Wicked First Reactions Are In

The first reactions to Wicked are being shared. Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Jonathan Bailey lead the cast of the highly anticipated adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical. The Wicked movie's cast, the enduring popularity of the source material, and the long journey to seeing the adaptation come to fruition has already made it one of 2024's most talked-about movies, even before its November theatrical release. It will also be the first of two movies that adapt the musical.

As shared on X (formerly Twitter), the first reactions to Wicked are overwhelmingly positive, with much of the praise highlighting the music, performances, direction from Jon M. Chu, and production design. Check out the reactions below:

@Jazzt declares that "the world is not ready" for Wicked and emphasizes that the production design, costumes, leading performances, and cinematography are all stellar.

Grande and Chu are celebrated by @katcystephan, who was impressed by Grande's portrayal of Glinda and Chu's direction, describing the entire movie as "a masterpiece."

@Christress enjoyed Wicked so much that he has already seen it three times, describes Erivo and Grande's performances as "impeccable," and makes it clear that criticisms about the movie's visuals are unfounded.

@ShowbizSimon underscores how well Wicked works as a spectacle that must be seen in theaters, but admits that it likely "won't convert many anti-musical folks."

@ErinStrecker sees Wicked as "the best musical-to-movie adaptation since Chichago and Mamma Mia," while also praising Grande's performance, even describing it as "perfection."

In terms of whether the movie is faithful to the musical, @theatomreview asserts that it "honors the source material with an incredible, faithful adaptation" and that this is a "must-see in theaters" movie.

What This Means For Wicked

Wicked Will Be A Hit

Wicked was already poised to be a massive box office success, which seems even more likely following the glowing first reactions. The first part of the adaptation will seemingly please those who have enjoyed the Broadway musical for years, while also making additions that warrant splitting Wicked into two movies. Chu's direction and the leading performances of Erivo and Grande are consistently highlighted among the movie's many strengths.

Related

Every Wizard Of Oz Character Who Appears In Wicked

Wicked includes many characters from the original Wizard of Oz story, but their arcs are reframed to reveal more about the complex politics of Oz.

Even those who were pessimistic and skeptical of the Wicked movie were won over by the finished product that they saw in theaters. The criticisms of Wicked's visual effects do not appear to hold up, with the cinematography instead bringing a sense of spectacle and magic to this iteration of Oz. Such a positive reception will help create strong word of mouth and help Wicked thrive at the box office long after its opening weekend, where it debuts alongside Ridley Scott's Gladiator II.

Our Take On Wicked's First Reactions

Wicked Is Even More Exciting Now

While I would see Wicked regardless of the reactions, it is encouraging to see the positive first responses. Erivo and Grande not only give good performances, but help bring Wicked's cast of characters to life in a way that honors and further elevates the source material. The well-received additions that contribute to Wicked being split into two movies are also intriguing, making me even more eager to see how the musical has been translated into the theatrical medium.

Source: Various (see above)

Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Director Jon M. Chu

Release Date November 22, 2024

Writers Gregory Maguire , Winnie Holzman , Dana Fox , L. Frank Baum

Cast Cynthia Erivo , Ariana Grande , Michelle Yeoh , Jeff Goldblum , Jonathan Bailey , Ethan Slater , Marissa Bode , Bowen Yang , Bronwyn James , Keala Settle , Peter Dinklage , Aaron Teoh , Grecia De la Paz , Colin Michael Carmichael , Adam James , Andy Nyman , Courtney Mae-Briggs , Sharon D. Clarke , Jenna Boyd

Runtime 160 Minutes