Wicked Part One Movie Review By Joymahidul

Amazing performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, a stunning visual that makes Oz come alive.

Experience the Land of Oz like never before—Wicked: Part One brings the magic of Broadway to movies. Get ready for an exciting adventure full of surprises, betrayal, and thrilling songs!

Introduction

Musicals and magic converge in Wicked: Part One (2024). This exciting show invites both fans and new viewers to explore Oz like never before. Directed by Jon M. Chu, this long-awaited movie brings to life the famous Broadway musical. It tells the untold story of two key characters from The Wizard of Oz. These include Elphaba, the misunderstood Wicked Witch of the West. It also follows Galinda, who later becomes Glinda the Good Witch. With amazing performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, stunning visuals, and memorable songs, Wicked aims to charm audiences everywhere. But is this film the masterpiece fans have hoped for? Let’s uncover the magic of Wicked: Part One and see what it offers!

Character Dynamics: The Cast and Characters

Wicked focuses on the complicated relationship between Elphaba and Galinda, shown by two amazing performers.

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp: Erivo’s performance as Elphaba is simply amazing. With green skin and rejected by society, Elphaba shows both strength and weakness. Erivo adds great depth to the character, showing Elphaba’s struggles, desire for fairness, and strong spirit. Her singing shines in famous songs like “Defying Gravity,” highlighting her mix of independence and desire for acceptance.
Ariana Grande as Galinda Upland (later Glinda the Good): Grande portrays a cheerful and glamorous character. This portrayal nicely contrasts with Erivo’s serious Elphaba. In the movie, Galinda changes, moving from being shallow to becoming a caring leader. Grande adds humor to her role. She also conveys emotion, with her singing talent standing out in ‘Popular’ and ‘What Is This Feeling?’
Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar: Fiyero, the charming prince caught between Elphaba and Galinda, adds depth to the story. He forms strong connections with both characters. We see him change from a fun-loving playboy to someone who truly cares about Elphaba’s mission.
Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible: Madame Morrible is the strict headmistress of Shiz University. She mentors Elphaba and plays a tricky role in the story. Yeoh’s strong performance shows Morrible’s dark goals, making her character more complex in the film.
Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard of Oz: Goldblum’s unique and charming version of the Wizard makes his character more interesting. He turns out to be much weaker than Elphaba thinks. His performance creates a sense of mystery and leads to an important change in the film.

Every actor adds their special touch, but it’s the chemistry between Erivo and Grande that really grounds this film. Their story shows friendship, competition, and finding oneself.

Plot Summary

Wicked is set in the magical Land of Oz. It tells the story of Elphaba, a young woman with green skin. She is rejected by society. Elphaba has amazing magical powers. Her life changes completely when she meets Galinda, a popular and cheerful student at Shiz University. Their unexpected friendship develops as they face university life, handle rivalries, explore romance, and uncover dark secrets about Oz’s politics.

The main problem starts when Elphaba seeks truth and fairness, which goes against the Wizard of Oz’s corrupt rule. Her increasing disappointment with the Wizard grows as he mistreats the Animals in Oz. This dissatisfaction pushes her toward a path where she is labelled the ‘Wicked Witch of the West.’ At the same time, Galinda changes from a superficial socialite. She becomes a strong ally for good. She uses her new understanding of Elphaba’s reasons to stand up against the unfair system.

The movie leads to the famous scene where Elphaba sings ‘Defying Gravity,’ showing her choice to be herself. It ends with a suspenseful moment, preparing for Wicked: Part Two.

Full Movie Explanation & Ending Recap

The film explores Elphaba’s past. It highlights her difficult childhood. She faces rejection from her family and society because of her green skin. She arrives at Shiz University to visit her younger sister, Nessarose. Her classmates quickly start to make fun of her. But Elphaba’s life changes unexpectedly. She accidentally reveals her magical powers. This catches the eye of Madame Morrible. Madame Morrible begins teaching her magic.

As Elphaba gets closer to Galinda and Fiyero, she learns about the corruption in Oz. She also discovers the struggles of the Animals who are losing their rights. At first, she hopes the Wizard can help her change her skin colour. However, she discovers the Wizard is a fraud. The Wizard and Morrible have used Elphaba’s powers to control the Grimmerie. This magical book has been instrumental in keeping the Animals enslaved. They do this to stay in power over Oz.

Elphaba discovers she has been tricked by the people she looked up to, leading to a big showdown. She decides to leave the Emerald City. She turns away from the Wizard’s power and accepts her role as the Wicked Witch. The movie ends with her flying on her broomstick. She sings her famous song “Defying Gravity.” This shows her last act of defiance. This ending makes the audience excited to see how Elphaba and Galinda’s story will continue in Part Two.

Exciting News, Budget, and Critic Reactions

Budget and Box Office: Wicked: Part One had a budget of $150 million and has already made $162.9 million worldwide in its opening weekend. Its success shows good word-of-mouth and excited fans, making it one of the top-grossing musicals turned into a movie.
Critic Reception: The film has received a lot of praise for its acting. Erivo and Grande received special recognition. The film is also praised for its beautiful visuals. However, some critics say the movie is too long. Still, it stays true to the original Broadway show. It does a good job of developing the characters. People have liked this development.

My Rating & Top 3 Review Sites

My Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Rotten Tomatoes: 90% positive reviews
Metacritic: 73/100
IMDb: 8.2/10

Conclusion & Recommendations

Wicked: Part One successfully brings a popular Broadway musical to film. The film features strong acting and beautiful visuals. It also presents a moving story. It’s a must-see for fans of musicals and those new to them. The movie explores its characters in depth and sets up an exciting sequel that will keep viewers eager for more. If you love musicals or fantasy, you should watch this film. Be sure to watch it and share your opinions in the comments!

To Watch The Full Movie CLICK HERE

For more insights, watch Wicked: Part One now and stay tuned for updates on the sequel right here on joymahidul.com.

FAQ

Who is Elphaba in Wicked? Elphaba is a young woman who is often misunderstood. She becomes the Wicked Witch of the West and is born with green skin and amazing magical powers.
Is Wicked: Part One a true story? No, Wicked is made up. It reimagines the classic Wizard of Oz and is based on a book by Gregory Maguire.
What songs are in Wicked: Part One? The movie has famous songs like “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” and “What Is This Feeling?” from the original Broadway show.
Is Wicked: Part One the first movie from the musical? Yes, this is the first movie version of the stage musical Wicked, and the story is divided into two parts.
When will Wicked: Part Two come out? It is set to release on November 21, 2025.

For more FAQs, visit Top 20 FAQs on Wicked.

Watch Wicked Post-Credit Scene Details.