this one lasts, I thought I might have felt that whilst watching but, honestly, I didn't. Since sharing my reviews online I have appreciated musicals much more, to the point that when I learn a film is from this genre it barely registers. I have never seen the ...

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

It’s quite a rare occurrence these days when a much-anticipated film actually lives up to all of its pre-release hype, but this screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical truly does so in every regard. Director Jon M. Chu has brilliantly brought to life the back story behind the lives and relationship of the two witches from the original L. Frank Baum novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and its 1939 classic...

Recommended

OK, so I'm going to be swimming against the tide a bit with this, but I didn't love it. We start where the "Wizard of Oz" story finishes off, only without the catchy "Ding Dong the Witch is...". Instead we get an ensemble dance number that is energetically performed, colourful and expertly choreographed but instantly forgettable. Then we meet "Galinda" (Ariana Grande) who arrives in her pink bubble to confirm the ...

RecommendedTrusted family reviewers

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS* I've been a Wicked fan since 2010. My expectations for this film were extremely high! And I was blown away by how Jon M. Chu was able to bring this story a new life. Everyone involved did an excellent job! The choice to sing live paid off! Not one note was out of tune! Bowen Yang & Bronwyn James were absolutely hilarious as Phannee & Shen Shen. Marissa Bode was fantastic as Nessa...

Not recommended

The film adaptation of Wicked is based on the Broadway musical, which is a loose adaptation of the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Both Maguire’s novel and the musical are expansions of L. Frank Baum’s original The Wizard of Oz novel was published in 1900 and its film adaptation in 1939. The musical is one of the longest-running and financially successful B...

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