Wicked hit theaters in November, bringing to life the first half of the beloved Broadway play of the same name, which is itself based on a 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. Serving as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz (1939), the film, which is directed by Jon M. Chu, chronicles the origins of Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), who go on to become the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West, respectively.
Wicked reviews have been glowing from critics, and the movie is now expected to be a major contender at the Oscars, including in the Best Picture category. The film has also succeeded with audiences, grossing $643 million worldwide since its release. All of this bodes well for the release of Wicked: For Good this coming November, which will bring the story of Glinda and Elphaba to a close.
Oliver Stone Names Wicked His Top Movie Of 2024
The Director Praises The Year’s Top 3 Movies
Oscar-winning writer and director Oliver Stone shares his top three movies of 2024, naming Wicked the ultimate winner. Stone is best known as the director of films like Platoon (1986), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), JFK (1991), and Natural Born Killers. Various films of his have been nominated for Oscars over the course of his fifty-plus-year career, and he took home the Best Director statues for Platoon and Born on the Fourth of July, with the former, a harrowing Vietnam War movie, also winning Best Picture.
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All 8 Main Actor Performances In Wicked, Ranked
From Peter Dinklage to Ariana Grande, this is a ranking of the best and most now-iconic eight performances from the main actors of the Wicked movie.
In a new post on X, formerly Twitter, Stone shares a lengthy post, revealing that Wicked tops the list of his favorite movies of 2024. The director praises both Grande and Erivo for their performances, but also singles out Chu’s work as director in adapting such challenging material. As for the other movies in the top three, Stone lists Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown and papal thriller Conclave. Check out Stone’s post below:
“Wow!” writes Stone of Wicked, “I never saw the stage play or followed the coverage, but I just purely loved the sensuality and intelligence of the movie. I didn’t know these two actresses, but what a surprise to find both their performances so fresh and different. [Ariana Grane] is a marvel of cuteness with her sparkly eyes – who, I wonder, could’ve give birth to such a delightful fairytale creature? And [Cynthia Erivo] brings a depth and intelligence to Elphaba, the Evil Witch from Oz, that is very moving!”
Stone next mentions Chu, calling him “a helluva filmmaker [who] is working with challenging material in this prequel that turns everything in [The Wizard of Oz] upside down. All the more amazing that he pulled it off with a Hollywood studio.”
What Stone’s Praise Means For Wicked
Chu’s Musical Is Poised For Awards Success
Prior to Wicked‘s release, the film wasn’t really a high-ranking title in terms of its potential impact on the awards race. Following the film’s bow in theaters, however, it became clear that the musical is something special. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film enjoys an 89% critics’ score and a glowing 95% audience score, and it’s clearly appealing to a wide variety of viewers, including Oscars voters.
Both A Complete Unknown and Conclave are also expected to be contenders at the upcoming Oscars ceremony.
The fact that Stone, who is well known for movies about challenging, often serious subject matter, is singling out Wicked as the top movie of 2024 speaks to just how powerful a contender it could be at the Oscars. The movie seemingly has a real shot at winning Best Picture, but it could also win big in the acting and directing categories. The only real factor working against the movie currently is the fact that the Wicked ending sets up the sequel instead of concluding the story. In any case, it’s clear Wicked has been a major winner of 2024.
Source: Oliver Stone
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
- Release Date
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November 22, 2024
- Runtime
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160 Minutes
- Cast
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Cynthia Erivo
, Ariana Grande
, Michelle Yeoh
, Jeff Goldblum
, Jonathan Bailey
, Ethan Slater
, Marissa Bode
, Bowen Yang
, Bronwyn James
, Keala Settle
, Peter Dinklage
, Aaron Teoh
, Grecia De la Paz
, Colin Michael Carmichael
, Adam James
, Andy Nyman
, Courtney Mae-Briggs
, Sharon D. Clarke
, Jenna Boyd - Character(s)
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Elphaba Thropp
, Glinda Upland
, Madame Morrible
, The Wizard
, Fiyero Tigelaar
, Boq
, Nessarose Thropp
, Pfannee
, ShenShen
, Miss Coddle
, Doctor Dillamond (voice)
, Avaric Tenmeadows
, Gilligan
, Professor Nikidik
, Glinda’s Father
, Governor Frexspar Thropp
, Melena Thropp
, The Midwife - Director
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Jon M. Chu
- Writers
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Gregory Maguire
, Winnie Holzman
, Dana Fox
, L. Frank Baum - Studio(s)
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Marc Platt Productions
- Distributor(s)
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Universal Pictures