5 Things The Wicked Movie Does Worse Than The Stage Musical

Since its 2024 release, Wicked has been praised for its show-stopping performances and incredible accuracy to the original stage musical, yet there are a few elements of the Broadway show that the movie misses out on. Long before it became a smash-hit blockbuster, Wicked originated as a book written by Gregory Maguire, which reworks the characters and world of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. In particular, Wicked focuses on the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, as she attends Shiz and bonds with the beautiful Glinda. In 2003, the story was adapted into an award-winning Broadway musical.

For the most part, 2024’s Wicked elevates and improves upon its source material. The movie not only brings these beloved characters to life on the big screen, making them more accessible to viewers, but it also expands on the world of Oz in subtle yet meaningful ways. More context is provided, more time is dedicated to each character, and the story itself is deepened so that it is more emotionally impactful. Yet, because Wicked takes on a different form than the musical, it is inevitable that it misses out on some really key elements of the Broadway show.

5

The Wicked Movie Isn’t As Intimate As The Musical

Wicked’s Star-Studded Cast Sometimes Hurts Its Authenticity

One of the biggest changes to come from adapting the Wicked musical into a movie is that audiences no longer have a sense of intimacy with the story. While Wicked definitely affects viewers emotionally, it is far different to connect with actors on a screen versus actors on a stage. To see Elphaba’s struggles occur right in front of your eyes is far more evocative than watching it on a big screen or from the comfort of your home. In a theater, without any outside distractions, it is impossible not to become invested in Wicked’s thrilling story.

Another issue with the Wicked movie is its cast. Audiences are already separated from the actors by a screen, but the casts’ reputations widen this distance. It can be difficult to see Jeff Goldblum portraying the Wizard and not simply think of him as Jeff Goldblum. Broadway actors certainly have their own level of star power, but it is quite different from being a movie star whose life is almost always on public display. Unfortunately, having such big names in Wicked can make it harder for audiences to see the characters as real people rather than actors playing roles.

4

The Wicked Movies Make The Story Way Longer

Wicked’s Runtime Is A Bittersweet Change

A huge change made by the Wicked movie was splitting the musical into two separate films. Generally, the Wicked musical runs for about 2 hours and 45 minutes, with a brief intermission in between Act 1 and Act 2. Meanwhile, 2024’s Wicked has a runtime of 2 hours and 40 minutes, and Wicked: For Good will likely have a similar length, resulting in about six hours of content. In this way, the Wicked movies are far longer than the musical ever was, and this can be frustrating for audiences who would rather see the whole story in one easy sitting.

Related

Why Wicked Is Split Into Two Parts

Wicked is split into two films, reflecting the original nature of the Broadway musical while still finding ways to expand on the story and world.

Of course, Wicked being split into two parts comes with a lot of benefits as well. As proven by 2024’s Wicked, a longer runtime allows for more detailed storytelling and a better understanding of the characters. Arguably, every minute of Wicked is meaningful and good. However, it is impossible to ignore the fact that Wicked being turned into two movies takes up more of audiences’ time and money. Viewers not only have two movies to watch, but they also have to wait an entire year for Wicked: For Good. This is an issue the musical deftly avoids.

3

Wicked’s Magic Isn’t As Impressive As The Musical’s Practical Effects

2024’s Wicked is full of impressive movie magic, but unfortunately, it doesn’t really compare to the practical effects of the stage musical. In this day and age, CGI and special effects are common parts of movies. Though they are visually stunning, they are a product of lots of money and behind-the-scenes talent. On the other hand, musicals have to get by with far less in terms of money and technology. Therefore, when Elphaba “flies” in Wicked, it is a lot more impressive to see it happen on stage than through computer-made visuals.

Having a perfectly polished movie may seem better, but in reality, the errors of live performance make the story feel far more realistic.

Furthermore, the Wicked movie has a lot more polish than the musical. Broadway casts rehearse long and hard before getting on stage, but as a result of being live, accidents and missteps are inevitable. This cannot be said for 2024’s Wicked, which was able to use post-production editing to fix any type of malfunction, from singing mishaps to strange shots. Having a perfectly polished movie may seem better, but in reality, the errors of live performance make the story feel far more realistic. Plus, when there are no mistakes, audiences come away feeling extra impressed by the performers.

2

Wicked’s Hiatus Before Wicked: For Good Make Spoilers Almost Inevitable

Wicked’s Ending Hits Different In One Sitting

One particularly frustrating aspect of the Wicked movies is that spoilers are incredibly easy to come by. Considering how popular Wicked was before the movie, countless people are aware of how the story ends. It is knowledge that is easy to come by with a brief internet search, and can be stumbled upon in articles such as these. Ultimately, this can be a really dangerous scenario for those who have no idea how Wicked is supposed to end, and who want to experience Wicked: For Good without any prior knowledge. A year-long hiatus makes spoilers almost inevitable.

Getting spoiled for Wicked’s ending is extra disappointing because it has such a great twist. The musical starts in such a way that audiences feel like they are stepping into an entirely different Oz than what is shown in The Wizard of Oz. Yet, by the end of the musical, they realize that this world is really not that far off from what we saw in the 1939 version. To be able to put it all together yourself is a real pleasure that, unfortunately, some viewers simply won’t get because of rampant spoilers.

1

Wicked Lacks The Thrill Of Live Performance

Wicked’s Broadway Casting Helps The Movie’s Performances

Finally, the Wicked movie does not have the thrill of live performance. It is definitely possible to be astonished by a movie on the big screen, but it is a totally different experience to see it happening right in front of you. The end of “Defying Gravity” is the perfect example. Hearing Cynthia Erivo hit the final note of “Defying Gravity” is incredible, yet wouldn’t it be even better if you could hear it in real life, in the very same room? This is an inevitable loss when turning a musical into a movie, but it is disappointing nonetheless.

Fortunately, Wicked helped itself by casting real Broadway stars. By including actors who have performed on Broadway before, Wicked had an extra flair to it that other movie musicals don’t often have. The music was always amazing, and the performances maintained some of their Broadway sentiment. All in all, Wicked did its best to keep the magic of the original Broadway musical, and despite certain inevitable failings, it succeeded in just about every other category.

Movie

My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist

Wicked

9/10

Release Date

November 22, 2024

Runtime

160 Minutes

Director

Jon M. Chu

Writers

Gregory Maguire, Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, L. Frank Baum

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