Success or failure? The reviews for Wicked are out, and the verdict is clear

Wicked is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. The musical based on the world of the Wizard of Oz will premiere on November 22, and with Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as the leads, the film aims to match or even surpass the success of the Broadway musical. Certainly, Universal has gone all out for this first part — the second will arrive in Christmas 2025 — and the critics seem to have responded.

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In its debut on Rotten Tomatoes, Wicked has achieved 91% positive reviews from critics, in addition to 99% from the initial audiences. Undoubtedly, expectations couldn’t be higher. But what exactly does the criticism say? Let’s see.

A huge success that was anticipated for months

Some of the most striking reviews of Wicked are the following:

“Was it necessary for it to be so long? No. Is it worth dedicating the time it deserves? Yes. With production values that leave viewers astonished and sensational performances, this vivid reinvention of the Land of Oz is an unmissable event, ideal for the big screen” – Lynn Benhaus, PopLifeSTL

“Wicked: Part One has won me over. There is magic, elements that defy conventional cinematic gravity, and I’m not going to let some details get me down” – Sara Michelle Fetters, Movie Freak

“Wicked is a top-notch musical film and one of the best movie releases of the year. The magic and passion for bold and charming great films is real” – Nadine Whitney, AWFJ

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“There are some clear reasons for not feeling the transformative magic of Chu’s Wicked: the movie is so aggressively colorful, so manic in its insistence that ‘it’s okay to be different’, that it practically overwhelms you as a viewer” – Stephanie Zacharek, TIME Magazine