Wicked Part One

Tuesday afternoon, Sharon and I watched Wicked Part One at the Century Club Cinema. We are continuing our annual journey to see all of the films that might be nominated for an Oscar. GoldDerby currently has Wicked Part One with the fifth highest Best Picture Odds.

The film was named one of the top ten films of 2024 by the American Film Institute. It earned four nominations at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

Wicked is a musical fantasy film directed by Jon M. Chu. It was written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox with songs by Stephen Schwartz. It is the first installment of a two-part film adaptation of the stage musical of the same name based on the 1995 novel. The novel is based on the Oz books and the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Wicked Part Two is scheduled for release on November 21, 2025.

It stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp and Ariana Grande as Galinda Upland. The supporting cast includes Jonathan Bailey [Bridgerton], Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh [Everything Everywhere All At Once] and Jeff Goldblum.

Wicked Part One reimagines the iconic story of The Wizard of Oz. It focuses on the origins of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West. The film follows Elphaba's journey from a misunderstood outcast to a powerful figure, exploring her complex relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch. As they navigate the challenges of a divided world, their friendship is tested and their destinies intertwined.

This movie has gotten more and more positive buzz over the last month. While Sharon enjoyed the movie more than I did, I would bet that it gets a Best Picture nomination. I expect that Erivo will get a Best Actress nomination, while Grande gets a Supporting Actress nomination. Wicked Part One is definitely worth seeing. Sharon was crestfallen that Part Two does come up until next November. I was surprised how many were in the theater for a Tuesday afternoon showing.

Jack, Sharon and I saw the play Wicked in San Francisco in 2009.