The long, long wait is finally over and the Wicked movie has been released. In fact, it’s been 12 YEARS after the movie announcement, with one amazing surprise hidden inside. In a particular part of the movie, an overwhelming GASP flooded the full theatre from a very delighted audience!

I’ve seen the stage musical numerous times, not to mention the countless hours I’ve spent watching YouTube clips of the original Broadway version with the OG’s themselves, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.

So, I am very familiar with everything inside and out of the adapted storyline. I am a true fan, so the movie had a lot to live up to! My Wicked movie review is below, non-paid in any way, so you know it’s an honest to GOODness opinion.

The Wicked Story Adaption Timeline

Speaking of that, just a little sidetrack snippety-bit about the Wicked story adaptation timeline that is interesting to know:

• The original book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was written by L. Frank Baum and published in 1900 as part of a 14-book series, published between 1900 to 1920 (see full book list below or the Complete Collection Wizard of OZ here).
• The Wizard of Oz movie (1939) was based on the first book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz written by Braum.
• Another book series called The Wicked Years was written in 1995 by Gregory Maguire and becomes a pre-quil of sorts and follows the introduction and evolution of a friendship between Elphaba (the wicked witch) and Glinda (the good witch). (view the Wicked Years Series 4 Books Collection Set)
• The 2003 musical is based on the first book of Maguire’s series of the same name, “Wicked” and incorporates behind-the-scenes action from the movie Wizard of Oz.
• The most current 2024 Wicked movie is also based on the 1995 novel and puts the stage musical into a movie, formatted and expanded to include massive visual and physical attributes the stage could not. The film adaptation was announced in 2012, but after a long development and multiple delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chu was hired as director, with Erivo and Grande as the main cast in 2021. It was also originally to be one movie, but in April 2022 it was announced it would be split into two parts. Release date November 22, 2024.

Wicked Soundtracks (1) Movie (2) Broadway Musical

Wicked Book Series and the original Wizard of Oz Book Series

The Wicked Movie Review – The Good, Bad and Wicked

First, I will say that I loved the stage musical Wicked. Because of this, it meant 2 things:

1.  I already had a love-bias going in and enjoy the musical aspect of it, including knowing all the songs by heart, and
2.  I went in with very high expectations for them not to mess up or change what I loved so much about it.

But, I was willing to accept whatever it was. And based on the previews I had seen,  I figured I would at the least enjoy finally seeing it after all the years waiting since it was first announced in 2012.

…An overwhelming GASP flooded the full theatre from a very delighted audience…

I knew that the movie would be able to show visually way more than a stage could ever do, including the atmospheric experience, but I really wasn’t sure they were going to be able to give the same “wow” factor that you get from that experience.

So, when I tell you the following, I do not say it lightly or with anything other than an honest observation….

The movie exceeded any and all expectations I had… and then some…. it completely made me fall in love with it all over again.

From the moment the movie started, it showed exactly how this was going to be a completely new way to experience Wicked. I was overjoyed the opening scenes drew you into the story immediately and then mirrored the music and story.

One overwhelming experience I had throughout the movie was that it followed the musical nearly exactly, which I cannot express my appreciation enough for that. This was a big question I wondered because in the recent decade of Hollywood, they seam to be changing or “improving” upon an already loved story, which, for the fans or otherwise, really falls short.

The movie exceeded any and all expectations I had… and then some…. 

So, I give a big high-five and congratulations to all involved in producing this incredibly powerful movie that took the stage musical Wicked and blew it up by:

• amazing added details
• expanded the visual aspect so big and massive it was breathtaking
• and the performances were incredibly accurate to the extremely loved characters, down to the little Glinda footkicks and all.

12 Easter Eggs from the Wizard of Oz inside the Wicked Movie In case you missed them, you can check out these Wizard of Oz easter eggs scattered throughout the new Wicked movie.

Seeing the movie took me back to the first time I saw the stage musical. The wonder and awe of it was overwhelming. I’m not sure I can explain the feelings (what is this feeling?) that I had, but I was emotional and felt connected to the story.

In part it’s because I grew up with the Wizard of Oz, so in part, we were already feeling like we knew these characters, and we knew their outcome. With that, it made me feel invested in them immediately and cared about their history.

The movie was able to do the same, even though I knew what was going to happen, the expansion of what they were able to do by utilizing massive sets and CGI made it a whole new wonderful experience.

The Big Wicked Surprise

If you skipped all that I wrote above to get down to the “good stuff” and the “big secret reveal”, then here is the part.

And, I cannot believe that this movie has been out for TWO SHORT DAYS and I have not seen a single spoiler anywhere. This to me is shocking. Especially with the amount of press, advertising, marketing, previews and interviews, there was absolutely NO MENTION of this surprise in the movie.

I am not one that likes surprises much. In fact, I will read a review about a book or movie before seeing it and possibly spoilers and in no way does it make me WANT or NOT want to see something.

I guess the fact that I am so incredibly forgetful that I often never remember the spoiler in the first place!

So, when I tell you that in the theatre watching Wicked, there was a very LOUD GASP at a particular part of the movie. It was a moment that me,my mom and sister all looked at each other in astonishment with our mouths open.

I believe this is the moment in the movie, and I almost feel like their faces are reacting genuinely as if they didn’t know either.

It was the ONLY noticeable part in the entire movie that added a little snippit extending beyond the musical.

The thing is, if you are a fan, I truly do not want to spoil it. There are only a few moments in life we truly get a delightful surprise that adds to the experience and I want you to enjoy that full-heartedly.

The surprise is…… that you will be delightfully surprised they included cameos that are very dear to the heart of all Wicked (stage musical) fans hold dear to their heart.

Ok….. so here is the Wicked Spoiler Surprise…

Highlight the following to see the Wicked spoiler surprise (last chance to NOT know and get the surprise experience!!)

OK, here it is:->>>>  Cameos during the song “One Short Day” added part for Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.

As a fan, I really hope you choose not to see the spoiler because it was so lovely.

Wicked Movie vs Wicked Stage Musical

Comparing the two is really not going to be that significant because the movie followed the musical almost exactly, but with the ability to expand the visuals.

It was great to be able to have closeups and wide views of locations that made the movie spectacular.

The songs were all the same for the first part – the only addition was a small part added before another song (see the spoiler above).

The opening scenes drew you into the story immediately and then mirrored the music and storyline… it was a whole new experience

Wizard of Oz Easter Eggs in the Wicked Movie

There were so many little hints and additions to the movie that paid an amazing homage to the original Wizard of Oz movie.

Some of them stuck out and made me smile…. others, I didn’t realize at the time and found out after the fact.

Black and White to Color

First off, the introduction was incredible with a black and white scene that turned into color which the original movie did.

Wizard of Oz Font

And the font of the words were in the same fashion of the original movie as well.

Dorothy and Friends

There was also an overview of the yellow brick road that showed Dorothy and friends walking toward the Emerald City with the Wicked Witch’s broom in hand.

There are a bunch more easter eggs scattered throughout…

If you want to read more, check out 12 Easter Eggs from the Wizard of Oz inside the Wicked Movie >

The Original Wizard of Oz Book Series List