A sharper team would have realised that more thought was needed in re-jigging this into two parts, some element of daring to deconstruct the story to work in this new form that did not leave this feeling like a shrug when it should feel like a tornado.

| Apr 13, 2025

It's inevitable, in a way, that the end result of what felt like years of press (but was really a mere 11 months) disappoints. Chu is shooting for a sprawling epic, earnest in its messaging, but it's mostly exhausting. And we're only halfway there.

| Apr 5, 2025

Wicked’s themes of persecution, bigotry, and the various masks behind which power manipulates the powerless and gullible feel particularly pertinent

| Original Score: 3/4 | Apr 1, 2025

Much like The Wizard of Oz might say, a film is judged by how much it's loved by others - and, quite remarkably, Wicked (at least the first half of it) pulsates with emotion and charisma thanks to an exceptional Cynthia Erivo who is warmly aided by...

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Mar 21, 2025

Ultimately it is a curate’s egg, forcing the viewer to pick through a lot of moribund filler to enjoy the good parts.

| Original Score: 6/10 | Mar 9, 2025

John M. Chu has directed it so dutifully that no musical number can become a showstopper, which doesn’t really matter because the film’s audience already knows the songs by heart.

| Mar 4, 2025

Jon M Chu has a knack as a filmmaker of stage hits reaching cinemas: matching the vibe of the show he's taking on expertly.

| Feb 25, 2025

It is a fantasy musical that never defies gravity with its absence of magic. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 5/10 | Feb 23, 2025

WICKED unfolds with the pop and panache of an interactive storybook, its music, costumes, art direction, and production design crafting a rich theatrical experience.

| Feb 14, 2025

One of 2024's 20 best.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Feb 5, 2025

Featuring a pair of outstanding, Oscar-nominated performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, a fantastic supporting cast, and a marvelous creative team, this is an adaptation that hits all the right notes.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 3, 2025

We have what we have now, and are excited to lower the musical bar and jump to a standing ovation. There is still much to like about ‘Wicked.’ The music is passable, but the visuals are awesome.

| Original Score: B- | Jan 23, 2025

Whether viewed as a flight of fancy or something deeper, Wicked deserves the chance to be seen and shared, which, given the film’s charms and the current cultural moment, could leave the holiday season’s other box office hopefuls feeling green with envy.

| Jan 22, 2025

I feel like the two leads did a fantastic job.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jan 16, 2025

Wait until you hear the story about why Galinda & that Wicked Witch fell out. It’s long, but full of suspense.

| Original Score: G.O.A.T | Jan 16, 2025

The editing is sloppy and the cinematography, lighting, and grading are utterly incomprehensible.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jan 13, 2025

While green could symbolize envy, jealousy, and the unknown, Elphaba is unapologetically who she is, leaving me to exclaim, “I want to be seen in green.” Wickedly entertaining and thought-provoking.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Jan 12, 2025

Even when the movie lags and too many characters are crammed into too much plot, “Wicked” re­mains buoyed by the magnetic performances of Erivo and Grande, whose chemistry is evident throughout.

| Jan 3, 2025

None of the new material feels necessary, but with Erivo and Grande leaving it all on the screen, you probably won’t mind.

| Jan 3, 2025

Look, I’m a film critic – I’m almost never going to complain about a movie being too long. But by taking twice as long to recount the same story, this “Wicked” feels awfully laggy in spots.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jan 3, 2025