Does Wicked Part One Defy Gravity?

After decades of anticipation, one of Broadway’s biggest Musicals finally takes flight on the big screen. Does Jon M. Chu’s Wicked Part One soar or stumble under the weight of expectations?

Few musicals have had the cultural spell and impact that Wicked has had on Broadway. Since its 2003 debut, Wicked has captivated millions with its story of two student rivals Elphaba and Glinda turned friends at Shiz University. Their story is a mix of spectacle, wit and, emotional depth. Director Jon M. Chu has transformed the beloved stage production to cinema screens in a two-part story. Cosmopolitan

At the heart of the Wicked are two powerhouse performances, Cynthia Erivo, already a Tony and Emmy winner brought, rich and deep tones in her performance, blending beautifully with Ariana Grande’ high airy and soft tones. Erivo made “Defying Gravity” her own, bringing many audiences to tears with her vulnerability and heartache, which can sometimes get lost in the stage production. Casting Ariana Grande, commonly known for her pop career surprised audiences bringing a greater depth in her Glinda than normally seen in the stage production, she is still bouncy, bubbly and comedic relief at times, but she balances this charm with flashes of vulnerability. The friendship between these two and the chemistry shared between Cynthia and Ariana reframes the Oz as not only Dorothy’s story, but a story of rivalry turned friendship between two women. Their dynamic drives the story further than the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) or love interest Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey)

Visually Wicked’s lush and magical universe comes together with CGI city scapes of the Emerald City and immersive set pieces. Chu and production designer Nathan Crowley emphasised physical sets and builds of the Wicked universe. The Popverse, reports that Chu insisted that “We build the Emerald City” creating a real and walkable space with working and physical shops and streets. According to Architectural Digest a team planted nine million tulips for “Munchkinland” and textured every surface to make the world tactile. Architecturaldigest.com

CGI does play a significant role in the film with Onscreen Central discussing how 2,200 VFX shots were used to enhance the already practical sets, adding in elements such as skylines, reflections, steam, and sequences like the Emerald City train. Onscreen Central For some critics these digital additions dazzle but come at the risk of overshadowing the intimacy of character driven moments.

Musically the adaptation stays faithful to Stephen Schwartz’s beloved work. Signature numbers like “Popular” sparkle, while orchestrations are reworked and expanded to a cinema scale. With minor lyrical tweaks were for pacing which sparked some debate between fans, at its core the Broadway original remains intact.

Speaking of keeping the Broadway production one of Wicked’s stand out features is how Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo sang their songs Live on set, a chouce that an NBC insider stated, “had everyone in tears” The Live singing changed the energy and tone of the set, with many working on the set including audio staff, camera operators and technicians moved by Grande and Erivo’s vocal moments. NBC Scenes such as “I’m Not That Girl”, and especially “Defying Gravity” reportedly stunned the crew, leaving many in tears even in editing sessions. This adding another layer of authenticity to be received by audiences, making the performance by the two not just heard and seen but felt emotionally. NBC

At its heart, Wicked is a story about perspective, and prejudice. Elphaba is misunderstood and cast as an outsider growing up. And then later painted as the Wicked Witch of the West by those she thinks have done wrong. She is punished for her physical difference rather than any wrongdoing. In 2025 this reframing feels relevant as audiences are attuned to anti-heroes and double sided storytelling and will recognise Elphabas story as a commentary on marginalisation challenging audiences to reconsider what may be the truth in a story, and, why some voices may be silence. We see similar aspects and commentary in films such as Maleficent or Joker.

The results of stage to screen musicals have a complicated history. Les Misérables (2012) was critically acclaimed for balancing intimacy and spectacle, While while Cats (2019) was a negatively received film due to its sometimes misplaced CGI. Wicked (2024) sits between these two excelling in heartfelt spectacle sometimes weighed down by the dazzling film elements. The nearly three hour runtime is an almost frustrating stretch for casual fans due to drawn out slower sequences.

Despite its length Wicked part one has been received with a Certified Fresh score of 88% on Rotton Tomatoes, critics labelling it “thrillifying” BroadwayWorld The soundtrack arranged by Stephen Schwartz and John Powell has been described as “utterly gorgeous” as one of the film standout features. Zanobard ReviewsThe film picked up major recognition receiving 10 Oscar Nominations.

For now with standout performances, strong critical reception, and early awards recognition, the film has already exceeded expectations and secured its place as a successful Broadway adaptation. We will have to wait for Part Two in late November to know if Wicked “defies gravity”