WICKED Parents Guide

I was able to screen WICKED in order to write this WICKED Parents Guide. All opinions are my own.

I will be honest, I haven’t seen the play and don’t actually know too much about WICKED. I am very familiar with The Wizard of OZ, but this part is new to me. So from my perspective, I was seeing everything for the first time and don’t have anything to really compare it to (like the musical), etc. First off, I don’t think they could have picked a better cast. Everyone played their role perfectly and I absolutely loved the singing, acting, and overall on-screen chemistry. This cast includes Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar, Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman, Peter Dinklage as the voice of Dr. Dillamond, with Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard.

The storyline was and wasn’t what I expected it to be. There were a few twists I guess I should have seen coming. It is getting off-the-charts reviews across the board, so if you are a fan of WICKED, I am pretty sure you are going to love the movie. It is packed with good music, an intriguing storyline, and fun character development.

One thing I didn’t realize was that this is just part 1. So go in expecting that this almost 3-hour movie is just part 1 of the overall storyline. With that being said, it is very good and the time goes by fast. I didn’t even think to check my watch and see what time it was until my son said he needed to go to the bathroom.

WICKED opens in theaters on November 22, 2024

WICKED is rated PG for some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material. It runs for 2hr 40m.

There are no end-credit scenes for WICKED.

Sex & Nudity – 1/5 – About 5-10 minutes into the movie there is a scene where a wife cheats on her husband. There is a little promiscuity here (interesting dance positions, drinking, etc). The scene lasts about 3 minutes maybe and doesn’t show anything as far as nudity, etc. but what is going to happen is clearly implied with the lyrics and the way they dance. The woman also has a lot of cleavage showing (think similar to The Greatest Showman). There is also one scene later in the movie where Galinda is in a short pajama and “swimming on the floor” on her back. Doesn’t really show anything, but could make your kids (especially boys) a little uncomfortable.

Violence & Gore – 1/5 – There are some fight scenes. A little intense with some hitting, pushing, kicking. Some characters fall from a high distance.

Profanity & Language – 1/5 – Has some kids/adults name-calling and bullying. There is no “swears”. A couple of uses of gosh or golly.

Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking – 1/5 – Shows people drinking before having an affair. There is a club scene, but it doesn’t really show or focus on what they are drinking.

Frightening & Intense Scenes – 2/5 – There is some bullying and retaliation. They burn a giant (like 30 ft tall) witch made out of straw, wood etc. There is a scene where monkeys sprout wings and its a little intense and they talk about the animals being in pain. There is some fighting with the guards, holding people, etc.

WICKED is a fun and emotional ride that encompasses what it means to stand up for yourself and what you believe in.

WICKED Parents Guide

WICKED opens in theaters on November 22, 20204

About WICKED:

One of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage, Wicked makes its journey to the big screen as a spectacular cinematic event this holiday season.

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights), Wicked is the first chapter of a two-part immersive, cultural celebration. Wicked Part Two is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 21, 2025.

Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning and Oscar®-nominated powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman misunderstood because of her green skin who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman gilded by privilege who has yet to discover her true heart.

The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

The film also stars Oscar® winner Michelle Yeoh as Shiz University’s regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Olivier Award winner and Emmy nominee Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton, Fellow Travelers) as Fiyero, a roguish and carefree prince; Tony nominee Ethan Slater (Broadway’s Spongebob Squarepants, Fosse/Verdon) as Boq, an altruistic Munchkin student; Marissa Bode in her feature-film debut as Nessarose, Elphaba’s favored sister; and pop culture icon Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.

The cast of characters includes Pfannee and ShenShen, two conniving compatriots of Glinda played by Emmy nominee Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live) and Bronwyn James (Harlots); a new character created for the film, Miss Coddle, played by Tony nominee Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman) and four-time Emmy winner Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) as the voice of Dr. Dillamond.

Wicked is produced by Marc Platt p.g.a. (La La Land, The Little Mermaid), whose films, television shows and stage productions have earned a combined 46 Oscar® nominations, 58 Emmy nominations and 36 Tony nominations, and by multiple Tony winner David Stone (Kimberly Akimbo, Next to Normal), with whom Platt produced the blockbuster Wicked stage musical. The executive producers are Stephen Schwartz, David Nicksay, Jared LeBoff, Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox.

Wicked is based on the generation-defining musical stage play with music and lyrics by legendary Grammy and Oscar® winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, from the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire. The screenplay is by Winnie Holzman and Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox. The film score is by John Powell & Stephen Schwartz, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz.

The Broadway stage musical is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, the Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.