'Wicked is one of the best musical movies of all time'

There are few movie musicals as brilliant and awe-inspiring as Wicked, the first of two adaptations of the Broadway hit. It shows what's possible when those with a passion for musical theatre come together to bring a stage show to life on screen.

Starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, Wicked follows the blossoming friendship between their characters Elphaba and Glinda as they navigate life in Oz first at Shiz University and later in the Emerald City. It's a powerful story about otherness, finding empowerment in oneself, and the desire to fight for justice for the downtrodden.

Jon M Chu has created a beautiful love letter to musicals, The Wizard of Oz, and technicolour movies like it in Wicked. But what makes it such a strong musical movie that can sit comfortably besides the likes of Moulin Rouge!, Chicago, and Wonka is the spectacle and, of course, the music.

It might seem obvious to think that a musical movie needs to have great music, but it has often been the case that Hollywood chooses to prioritise a big name over good singers. Wicked avoids that on all accounts, and it largely succeeds because of its two leads who deliver sensational vocal performances full of emotion and gravitas.

Read more:

How Wicked connects to The Wizard of Oz timeline

Wicked reviews praise Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's 'breathtaking' roles

Why is the Wicked movie poster controversial?

Grande is delightfully witty as Galinda —as she's first known— lending the character an easy charm that makes her character loveable even when she might come across, outwardly, as self-absorbed or vacuous. She works brilliantly opposite Erivo, who delivers a deeply vulnerable performance as Elphaba, one look is enough to convey her character's struggle with ostracisation and she puts her whole heart into every song that its easy to be swept away by her voice like Dorothy Gale's house in a tornado.

The cast sang live on set, and while that didn't go so well for Les Miserables it feels like a big win for Wicked. Grande's octave range is quite impressive especially in her first appearance as Glinda in No One Mourns the Wicked, the musician also makes Popular into the delightfully perky track it needed to be.

It is Erivo who stands out most, especially in the film's third act when she performs the beloved closing number Defying Gravity. But even before that number, the joyful performance of The Wizard and I and the quiet sadness of Not That Girl are also impressive.

Outside of Erivo and Grande, the supporting cast also have their own fun musical numbers including Jonathan Bailey's fun rendition of Dancing Through Life and Jeff Goldblum's charming jazz-infused take on A Sentimental Man.

There's no doubt that everyone on set can sing their hearts out, but what makes Wicked so effective is the scale and spectacle of every number. Like all great musicals there's elaborate choreography with dance breaks and ensemble actors who help support each song as the leads have their big moments, and it makes almost every song feel grand as a result.

I had chills when the film began with No One Mourns the Wicked, when the orchestral music swells and the supporting cast start to sing, their harmonies perfectly lifting Grande's singing to new heights. This feeling was only added to by the beauty of Erivo's performance of Defying Gravity and that iconic final note, which left me in awe and hoping Part Two could get here sooner.

It's a musical movie that is unafraid of being just that, a musical. While that might sound strange to point out it's not always a case that a movie will embrace its musical nature, just look at Joker 2 with its boring, lifeless numbers.

Wicked feels magical because it's so impressive and well put together, and that's a testament to Chu's vision for the piece, as well as the tireless work of the choreographers, and the skilful execution of the prop makers and production designers to make Oz seem so real. The fact that so much of the film as shot practically on elaborate sets only adds to that feeling.

Some have criticised the length of the movie, and the decision to split the musical into two parts rather than one, but the story is given more room to breathe because of it. Part One sets the stage for what will be an emotional second act, and it is precisely because it laid the groundwork and the relationships have blossomed on screen in detail that viewers will appreciate what comes next even more.

It's all of these elements —the music, choreography, and stunning sets— that make Wicked so powerful, and why it is one of the best musical movies ever made.

Wicked Part 1 is out in cinemas now, and Part 2 will premiere in 2025.