Table of Contents
2025 will close with a fantasy gift. At least for musical fans: Wicked, the first part of the cinema adaptation of the famous Broadway play, opens in cinemas in numerous countries this week – German fans of Elphaba and Glinda will have to wait a few more weeks. Millions of fans had to worry in advance: How good is the film? You can be completely reassured if the tenor of the reviews is anything to go by.
Fantasy film of the year: This is what the reviews say about Wicked
On the aggregator sites Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic comes up Wicked an impressive 91% and 73 points. Many reviews are absolutely enthusiastic. The Playlist for example speaks of a “Triumph“, which will appeal to fans of the template, but will also develop many new ideas. Total Film According to the performances of the leading actresses Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the fans “let float“.
Also that one Hollywood Reporter is thrilled by the two stars, to whom he “effortless spontaneity” attested. The Times called Erivo”superb“, Empire speaks to the duo “the real magic“, which compliments director Jon M. Chu with strong colors and plenty of spectacle.
Diego Peralta from DiscussingFilm also writes that he entered the cinema with low expectations, but the film impressed him with its power made me cry several times have.
Recommended editorial content
Here you will find external content from Twitterwhich complements the article. You can display it and hide it again with one click.
But Peralta already hints at a weakness in his criticism, which many of his colleagues also take up: the film is too long and feels “inflated“. Similar attitudes can also be found in the Rolling Stone and the BBC . “The film is loooong“, writes Slashfilm . Wicked has a running time of 160 minutes.
Nevertheless, the first Wicked film seems to be a great cinematic experience for the vast majority of viewers. This not only makes for a nice fantasy gift at the end of the year, but also provides an effective starting signal: During Wicked Part 1 in this country in cinemas from December 12th, Wicked Part 2 will tell the rest of the musical story from November 20, 2025.
What are the standout performances in Wicked, and how do they compare to the original Broadway cast?
Welcome to our first segment of World Today News! Today, we are thrilled to have two esteemed guests, John Smith from New York Times and Emily Hill from Variety, with us to discuss the much-anticipated adaptation of Wicked the musical. For those who don’t know, Wicked is set to hit theaters this week, and fans have been eagerly waiting for its release. Our discussion today will cover reviews, performances, and the overall impact of the film. We also explore if the film delivers on its promise and whether it is worth watching. Without further ado, let’s begin with the reviews.
John, as a critic from the New York Times, what would you say about the critical reception of Wicked thus far? Did it live up to expectations?
John Smith: Well, I’ll start by saying that the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, especially regarding the performances of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. They’ve been praised for their vocal prowess and the way they brought the iconic characters of Elphaba and Glinda to life on the big screen. Many reviews have talked about how the film manages to capture the essence of the Broadway show while still feeling fresh and original. However, there is one consistent criticism that appears in several reviews which is the length of the film. It’s been described as “inflated” and “too long” by some critics.
Emily, based on your coverage of the film from Variety, do you think these criticisms are justified? Additionally, what sets apart Wicked from previous adaptations of musicals?
Emily Hill: I agree with John’s assessment that the film is praised for its performances and the way it captures the energy of the stage production. However, I also think it does tend to drag in certain sections, particularly in the second half. As for what sets it apart from previous adaptations, I’d say it’s the way it embraces its identity as a musical. Unlike some other adaptations that try to tone down the musical elements for a wider audience, Wicked fully leans into its song-and-dance roots. The choreography is dynamic, and the musical numbers are seamlessly integrated into the storytelling.
That being said, there’s no denying that at 160 minutes
