After two decades and countless false starts, Wicked has finally arrived on screen — and it was worth the wait. Jon M. Chu has crafted a supremely confident, joyfully cinematic adaptation that understands both the Broadway source material and the demands of the movie musical form.
Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba is a revelation. Her ‘Defying Gravity’ finale is one of the great movie musical moments in years, and her chemistry with Ariana Grande’s Glinda fizzes with a rare genuine warmth. Grande, whose casting was controversial, proves every doubter wrong — her comic timing is impeccable, and she brings real depth to a role that could easily veer into caricature.
Chu directs with confidence and visual invention, making Oz feel genuinely vast and immersive. The production design and costumes are exceptional. The decision to split the story across two films means this first part ends in an unusual place dramatically, but each scene earns its runtime.
This is what major studio entertainment should look like: ambitious, sincere, spectacularly executed.
