FRISCO, TEXAS — The Wicked movie is so “marvelocious,” I could melt! While movie-musical adaptations have seen mixed success at the box office, Wicked seemed destined for greatness with its star-studded cast, high budget, and viral-ready moments. 

The movie, adapted from the 2003 Broadway musical, explores the lives of Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba) leading up to the events of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel starred in the original Broadway cast as Glinda and Elphaba; the stars of the adaptation, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, had big (ruby) slippers to fill as Chenoweth and Menzel remain iconic in these roles. Fans everywhere wondered how the epic performances could be matched in the movie, yet Grande and Erivo did just that.

Grande and Erivo’s on-screen chemistry perfectly captured the heart of the story and contributed to the buzz around the film. In a now-viral clip, interviewer Tracy E. Gilchrist informed Cynthia Erivo that fans were “holding space” for the lyrics of one of the most iconic songs from the musical, “Defying Gravity.” Erivo expressed gratitude, instantly becoming emotional, while Grande tenderly held onto Erivo’s index finger. This “confusifying” encounter has brought lots of attention to the movie, solidifying its place as a staple in modern culture.

Beyond its cultural impact, the film excels in every element, from cinematography to vocal performance. The $145 million budget allowed for the physical construction of every major set at Sky Studios Elstree, avoiding reliance on special effects.

The movie also required an extensive costuming and makeup department, with over 1,000  costumes in total. Notably, Glinda’s bubble dress in particular took 225 hours to create. Additionally, while filming, the makeup team spent up to four hours each day transforming Cynthia Erivo into Elphaba. 

All of the movie’s hard work paid off, literally and metaphorically. The opening weekend raked in $112 million at the box office alone and the reception has been astounding. However, many have criticized the fact that the movie only includes the first act of the musical. Letterboxd user davidehrlich humorously noted that it’s “undeniably funny that this 160-minute-half-movie about how the Wicked Witch of the West got her broom opens with [a] voiceover saying ‘let me tell you the whole story,” rating the movie just one and a half out of five stars.

However, many viewers, myself included, looked past this critique, as the movie has received an 89% on RottenTomatoes, an 8.1/10 on IMDb, and a 9/10 on ScreenRant. Personally, I would give the film full marks on almost every scale. I’ve seen the musical live several times and have developed a deep appreciation for the musical. My already high expectations were exceeded, and I feel the film captures the essence and magic of the stage performance while being accessible to people who may not be able to see the live performance. The decision to split the film into two parts only heightened my anticipation for the second part. I can’t think of a single thing I would cut from the first movie to make room for the second act so I can’t blame the directors for deciding to split it up. 

If you haven’t already, go out and see this amazing movie. Get ready to see Oz like never before, and don’t forget to hold space for the iconic “Defying Gravity.”