Wicked getting raves

I absolutely loved it and I didn’t even see it!

[quote] 92% on RT and it seems clear that Ariana and Cynthia will both be nominated for Oscars.

It's as assured as the nomination was for Gavroche!

I'm rooting for one of those two odd looking young women to win an Oscar because it will piss off G.

It would really be something to have another Thelma and Louise situation at the Oscars.

Even though they are both leads, I think they will push Ariana for supporting so that they can both win. GGs are a lock. Oscar, we’ll see.

Best movie I ever saw once I see it!

Lady Fuckface is seething. Not only is Ari a million times more popular musically, her voice is a million times better than Lady Fuckface’s try hard foghorn voice, and now Ari is a true, popular, movie star soon to be Oscar nom (and likely winner at some point bc, love her, but Oscars are popularity contests).

I saw the trailer for Wicked the other day, and it makes the movie look like it’ll be utter crap - and the trailer ALWAYS oversells. No way I’m spending even $7.00 to see it at AMC on a Tuesday afternoon.

WICKED GETTING RAVE REVIEWS is called advertising…

It made me laugh; it made me cry!

It was better than Cats

Is there a butthole version?

please stop

I’d rather see another political thread than a Wicked thread. Maybe I’ll turn into a “not another wicked thread” troll.

[Quote] Is there a butthole version?

### DL has entered the chat ###

Yeah- I’m up for “No More Wicked Threads”

[quote] Is there a butthole version?

Yes. It stars Frankie Grande as Glinda and Rhyheim Shabazz as Elphaba.

It's called "Wi/Fu/cked."

[quote]I saw the trailer for Wicked the other day, and it makes the movie look like it’ll be utter crap

I thought the trailer looked amazing – minus Michelle Yeoh, whom I normally love but think is miscast here – and speculated months ago this could be a monster hit. We'll see. Part of me doesn't want it to do well because Erivo is a cunt, but I like Bailey and we need some escapism to bond over right about now.

J loved it.

It was better than cats.

I'll see it again. And again. And again.

I’ve purchased my tickets to see it on Sunday. Barb and I are going. Yay!

I just came from seeing it.

Wow.

I hated the stage production. I have a totally opposite reaction to this movie. Loved it.

I'm not good at spotting CGI. I must take it as a given that it's what I'm seeing so I don't even note it.

But it wasn't until seeing the art direction and set design in "Wicked" that I realized how starved my eyes are for actual constructed movie sets.

It's startling how impressive it is.

Arrivo and Grande are both superb. Jeff Goldblum is Goldblum. Yeoh has such star presence. Even when she shares a scene with Arrivo and Grande, my eyes stayed with her.

I've always loved musicals. You can tell Chu loves them, too. He has a seamless, natural touch with his direction. By that I mean that modern updates or remakes to classic musicals (not that I consider Wicked a classic musical. it's too complicated and simplistic at the same time) seem to have a bit of a knowing nod - "I'm a musical!"

That self-referential tone is absent from the mood and atmosphere here and that's so refreshing.

You can play "spot the influence", too which is fun.

For instance, remember those overproduced UK musicals of the 1960 and 70s like "Scrooge"? The ones where dozens of dancers are choreographed to dance down a street? You get some of that, too, and it's a good thing.

Haters gonna hate, and I thought I'd be one of them. But I was wrong. I even got teary eyed at the end.

She said she liked it better than Pirates of Penzance.

Yes but were you bored at all, r30? It looks like a slog.

I’m happy for these bony frail bitches.

It's funny you ask, r22, because your question prompts me to realize there a are some moments in the middle of the movie that slightly drag.

Those could have been trimmed by a couple of minutes. They are when the plot focuses on animal oppression and rescue.

But to me anyway, those moments are insignificant to the overall movie.

I'm seeing it again.

It's so sad how DL has been taken over by paid PR shills. As bad as the MAGATs.

Hell, r25, I wish I was a paid PR shill.

I'd allow myself to sell-out and be co-opted faster than you can say "direct deposit."

But, I'm just one of the easily entertained sheeple with hopelessly pedestrian, low-brow taste.

A MAGAT? Now, that is an insult. And, no honey, nothing is as bad as a MAGAT. See the proof when you look into a mirror.

R8 - Never saw the Broadway production (not terribly interested) and ambivalent about the movie version. So, as someone looking at this from the outside with no particular agenda - rabid fan or hater - all I can say is it looks to me like this will bomb. I predict a total flop although not as derisible at Cats. It's budget is estimated at $145M and then you double that for marketing, it needs to recoup nearly $300M to break even. The merchandise might help if popular among young girls and gay men.

The only help shills can get from DL is SEO help, and they know this because they're smarter about this than all of us. It's their fucking job to know where to place messaging.

DL is almost 30 and indexes to Google, which is why you'll see random links to articles attempting to backlink here. We're too old of a demographic, outsiders think this place is toxic (rightfully), and there's just too few of us for shilling.

The Wicked the Movie Youtube account released this 3+ minute musical scene from the movie.

It's said to be very enjoyable and that Ariana Grande is spectacular.

Saw it yesterday, it's really quite wonderful. It's too long, but so is Mary Poppins.

Wicked: Part I is 2hrs and 40mins which is an hour longer than the first Act of the play. Judging from the trailer it looks overproduced and exhausting.

The NY Times review said Cynthia Erivo performance was a showstopper and that both the character and the actress are the strongest draws in this splashy, largely diverting, tonally discordant and unconscionably long movie

R29 thanks for the link to that clip. I guess I’m old; that quick cut editing is too much for me. I’ll watch eventually when it gets to streaming so I can take breaks if I want to.

I have tickets to see it Weds night. I'm sure I'll leaving thing, meh

Variety now predicting Wicked to win Best Picture at the Oscars.

[quote]and it seems clear that Ariana and Cynthia will both be nominated for Oscars.

No, it does not seem clear.

I hope Ariana gets in and Cyn gets rejected just for the shitstorm she would wreck.

It's off to a good start

Box Office: ‘Wicked' Makes Huge $19.2 Million in Previews-VARIETY

I saw this last night.

It's a great adaptation of Wicked, if you enjoyed the musical of course you will love it. If you are unfamiliar with the source material it has enough appeal I think it would work for a lot of people. Ariana Grande is legitimately a force of nature in this role, you can tell she spent so much of her life wanting to play Glinda. I was skeptical of the hype but it's true, she is going to be in play for the Oscar.

Sounds better than the superhero movies.

R3 - M, are you saying that Glenn is NOT odd looking?

You're hardly a beauty either, but c'mon.

So how is homewrecker Ariana’s ugly boyfriend?

Just watched a Brazilian cam version. This is a damn near perfect movie (people cheered and clapped at the end), I kept rewinding scenes over and over again, took me almost a full day to get through it. I'd still cut a couple of non-catchy songs though, but I felt the same way about the musical.

I need to apologise to Michelle Yeoh, whom I called miscast after seeing her "wicked witch" scene in the trailer that it's not even in the fucking movie and is delivered differently (way better) in the actual film. Still haven't learned the lesson of not trusting trailers, apparently. My ideal casting for her role would have been Hannah Waddingham, but I can see how she'd detract from the blondness of Ariana Grande's Glinda. Yeoh is prefect casting and she's just a delight in the role.

My favourite part was Fiyero's big bisexual energy. My least favourite part was Munchkins being regular-sized now.

Seems like Glicked is a reality

Balling in the aisles at the conclusion in my packed multiplex.

"Looks like we're a hit!"

So - the cut it into 2 films? Smart marketing move - the next one is coming out Tgiving week next year.

Feels to forced and gimmicky for me - the marketing blitz around this has been fucking ridiculous.

But yeah - I'll go see it.

Women talking about how sexy JB is in this

I think this will be the one to beat at the oscars this year.

Everyone I know who has saw it has loved it.

Cynthia and Arianna are frontrunners for oscar nominations. Though I hope Pammy Anderson wins Best Actress this year.

They lost me at the casting of Jeff Goldblum.

Gag!🤮

R49 - Jeff Goldblum as the wizard seems like a great casting choice.

I dislike both Ariana and Cynthia - that's going to be harder to overlook.

R20 Della, dear, I agree with everything you said about this movie. It is an art feast to behold! Music, costumes, set design, actors all worked together to make a lovely afternoon entertainment. I, especially, enjoyed how they snuck Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth into cameos which occur toward the end of the film, during Glinda and Elphaba's memorable duet, “One Short Day,” which follows the friends as they visit the Emerald City for the first time to meet the Wizard. And the finale of 'Defying Gravity' was breath taking!

Even if the girls are nominated for Oscars this year, I don't think they will win for this first movie. If they are just as good in part two, perhaps they will be rewarded. Hollywood has done that previously in such circumstances. Nevertheless, the movie is a joyfest and I will look forward to watching it stream for many years.

Della, did you enjoy 'Conclave"? I do think Ralph Fiennes and Isabella Rossellini may be rewarded for their efforts... by someone.

I love it so much that seeing it will just leave an empty spot in my heart, so I won’t. I’d rather wrap myself in my own platonic ideal of what it SHOULD be.

🚨‘Wicked’ debuted with a $46.7M Friday opening which is more than the highest grossing movie musical of all time Frozen 2 which debuted with $42.5M 👀

Frozen 2 went on to gross $1.5 billion at the box office.

I wonder if Ariana and Cynthia were allowed to get a .25 of 1% of the profits. It would last them for life!

Hi Tallulah, no I haven’t watched Conclave yet, but when I do I’ll certainly post my reaction.

Smooooches, Doll

Saw it yesterday with some friends who are big fans of the musical. I was not but thought the previews showed that it was a project that would be well suited for film. It was, my only issue with it is that the music is pretty middling.. The two leads are excellent and it's a visually stunning piece that at times gestures to the 1939 film. Michelle Yeoh can't really sing but was okay as their isn't much singing require of her. Had to think that Madame Morrible was a part made for Streep about a decade or so ago.

It was the first regular movie I've ever gone to where there was a standing ovation and clapping.

[quote] Even if the girls are nominated for Oscars this year, I don't think they will win for this first movie. If they are just as good in part two, perhaps they will be rewarded.

Yes, that happened to Peter Jackson for the 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. They wouldn't give hm Oscar until the whole damn thing was over. Same with these girls.

Salaries for Wicked. (Not sure if this is for the first movie or for both movies.)

Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland | $15 million

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp | $1 million

Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible | $2 million

Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz | $2 million

Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar | $450,000

Ethan Slater as Boq | $350,000

Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp | $250,000

Bowen Yang as Pfannee | $250,000

Since this Wicked movie is related to Gladiator II by way of Glicked, here are the comparable salaries for Gladiator II:

Denzel Washington as Macrinus | $20 million

Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius | $5 Million

Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus | $2 million

Connie Nielsen as Lucilla | $1 million

Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta | $700,000

Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla | $350,000

Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus | $200,000

R57 I have been to many movies where everyone clapped at the end. A standing ovation?? I doubt I’ll ever see that for any movie let alone this one.

^Mary!

Surprised Bailey can’t command a bigger salary.

Star power have bigger salaries, even if they are not the lead star.

Cynthia Erivo on Ariana Grande's performance:

"Not a soul is prepared for this Lucille Ball and Barbra Streisand-esque extravaganza that you have served with joy and every inch of your heart!!"

Josh Gad:

"No words. I am floored. I am stunned. I am slayed. Thank you @arianagrande and @cynthiaerivo for reminding us all why you are not only two of the best to ever do it, but also what the power of big screen musicals can and should be. Long live @jonmchu @wickedschwartz and the entire cast and crew of this iconic movie. What a glorious ride. And a special thank you to @idinamenzel and @kchenoweth for birthing these iconic and timeless characters. Everyone run to Oz."

I know by DL rules, I’m supposed to hate everything, but I LOVED it. I usually make fun of people who clap at movies, but I was damned near cheering when she finished “Defying Gravity.”

I thought all the performances were good, but damned if Ariana Grande didn’t steal the damned thing.

This thread is chock full of MARY.

[quote]Salaries for Wicked. (Not sure if this is for the first movie or for both movies.) Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland | $15 million Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp | $1 million

So the white actress is making 15 times the black actress? Look out, there's trouble ahead.

Yeah, not sure if those salaries are correct. Grande is the bigger, established star here, so she would get a larger salary, but to that degree - I'm not sure.

Perhaps they balanced it out by giving Erivo some of the backend percentage.

I was never able to see it in NYC on Broadway or when I was living in Chicago and it was there. To be honest, the TV ads was so omnipresent that it turned me off. I wouldn't have gone if your gave me the tickets. Now some years later, we can't wait.

R66, was that Josh Gad's way of implicitly coming out of the closet...

The only turnoff is having Michelle Yeoh play Madame Morrible. That part should have gone to a Patti Lupone or Liza Minnelli.

For a non-singer, she did really well. Her and Goldblum both.

There was not a bad performance to be had.

[quote]Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible | $2 million

[quote]Jeff Goldblum as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz | $2 million

Doesn’t that seem disproportionate? She just won an Oscar and sometimes I wonder if he’s still alive.

Would have been better with Viola Davis somewhere on the cast

R76 = Jamie Lee Curtis

I saw it and to me it looked like everyone was in a different frame when it was filmed, like their performances were assembled and put together.

R79- you’re just now figuring out how film and television is made?

[quote]Doesn’t that seem disproportionate? She just won an Oscar and sometimes I wonder if he’s still alive.

Jeff Goldblum is a cicada who emerges in dark times to cheer us up.

🚨 | ‘Wicked’ had the biggest day of the year at the UK box office yesterday.

It surpassed Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2.

R73 - Oh dear God, I hope not. Shudder. He makes Jared Fogle look smoking' hot.

[quote] Jeff Goldblum is a cicada who emerges in dark times to cheer us up.

A fly, darling, he's a fly. A cicada is not a fly!

The art direction on this movie was amazing. Maxfield Parrish, Art Deco and they used a lot of the original films lightiing design. Now, I wasn't bored by the length of the film and I have major ADHD. I liked the book (Didn't love, didn't know how they milked a musical out of such a drab book.) and am not a big musical fan but my husband is nuts over anything Oz so my expectations were low and my multiplex almost sold out on a Wednesday night. I was prepared for screaming brats, Karen moms and the fanboys. I didn't expect to like it but I did. It felt cathartic after the election, the right movie at the absolute right time. I will see it again in 3D, the visuals are incredible which weren't CGI'd to death, they built huge sets.

^ Oh, also a standing ovation at the theater. I honestly haven't seen that in a movie theater since I saw Rocky 2 when I was a kid.

I loved the 3D effect. It was not obtrusive, at all. Most of the time I forgot I was wearing them. However, the glasses really made 'Defying Gravity' come alive. It seemed like Elphaba flew off the screen and into the auditorium. Just heavenly and many cheered and screamed. A movie moment, for sure!

Mary!

How were the Kansas scenes?

I expect that people will enjoy it and then that the green one will give some in hand strands about something or another and deflate all of the enthusiasm and good will and completely exhaust anyone from wanting to care talk about it.

One of the things that I really just get caught up in is that for two elections Ariana Grande has been part of a musical that seemed designed to hearten the national mood. In 2016, she was in Hairspray which succeeded beyond my wildest expectations (culminating in Jennifer Hudson’s incredibly powerful “I Know Where I’ve Been” that had some of the cast, including big-bootied Garrett Clayton), and now this. I find Wicked’s themes of fearing the Other as extremely relevant in 2024.

And yes, I know we’re supposed to hate on Cynthia Erivo because this is DL and we’re all supposed to be racist, but I can’t believe how shook I am from her “Defying Gravity.” I know Idina Menzel is not a technically proficient singer (“I have one volume: loud”), but she’s one of the all-time great belters, and Elphaba needs that. And I never got to see her do it on stage, but comparing the OBC album to Erivo’s version, the movie blew her out of the water.

[quote] ^ Oh, also a standing ovation at the theater. I honestly haven't seen that in a movie theater since I saw Rocky 2 when I was a kid.

That didn’t happen in my screening, but I don’t think it was because of a lack of desire. I absolutely would have given it one if I had been brave enough to start it.

I haven’t experienced an explosion of joy like that in a long, long time, and I needed it more than I knew.

Oscars for Ariana Grande (seriously), art direction, and sound direction, if nothing else. Winnie Holzmann also deserves one for her screenplay.

MARY me as much as you want. I truly don’t care.

The last Depression we turned to Busby...

The other thing about it is that it really didn’t apologize for being a musical. Since Chicago or Les Mis, all musicals have tried for similitude but this just actively embrace the fact that it was fantastical.

R61 was that Hairspray live on tv or something? I don’t recall it. the film remake came out in 2007

Yeah, it was the last of the big lavishly produced musicals that NBC was doing for a few years. Ariana was Penny.

And Kristen Chenoweth was Velma Van Tussle, which I’m sure is where they met, and probably why Chenoweth was so willing to work with her on the movie. Whatever I think about Ariana as an artist with a messy public life (and a weird-ass press tour), it’s clear Glinda was a dream part for her, and she was clearly homaging Chenoweth while doing her own thing. I think maybe that’s why I liked her performance so much.

Someone who seems to be passed over in all the excitement is Adele Dazeem.

How soon Hollywood forgets.

[quote] And Kristen Chenoweth was Velma Van Tussle, which I’m sure is where they met, and probably why Chenoweth was so willing to work with her on the movie.

No, that is not true.

Kristin Chenoweth met Ariana Grande when Grande was 10 years old after a performance of Wicked on Broadway. Grande's mom took her to see the original Broadway cast of Wicked and they were able to go backstage to meet the stars. Grande and her mom were able to go to Chenoweth's dressing room, where Chenoweth invited Grande in, gave her a toy wand, and let her stay longer than she should have. Grande helped clean up after her dog peed on the couch. Chenoweth and Grande have remained close, and Chenoweth has shared photos of Grande in costume as Glinda on Instagram.

Poor Cassandra...

What's the point of applauding or a standing ovation at a movie? Surely people must realize those performers aren't live on stage. Or do they think they're in Cannes with all the artists in attendance?

Is there a “point?” Is there a point to anything?

I would just ascribe it to getting swept up in the experience and wanting to show appreciation even if everyone realizes that none of the performers are actually going to hear it.

It’s collective exhilaration. Early audiences for a franchise film are likely to include at lot of fanboys.

I love how Idina held back in her cameo so as not to outshine Erivo's Defying Gravity cadenza at the end.

Even though Erivo is a cunt in real life and it's fun to hate her for that, none of it came through in her role. It's honestly remarkable, the way she left any trace of her cuntitude in her Winnebago. That's a far greater achievement, transformation-wise, than just getting painted green all over.

Johhny's forehead vagina looked noticeably smaller in daylight scenes when that Disney A.I. magic kicked in. Low-light facial rejuvenation still seems to be a work in progress, lol.

Film industry expert Grace Randolph on Ariana Grande:

“Hollywood is now her oyster, she can do whatever she wants…you better believe she’s gonna be at the TOP of every studio’s wishlist. every studio will be vying for her”

[quote] Film industry expert Grace Randolph

“Expert” should be in quotes.

[quote] Even though Erivo is a cunt in real life and it's fun to hate her for that, none of it came through in her role. It's honestly remarkable, the way she left any trace of her cuntitude in her Winnebago.

And that’s the rub. Two things can be true at once. She can be a cunt and have turned in an amazing performance. I mean, the same is true of men, but if a man is white and moderately attractive, DL will let the personal issues slide.

Parents, children, holidays. What's the mystery?

Always fully when people clap at a screen

fully = funny

Is that a joke r104? Grace Randolph is some annoying YouTuber that does not work in the film industry.

[quote]I wonder if Ariana and Cynthia were allowed to get a .25 of 1% of the profits. It would last them for life!

Wicked could earn a trillion dollars and the studio would still say they haven't broken even.

You know, I really disliked the play -- shallow, vapid, middlebrow crap. I was dragged to see the movie by hubby....They made the best possible film they could have made. I didn't even get up to pee for the whole two hours and 45 minutes. Yes, some of it is still cringey, but the whole thing works, especially because the two stars -- especially Erivo -- are so very committed to making it work. I'll even go see the second part voluntarily.

R13 I think you are not being truthful. You are drawn to wicked threads you can’t help yourself you can’t stay away. You love them.

Wicked is like crack for you

I will await your response

‘Wicked’ is one of ONLY 5 movies EVER to gross over $100m in the US while playing in less than 4000 theaters.

Oh, dear!

Fewer, not less.

Kevin Huvane and Joe Machota are managing Ariana Grande's film career now.

Kevin represents Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Oprah, Steven Spielberg and Jennifer Aniston.

Joe represents Scarlett Johansson, Glenn Powell, Anne Hathaway.

I am not a Broadway gay, and I don't like musicals. I saw this and was blown away by Cynthia Erivo's performance. As someone said above, I know this is DL, and we're supposed to dislike all black actresses for some reason, but Erivo just owned this entire movie. She had killer chemistry with Jonathan Bailey, and in the final act, when Elphaba was figuring everything out and realizing what was really happening, I couldn't take my eyes off her.

I also enjoyed Grande's performance but didn't hold a candle to Erivo's.

My theatre gave the movie a clapping standing ovation at the end, and there was applause after every big song. I'd never seen that before. And the gays who were sitting beside me and in front of me were losing their shit the entire movie.

‘Wicked’ dominates Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards with record-breaking 19 nominations

After a record-breaking weekend at the global box office, “Wicked” has now become the most nominated movie in the Astra Film Awards and Astra Creative Arts Awards eight-year history. The Universal Pictures film received 19 nominations including Best Picture, Best Actress for Cynthia Erivo, Best Supporting Actress for Ariana Grande, and Best Director for Jon M. Chu.

•Best Picture

•Best Actress (Cynthia Erivo)

•Best Supporting Actress (Ariana Grande

•Best Supporting Actor (Jonathan Bailey)

•Best Comedy or Musical

•Best Adapted Screenplay

•Best Director

•Best Cast Ensemble

•Best Casting

•Best Cinematography

•Best Costume Design

•Best Editing

•Best Make Up And Hairstyle

•Best Marketing

•Best Score

•Best Sound

•Best Stunts

•Best Visual Effects

•Best Stunts Direction

R117, stop the madness. This just seems like nominations based on the positive publicity

WTF are the Astra Film Awards?

The last movie to have half of this much hype was Barbie—which I hated. I am expecting the best theatrical experience of my life based on this thread. I still maintain that there will never be a standing ovation where I live.

He's so adorable and needs a shoulder to cry on.

[quote] in the final act, when Elphaba was figuring everything out and realizing what was really happening, I couldn't take my eyes off her.

There's a moment during "Defying Gravity" where the guards have grabbed Glinda where Elphaba says "She hasn't done anything wrong! I'm the one you want! I'm the one you want! It's me!" and then she sings out an ear-shattering "It's ME!" and I had cold chills.

She may be insufferable in real life. She was magnetic on screen.

R122 = Lyon Burke

2 hrs 40 min

[Quote] What's the point of applauding or a standing ovation at a movie?

to get one's circulation going after sitting for nearly 3 hours

I'm assuming he didn't take any laxatives before the film R121

R119 I don't know but they give awards for Best Casting and Best Marketing!

I’d never go see anything like this but the marketing is really getting to me. It’s that thing too when all your friends have seen it and are posting about it.

I’ll be lucky to survive the next few days without seeing this.

“Wicked” officially scored BIGGEST weekend of 2024 in the UK, grossing £13.7M at the British #BoxOffice.

It beat “Deadpool & Wolverine”, which earned £12.6M.

[quote]What's the point of applauding or a standing ovation at a movie

Sometimes you just feel a need to applaud with others when everyone feels you saw something special. While no one applauded, there were several songs in Wicked where I could have. It was strange because it felt like you were seeing a show rather than a movie. The biggest applause I ever saw in a theater was Dreamgirls. I saw it at a packed preview before it opened. I know it's popular to hate on JHud here, but the audience broke into applause three times during ITYING. And people did stand and applaud at the end. YMMV

[quote]I’d never go see anything like this

What's "like this," R128?

Update on salaries for Wicked posted at R59:

[quote] “Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder. The women received equal pay for their work on Wicked,” a Universal spokesperson said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday. Multiple sources familiar with the situation also told THR that the actresses were paid the same for their work on the movie musical from director Jon M. Chu.

[quote] Unsubstantiated rumors about Erivo and Grande’s salary surfaced this week on TikTok and Reddit, with social media users claiming Grande made $15 million for the film while Erivo earned $1 million. Multiple news outlets picked up the social media commentary, only adding to the firestorm.

Not surprised. Stuff just gets posted on the Internet and people believe it as fact even if there is no real source. We do live in a post fact society.

I’m another one who was expecting Cynthia to be annoying but she was sweet and lovely. Defying Gravity was fantastic, of course, but I’m Not That Girl was poignant and beautifully sung. I’m a fan now.

I know I’m in the minority but I find nothing attractive about Jonathan Bailey. I wouldn’t know him if he walked into a room. He was fine, though. I’ll definitely see it in the theatre again.

I have never had an interest in "The Wizard of Oz," so I am unable to muster up any for "Wicked."

I've also read of audience complaints about poor sound, bad "color grading," and anachronistic eye makeup on Ariana.

And who is this poster who keeps insisting "DL hates Black actresses"? Weirdo.

[quote]anachronistic eye makeup on Ariana

How can it be anachronistic, r134, it's a fantasy.

[quote] I know I’m in the minority but I find nothing attractive about Jonathan Bailey. I wouldn’t know him if he walked into a room.

Like, nothing?

TBH - I don't know anything about Cynthia Envio or Ariana Grande except what I learned from DL. CE does seem like a cunt, but .she was terrific in the movie, as was AG. I pretty much loved the movie. Bailey was also very, very good. He reminds me a lot of Rupert Everett, in a good way. I thought Goldblum and Yeoh were perfect. There's very little to criticize except for the length. I think it could be shortened a bit, but I'm one of those people who likes long movies if they're good. People who don't like musicals probably won't like it, but I often don't like people who don't like musicals.

R137 Just not my type. Big ears and looked 10 years older than anyone in the cast. I'm not a fan of all these odd looking Brits I am supposed to find attractive. Like I said, he was fine. Just so vanilla to me. He looks 100 other actors on The Hallmark Channel.

Rosie O'Donnell:

GO SEE THIS !!!! #wicked #astounding #EPIC #excellent @cynthiaerivo AND @arianagrande deserve oscars - so beautiful!!!! #loveit

Just the messenger, r135.

Just saw it. It was good, but I don’t understand the caterwauling.

Erivo is the standout because of how the character develops. Grande has the voice right but not the inflections Chenoweth had to made the character perfectly wacky.

The ending scene was spectacular. By god, the movie felt really really long.

Is Bailey’s role in a major movie among the first times that an out gay actor plays a straight character in a huge movie?

Is Fiyero straight...?

I haven’t seen it yet, but from trailers, etc that I have seen , Ariana’s voice is great but she doesn’t have the head voice that Kristin had, which added the “wackiness” to her character.

Ariana really is the new Judy Garland.

Ariana doesn’t do much with her face, so her voice sounds fun and wacky but her acting doesn’t really

And yes, her pussy is green

R134- how can you have anachronistic eye makeup.? The story can be told in any era. There is no year it takes place in Oz.

Fiyero appears to be bi in the movie. He flirts with the men and women in his big song.

Both of those women are so unattractive and hard to look at. The trailer was almost unwatchable for me.

Is this an Irish or Scottish accent?

[quote] [R134]- how can you have anachronistic eye makeup.? The story can be told in any era. There is no year it takes place in Oz

R134 appears to be using words without having any clue as to their meanings

People probably expect it to have a general old fashioned look.

The word would be *distracting* not anachronistic.

The last time the Wicked Witch was on Sesame Street was in 1976 when Margaret Hamilton appeared on the show.

Cynthia singing "It's Not Easy Being Green" with Oscar the Grouch.

FGS, I posted the link, you dopes at r139 and r153! R141

Moreover, r155, the complaints are that the eye makeup is too modern, aka out of time, aka anachronistic.

Y'all can just STHU.

[quote]the complaints are that the eye makeup is too modern, aka out of time, aka anachronistic.

Exactly what time and period does Wicked take place in, r157?

I have a question for those of you who've seen the movie already. I was planning on catching it in the cinema tomorrow but I just listened to the movie's soundtrack on YT and yikes - it sounds fucking terrible! I could live with the lackluster orchestration but the auto-tune/pitch-correction (especially on Erivo's vocals) is distracting beyond belief. They went waaaay too far with it.

So here's my question - were the tracks they used in the film itself different than those on the album and do they sound any less processed? Because there's no way I'm paying to hear three hours of that robotic-sounding singing.

That’s interesting R160., because I bought tickets for a show tomorrow and only four tickets have been sold for the entire theater.

He’s an object of affection, R143. I don’t think the film is overly concerned with what the characters are doing with their genitals, is it?

It’s a musical. About Oz. Not exactly a meeting of the He-Man Woman Haters Club.

It’s Thanksgiving weekend, I think we’re in the throes of peak heat with Wicked, which isn’t surprising given the intensity of the marketing, but I think this will calm down. All this talk about Wicked winning Best Picture, etc. It’s peak hype. I’ve no doubt it will figure into the awards race but talk of Ariana Grande winning an Oscar reminds me of when Spielberg’s West Side Story opened and Feinberg at THR immediately but Rachel Ziegler as the frontrunner for Best Actress - and we know how that turned out.

It’s more likely that the marketing will exhaust people who will seek relief and out their attention elsewhere. Unfortunately, increasingly, the entertainment media has one angle with every film which is - what Oscars will it win!! I find it hard to believe that a film that isn’t even properly or agreeably colour graded - so distracting it’s actually a topic of conversation - is going to win Best Picture. It’ll be nominated, for sure - for ratings they’d be fools not to - but when your film grosses $1.5B, that’s usually your prize. (And “Wicked - Part Two” doesn’t exactly have the ring of a Best Picture winner, and most observers suspect Chu will come unstuck in the sequel, given the narrative flaws and pacing of the first film.)

*put their attention elsewhere

Also, Gosling didn’t win for Barbie. Even though he won the night.

R163 re WSS Oscar hype: Ariana will be submitted for best supporting actress which was the category won by WSS’ Ariana Debose so it’s not the same bringing in Rachel Z.

Weird how Erivo’s riff at the end of Defying Gravity has replaced Menzel’s in my head. I actually like Menzel’s brighter voice better in this role but Erivo’s is being played all over TV

Menzel has more raw power, but Erivo has better technique. I definitely agree that Menzel is brighter, but I’d say Erivo is more emotive.

With Chenoweth and Grande, it’s more of a draw. Chenoweth is just better trained. But you can tell Grande worked really hard on this.

If you put a gun to my head, I’d say that Erivo is better Elphaba and Cheno is the better Galinda, but it’s really close.

I saw it a second time in 3D last night. 3D, particularly for Emerald City segments (both before and after meeting the wizard) actually added a lot instead of feeling tacked on. It wasn’t the definitive experience in the way it was for, say, Avatar, but it was a positive. The theater was packed, despite being a premium charge. I was able to focus more on Erivo this time, and while I still think Grande is the one who walked away with the movie, she’s a much more powerful presence than I had thought. My first impression was that she really got going with “Defying Gravity,” but she actually started with “The Wizard and I.”

Our family of 5 saw it yesterday and all loved it... very much.

The Hollywood Reporter:

"Let’s start with the obvious. Academy members don’t just like Wicked — they love Wicked. At the Directors Guild, PGA and SAG screenings in both Los Angeles and New York, as well as at the Academy screening, capacity crowds burst into applause after many songs and gave the film a rapturous standing ovation after the cliff-hanger finale.

Guild members are known to give standing Os — they did last year for Oppenheimer when Christopher Nolan emerged for his Q&A — but according to those in attendance, the effusiveness for Wicked has been at another level."

Grande never changes her facial expression which is aggravating knowing what Chenoweth did with the role

Why didn’t Erivo do The Color Purple musical film? She’s arguably the one that finally made the show a hit.

If she’s young enough to attend Shizz University then she would’ve read young enough to play Miss Celie 3 or 4 years ago.

Jesus Christ. How can the eye makeup be too modern? You’re assuming the movie takes place a long time ago. There’s nothing in the movie that suggests that. Also, it will definite win Best Picture and part 2 will be in the mix. Was Brando nominated for The Godfather part 1 and 2? Erivo can win both. Also, part 2 will do better box office just like Frozen 2 did better than Frozen.

R172- the show was a hit when Fantasia was in it. The movie was made for Fantasia. I don’t think it would’ve happened without her.

R173, STFU. I explicitly said, and LINKED TO, an article with that opinion.

IT ISN'T MY OPINION, YOU STUPID PERSON. I even called myself "the messenger."

This is why we have the incoming Administration.

I saw it today. There was no applause at the end or a standing ovation. I wasn’t enjoying it until Fiyero showed up. Erivo was better overall than Ariana with her frozen face. Ariana gave it her all and was good, but just not quite there. It was fine and overlong. I won’t be seeing it again, nor was it the best movie or musical I have ever seen. Ethan Slater is even uglier than I was expecting—and he looks old.

All I can say to R176 is: BURN, WITCH, BURN!

[quote]All I can say to [R176] is: BURN, WITCH, BURN!

It's wild that Grease held onto this record for nearly 50 years! It's equally wild that after 50 years of dominance, Wicked managed to smash the record in just 8 days! John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and Stockard Channing really did the thing back in 1978.

I wonder why Stockard Channing never had a big film career after Grease's success?

R172 Cynthia was offered the film but couldn’t do it due to the scheduling conflicts of Wicked.

Even the critical drinker, who is a rabidly anti-woke movie and tv reviewer on YouTube, had to admit it was pretty good.

Too girly for me though.

Moana 2 ranked number one at the box office Friday followed by Wicked

R80- she was not offered it. The whole part of the mount was preserve Fantasia’s brilliant performance.

movie not mount

[R80]- she was not offered it. The whole point of the movie was to preserve Fantasia’s brilliant performance.

The National Board of Review names ‘WICKED’ the Best Film of 2024.

George Lucas called Jon M. Chu from the theater after watching Wicked to rave about Wicked.

‘Wicked’ Star Ariana Grande to Receive Rising Star Award at Palm Springs International Film Festival

“In Wicked, Ariana Grande’s portrayal of Glinda elevates her to new heights with a powerful acting performance that beautifully combines her outstanding musical talent, brilliant characterization and impeccable comedic timing,” says Festival Chairman Nachhattar Singh Chandi. “Ariana is an iconic global performer, who has seamlessly transitioned to film in her first major starring role, proving herself to be a multifaceted and undeniable talent. This role is certain to be the beginning of the many accolades she will garner throughout her acting career. It is our great honor to recognize Ariana Grande with the Rising Star Award.”

Past recipients include Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone) and Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation).

I've torn Ariana a new one for her personal life and this promo tour was terrible, but I ate crow when it came to the movie itself. It blew my expectations out of the water. These two were perfectly cast and deserve all the awards they'll be getting in the next year. Bravo!

Y’know, the song Defying Gravity can be a good one - rousing even, depending on who’s singing it. BUT… here’s a question: was there even one other number in the Broadway version with an tune that’s at least somewhat memorable and isn’t complete shit, like so much of what modern musical theater has produced over the last 30 or 40 years? Seeing the various trailers and other promo spots for Wicked the movie isn’t encouraging on this score, no pun intended.

The other most famous song from Wicked is "For Good", which will be the memorable number in Act 2 r190.

NFL🤝Wicked

It seems we’re not the only ones with Wicked continually stuck in our heads! Kobie Turner of the LA Rams let us have a little glimpse in what he is really doing before he plays in his games.

Kobie and his team took on the Saints this past weekend and won 21-14. Let’s just say we think this might be the perfect pre-game routine and we wouldn’t be surprised if he wasn’t the only NFL player in his room doing this 👀🩷💚

[quote] BUT… here’s a question: was there even one other number in the Broadway version with an tune that’s at least, like so much of what modern musical theater has produced over the last 30 or 40 years? Seeing the various trailers and other promo spots for Wicked the movie isn’t encouraging on this score, no pun intended.

You could always just listen to the soundtrack (or cast recording) yourself, instead of making these great leaps of assumption

To answer your question, yes, the score as a whole is very strong. From the first act/film, there’s Dancing through Life and Popular, both of which are more than somewhat memorable and definitely aren’t complete shit. They are solid songs that have entered the cultural psyche as much as Defying Gravity has. (Of course, you’ve never heard of them)

The second act has As Long as You’re Mine, No Good Deed, and, of course, For Good

Ok, simmer down, fan boy.

Ariana Grande and Paul Mescal have been paired up for Variety’s Actors on Actors

Cynthia Erivo x Angelina Jolie for Actors on Actors - December 12th.

I’d like to see Demi Moore and Nicole Kidman paired.

Grande was the weakest part of the movie. Her face stayed exactly the same throughout. She expressed the character through only her voice--and that's not moviemaking

Shocked that Grease was the highest grossing musical adaptation prior to Wicked. What about The Sound of Music?

Why is legacy media reporting that WICKED is a box-office smash, when it's actually underperforming and hasn't made a profit yet?

It's been out 12 days or so (two weekends) and so far has grossed $372 million ($275 million stateside, $97 million foreign).

Remember, it had a production budget of $150, so it needs to make $500 million before it starts being profitable.

By comparison, MOANA 2, which opened a week later and also had a $150 million budget, has grossed $423 million ($239 million stateside, $184 million foreign).

Last year, BARBIE, which had a budget of $145 million, had grossed $774 million ($350 stateside, $424 million foreign) after its second weekend and went on to gross $1.446 million total.

It doesn't look like WICKED will even cross $1 billion.

Pretty much every movie is a failure if you compare it to Moana 2 and Barbie r200. You realize Moana 2 just set the record for highest opening for an animated movie of ALL TIME. Universal is very happy with the box office performance of Wicked, it is doing very well.

[quote] Remember, it had a production budget of $150, so it needs to make $500 million before it starts being profitable.

Can't find a source for the $500 million break even. Here's some that I did find:

[quote] Collider.com: With a hefty $150 million reported budget, the film will need to rake in somewhere between $300 million and $350 million globally to break even.

[quote] Google AI: According to current estimates, the "Wicked" movie needs to gross around $290 - $300 million globally to break even, taking into account its production budget and marketing costs.

[quote] Screen Rant: Wicked's Budget Is Reportedly $145 Million · Wicked's Box Office Needs To Make At Least $290 Million To Be A Success

^^^ So at $372 million box office, Wicked has already passed the break even point.

‘Wicked’ dethrones ‘Moana 2’ at #1 on US box office yesterday, despite having 40% fewer showings. That's insane!

Wicked has also sold 2x more tickets than Moana 2 for this upcoming Friday. Disney must have a deal with theater chains to keep Moana at a certain amount of showings.

Drew Barrymore surprised Ariana Grande with Glinda's original wand from ‘The Wizard of Oz.’

[quote]^^^ So at $372 million box office, Wicked has already passed the break even point.

Oh, don't try to break through their irrational hatred with logic. That never works.

I thought it was pretty mediocre despite all the production and special effects. Basically a teen good girl bad girl one note. Music is mediocre as were the voices. I’m clueless about the good notices.

R199 That's not adjusted for inflation. If you just look at ticket sales, The Sound Of Music is estimated at at least 283 million and Grease 117 million. And adjusted for inflation, The Sound Of Music would get $2.5 billion at the box office.

"Highest-grossing" records sound impressive but are largely dependent on the era and the ticket prices.

I saw it again at an almost full showing at 10:30 this morning.

I appreciated it even more, BUT, I really felt the run-time this time.

I identify the moments that could've been tighter as (sorry Wicked fanatics) "I'm Not That Girl" and the animal oppression discussion scenes.

I'm not saying INTG should've been cut. I do think the editing immediately before, during could've been tighter.

Also, about 5 minutes could've been trimmed from the animal subplot while they were still at Shiz University.

And whatever were the production costs of creating that actual Green Train to Emerald City will be a drop in the bucket when its open for business as an attraction at Universal Studios theme park in Orlando.

It's probably there already.

I’m not saying it’s a flop but the multiplier must be higher than usual given all the marketing. The marketing spend has to be higher than usual because all that shit doesn’t come for free. I mean, I’m surprised they stopped short of painting my house pink and green. And given how long they want this to stay in theatres, that may still be coming.

I'm no fanboy, but this is not about marketing now; all the new audience and the second and third viewings are all word of mouth. The movie is a hit and has turned a profit. End of story.

[quote] I'm no fanboy, but this is not about marketing now; all the new audience and the second and third viewings are all word of mouth.

My evidence to agree with this by r211 is only anecdotal, in my first sentence at r209, but based upon the crowds I saw yesterday, Wicked has Big Mo going for it.

And that momentum will be sustained with Christmas and New Year's breaks coming up.

Thank Satan and God I'm not a parent, but come to think of it, if I were, parking your kids at a hit movie that lasts 2 hours and 40 minutes over Christmas break seems attractive to me, so there's that, too.

[quote] I appreciated it even more, BUT, I really felt the run-time this time.

The point was to make it into 2 movies

Wicked won 8 awards at the 2024 HCA Astra Film Awards, becoming the Most Awarded Film of the Night:

• Best Picture

• Best Actress

• Best Supporting Actress

• Best Director

• Best Costume Design

• Best Production Design

• Best Marketing

• Best Casting

The 2024 Atlanta Film Critics Circle Awards

Best Supporting Actress:

Ariana Grande - WICKED

Ariana Grande wins ‘Best Supporting Actress’ at the Michigan Movie Critics Guild Awards.

Ariana Grande has just won “Best Supporting Actress” at the San Diego Film Critics Society Awards!

The weakest link was Ariana Grande. These awards are ridiculous

Ariana was not that good.

R190- The Wizard and I, Dancing Through Life, and Popular in Act 1 alone.

R200-Wicked is the highest grossing adaptation of a Broadway musical ever. It will also continue to make money throughout the holidays and into award season. It will most likely make a profit. By the way, is the $150million for one movie or both. They shot them at the same time.

So, Jonathan Bailey is playing a mature student in this?

They really belabour every point in this movie.

Also, shame about the music.

“I can’t stop thinking about Wicked! I love it so much!”

– Saoirse Ronan

I just say it today.

It was WAY too long. They could have easily shaved off an hour and a half and lost nothing of value.

Agreed R225.

I hear ya, r225.

I saw it today (actually yesterday) and loved it.

Steven Spielberg requested a special screening of Wicked with Jon M. Chu and Ariana Grande. George Lucas also raved about the movie.

For all the hype, Wicked is slowing domestically and isn’t doing anywhere near the global box office that Barbie did, lagging at least 20 points behind. Even compared to The Great and Powerful Oz, it is lagging internationally. Which will impact its Oscar chances as well because a large voting block in the Academy is international and the interest just isn’t there.

It will struggle to do $1B at the global box office.

I can't put my finger on why exactly, but Wicked lacks a certain charm.

I enjoyed the movie overall but will never watch it again in theaters or at home. Too long and you can feel it.

r232 I would watch the final, I don't know, 30 minutes again. The only parts worth it to me were the scenes in Emerald City. The flying monkey scene was top rate.

I agree with R232, I mean it was okay but I’ll never see it again. It’s one of those films that starts promisingly enough but within 10 minutes you’re like, “Oh. Right.” From that point I was mostly wondering about MGM’s involvement.

I liked the flying monkeys stuff too, R233. Oddly enough, the part that’s been criticised the most - the long adventure sequence with Erivo & Grande - was one of the more enjoyable sequences to me. What I didn’t like were the songs, that all sound like David Foster produced rejects from the mid-‘80s. It was particularly jarring because I associate the land of Oz with great Harold Arlen tunes, not that Stephen Schwartz dreck.

Wicked has already outgrossed every Harry Potter movie in the US, which is amazing considering how huge those books were.