- Wicked Part One is in cinemas now
- Reviews praise this big-screen musical adaptation
- What do we know about Wicked Part Two?
It’s one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year.
And now the wait is over – as Wicked Part One has finally hit cinemas.
The film, which is directed by Jon M. Chu, is now available to watch and is an adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name.
Read more: Everything we know about Wicked Part Two
But what is Wicked Part One about, what are critics saying about it and which famous faces are in the cast? Let’s takes a look…
Wicked Part One reviews
Wicked Part One recently flew into cinemas and reviews for this musical adaptation weren’t far behind.
So far, critics seem impressed by the first part of this colorful two-parter. The Independent called it “pure spectacle” and while it had issues with its looks, their critic said it had and “emotional resonance powered almost entirely by the lungs of lead Cynthia Erivo, as she nails those notorious high notes on “Defying Gravity”.
Elsewhere, The Guardian says Chu’s film defies its run time too (two hours, 40 minutes, if you were wondering), thanks to an “impossibly slick charm” that “zips along so enjoyably that you almost wish it were longer.”
Over on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is sitting comfortably with a 90% critics score and an even higher 97% audience rating. Read a handful of Wicked Part One reviews below:
The Independent: The Wicked movie is fun and well acted – but why does it look so terrible?
The Guardian: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande make the magic
Variety: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Give Iconic Turns in the Year’s Must-See Musical
Parade: ‘Wicked’ Wins the ‘Glicked’ Battle, But Leaves ‘Part Two’ With Impossibly Large Shoes To Fill
When will Wicked Part One be released?
Wicked Part One is in cinemas now following its release on Friday 22 November.
The movie is the first part of a two-part story, with Wicked Part Two landing in cinemas at the same time next year on 21 November 2025.
What is Wicked Part One about?
A prequel to The Wizard of Oz, Wicked tells the ‘true story’ of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, and her school days when she first befriended popular girl, G(a)linda.
The musical follows their journey from roommates at Shiz University, to unlikely friends, to political enemies as the Wizard and his cronies vilify Elphaba and elevate Glinda.
To complicate matters further, the two women fall for the same man – a party boy called Fiyero.
Who will star in Wicked Part One?
The cast consists of a glittering lineup of our favorite stars,
Elphaba will be played by Tony winner Cynthia Erivo, while Ariana Grande – the recipient of two Grammy awards – will star as Galinda.
Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey is set to take on the role of Fiyero, and Jeff Goldblum will be the Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Other cast members include Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, the Headmistress of Shiz University; Broadway star Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman, a Munchkin in love with Galinda; newcomer Marissa Bode as Nessarose, Elphaba’s sister; and Peter Dinklage as the voice of Doctor Dillamond, a goat (yes, you read that right) and a History professor at the university.
Is there a trailer for Wicked Part One?
Lucky us – there’s not one, but two Wicked trailers available – watch them both below.
Will there be a second part to the Wicked movie?
Musical lovers, rejoice – as Wicked has been split into two parts.
In a statement to Twitter/X, director Chu wrote, “As we prepared the production over the last year, it became impossible to wrestle the story of Wicked into a single film without doing some real damage to it.
“As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years. We decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one Wicked movie but two!
“With more space, we can tell the story of Wicked as it was meant to be told while bringing even more depth and surprise to the journeys for these beloved characters.”
The sequel, Wicked Part Two, is scheduled to be released on November 21, 2025.
