Wicked (2024)
Kernel Score: 75% · 2,895 ratings · Rated PG
Genres: Drama, Romance, Fantasy
Released: 2024-10-16
Runtime: 162 minutes
Is Wicked worth watching?
Worth watching. A big, bright musical that spends its first half on the Wicked witch's friendship before she turns. The songs and set design are strong and the leads are charming, but it ends mid-story and runs long.
Watch it if you
- love stage musicals
- enjoy Oz and fairy-tale backstories
- want spectacle and strong singing
Skip it if you
- dislike musicals
- mind a film that ends on a cliffhanger
Best for: Musical night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Wicked
- Stream: Hulu
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
In the land of Oz, ostracized and misunderstood green-skinned Elphaba is forced to share a room with the popular aristocrat Glinda at Shiz University, and the two's unlikely friendship is tested as they begin to fulfill their respective destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Wicked parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that Wicked is a PG fantasy musical about female friendship and standing up to injustice, with some bullying and mild peril but nothing graphic.
- Violence & scariness: Some — Fantasy peril, bullying, and a corrupt authority figure, but conflict stays within a stylized musical fairy-tale frame.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Wicked
If you liked Wicked, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- In the Heights (2021) — 80%: Big musical from the same director
- Crazy Rich Asians (2018) — 80%: Bright, glossy film by the same director
- Maleficent (2014) — 80%: Fairy-tale retold from the villain's side
- The Shape of Water (2017) — 81%: Romantic fantasy with lovely design
- Edward Scissorhands (1990) — 86%: Fairy tale about an outcast with a big heart
Director
Jon M. Chu
Cast
- Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
- Ariana Grande as Galinda / Glinda
- Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
- Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero
- Ethan Slater as Boq
- Marissa Bode as Nessarose
- Jeff Goldblum as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond (voice)
- Andy Nyman as Governor Thropp
- Courtney-Mae Briggs as Mrs. Thropp
Wicked FAQ
Is Wicked worth watching?
Worth watching. A big, bright musical that spends its first half on the Wicked witch's friendship before she turns. The songs and set design are strong and the leads are charming, but it ends mid-story and runs long.
Where can I watch Wicked?
In the US you can stream Wicked on Hulu and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Wicked OK for kids?
Wicked is rated PG. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that Wicked is a PG fantasy musical about female friendship and standing up to injustice, with some bullying and mild peril but nothing graphic.
What movies are like Wicked?
If you liked Wicked, try In the Heights, Crazy Rich Asians, Maleficent and The Shape of Water.