Starting off strong, let’s talk about the press tour that sparked all of the excitement. From serving looks on the runway, to emotional interviews and much more, this movie has certainly been one of the most anticipated releases in theatres this fall season. Many viewers contest that Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were overly emotional in a lot of their interviews. While it is true that they can frequently be found crying at press questions, AMHS teacher Mrs. Grayson remarks how “watching the relationship between Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo develop brought a real authenticity to the movie.” They definitely became super close friends over a short period of time (as proven by their four matching tattoos and discussions of more to come), and that friendship has brought a genuine connection to their characters and to the movie. Student Elizabeth Hample (12) suspects “something devious happened on that set” because of how emotional they both were, but I guess we will never truly know… 

As far as fashion, their looks ranged from Louis Vuitton to Marc Jacobs to Thome Browne, but rarely strayed from the classic green and pink color palette. For those that aren’t familiar with the movie, Ariana’s character Glinda is known for her pink ensembles, and her counterpart Cynthia’s character Elphaba can always be found donning black. However, Elphaba’s skin is green, so the Wicked premiere and movie color palette typically are pink and green – though at the European premiere in London, Ariana departed from her typical pink attire in favor of a Ralph Lauren gown paired with round sunglasses and a Swarovski diamond necklace. Student Elizabeth Hample (12) said this look is definitely one of her favorites not only because it stands out, but “because it’s a homage to Wicked’s broadway roots when she goes to the Emerald City in the movie.”

Sousa Waggoner (12), however, went a different route, stating she just could not choose her absolute favorite between Ariana’s bejeweled Vivienne Westwood blush tulle dress, Cynthia’s Louis Vuitton green latex cutout dress with a fringed boa, or Ariana’s baby pink and white checkered dress from Thome Browne. One final look before we continue onto the movie: Erivo’s Schiaparelli look from the same London premiere where Ariana was found wearing yellow. Decked out in an all black couture look complete with a sphere-shaped copper underskirt on the left thigh, this was definitely one that stood out from the rest. Honestly, I would have to agree that it is hard to pick an absolute best look from either of the stars, or anyone else on the carpet alongside them. However, if I had to choose, I would say my personal favorite night had to be the LA Wicked Premiere.

As many more looks as there are to discuss, let’s move onto the movie itself. While there have been a few small criticisms, the movie has received overall glowing reviews so far. Having seen the film twice, I would have to agree. While AMHS student Aiden Ball (12) also loved the movie, he did mention, “the color grading wasn’t very good especially where she’s flying at the end during Defying Gravity because it looked very gray.” This has been one of the most common criticisms of the film from spectators and fans alike: it appears a little gray-toned rather than vibrant. However, director Jon M. Chu said it was actually on purpose, intending t0 make Oz seem more realistic to immerse viewers into the city. Chu also defends his choices regarding the movie length. Part 1 alone was 2 hours and 40 minutes, and while Part 2 doesn’t release until November 2025, I can guess it might follow the same trend. Some people, such as student Quinn Enright (12), say that the length is unnecessary and “they could have fit it all into three hours.” The director says the length is due to the original Broadway production excluding parts from the book, and in attempts to pay homage to not only the musical but the book as well, he added in additional parts. I think this is definitely a bit of a solid criticism, and while there probably were 30 minutes or so that could have been excluded, watching it in theatres didn’t really feel like three hours. The cinematography was done very well and I enjoyed it regardless of the length.

Now as far as the soundtrack, there are so many hits. Some fall a little bit flat for me just because they aren’t quite as exciting as the other ones, such as “A Sentimental Man”, but nonetheless there were so many awesome ones. Isla Todd (12) says that “Popular” was her favorite, and when asked her favorite, all student Lily Thompson (12) had to say was “we deserve each other, me and BOQ.” I think it’s safe to say that “Dancing Through Life ” (the song that lyric is pulled from) was definitely one to remember. Lane Yarborough (12) agreed that “Dancing Through Life” was her favorite track as well, more because of Jonathan Bailey’s involvement in it. While I think they all make great points, there are a couple others I think deserve mentioning.

The opening number, “No One Mourns the Wicked,” set a great tone for the rest of the movie, as well as building a lot of tension about the story and characters in a flash-forward moment. Cynthia and Ariana’s duet performance in “What is This Feeling?” was incredible as well. Their harmonies were amazing and there was so much chemistry between their voices. The two actresses did a great job at acting this scene out and there was a lot of interesting choreography and sets to accompany the song (so much so that the choreography has gone viral). Last but certainly not least, Erivo’s performances of both “The Wizard and I” as well as “Defying Gravity” were exceptional. Her ability to belt powerfully when matched with Ariana’s flair for higher pitched operatic notes really created the perfect balance.

Cynthia and Ariana’s performances as the lead roles of many of the songs were both remarkable in their own distinct ways, but credit is definitely due to some of the other characters as well. Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, and many others had standout performances as well. As for fans of the movie who are looking forward to Part 2’s release in November of 2025, you can expect to hear brand new original songs!! Although the types of songs or number of new additions haven’t been revealed yet, composer Stephen Schwartz has promised to the public that there will be a couple. Overall, this movie can make you laugh, cry, and want to sing along all at once. I think there is so much more that can be said about this movie, but I will leave the rest as a surprise and recommend you watch and see for yourselves!!!