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“Believe what you feel and know you’re right because/The time will come around when you’ll say it’s yours,” croons Lena Horne as Glinda the Good Witch of the South near the climax of 1978’s The Wiz, a mega-budget adaptation of the funky all-Black Broadway reimagining of Baum’s Oz universe. Cinema history is littered with the shadows of what might have been but never was. But at least in the case of The Wiz, arguably the only all-Black Hollywood studio super-production until Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, it’s both a wonder and a testament to the kindness of the fates that something the benefit of 20/20 hindsight has cast as a true outlier managed to slip through.

And, at least in the hearts of its underserved audience, the film flourishes to this day. Odie Henderson, in his Blaxploitation survey Black Caesars and Foxy Cleopatras, surmised “The Wiz...

Death is inevitable, but few are happy to welcome it. The topic brings with it existential dread, if not terror, and thousands of years of philosophical and theological discussion, all to try and cope with that final frontier. While some learn to approach the end with acceptance, even peace, it's seldom easy. And so, death in media becomes another tool by which we can confront this universal experience by whistling past the cemetery, if nothing else.

Dying in a movie can be a moment of tragedy. Done well, it can also be a black, vivacious laugh. Sometimes it's bathos: anticlimactic, like that bit in James Cameron's "Titanic" where some poor dude thunks off the sinking ship's propeller. It's a horrible laugh, but darn if it doesn't ease the sorrow. In honor of that guy, we're going down the list of 15 of the best cinematic deaths ever. It should be...

Upon hearing the name “Dorothy” I, like most, immediately think of The Wizard of Oz. I remember watching the film when I was a kid, sitting on the couch with my family. I remember my parents calling it “a classic.” Dorothy Gale has become synonymous with many things over the 125 years since she first appeared in L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, from Kansas to ruby red slippers, Judy Garland to a 1950s LGBTQ+ signifier.

Jeffrey McHale has made a documentary to look at the character of Dorothy Gale in her entirety. Over the last 125 years she has appeared through nearly every medium––more than 40 films, television shows, novels, and plays. It’s Dorothy! tracks Dorothy from Garland through every iteration, through each actor to portray the role, through her growing and changing cultural impact. More than anything, it’s a documentary about joy.

McHale focuses on...

A favorite nugget of Wizard of Oz lore for many of us is the sublimely funny TV guide blurb written for a 1998 TCM airing of the MGM classic: “Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first person she meets and then teams up with three strangers to kill again.” The inclusion of amusing oddities like that is what pulls It’s Dorothy! back whenever it threatens to go from exhaustive to exhausting, from dissection to dissertation.

Welcome humor comes also from new discoveries — at least to me — like the bizarrely kitsch spectacle of eliminated contestants on BBC talent search show Over the Rainbow removing their jeweled slippers and handing them to Andrew Lloyd Webber on a throne before being carried off the set on a cutout moon. Wtf? The winner — or survivor — of that Brit reality TV horror, Danielle Hope, went on to star in London as...

If there’s one criticism to be lobbed at Jeffrey McHale’s energetic, engrossing, and often quite loving documentary “It’s Dorothy!,” it’s that the documentarian has selected perhaps too good of a subject. The mythology and meaning of Dorothy Gale, the great hero of “The Wizard of Oz,” could easily inspire an entire series of films. While McHale somehow manages to touch on a dozen hot topics in his documentary — what the on-screen role means to the women who have played her, how and why the LGBTQ+ community so love her, how we grapple with the misdeeds of our favorite artists, and that’s literally just a small sample — that can make the actual film on offer feel a bit unfinished.

Still, McHale manages to hold all these very big topics together in an otherwise slim 97-minute running time. Packed with major talking heads, zippy animation, and a bouncing...

Elton John unexpectedly joins The Wizard of Oz universe ahead of Wicked: For Good's release date. Earlier this week, the official trailer for Wicked's sequel dropped, building immense excitement to see Elphaba and Gilda reunite. That movie won't release until November 21, but in the meantime, The Wizard of Oz franchise is heading toward a comic book spinoff.

According to People, Sir Elton John will be writing the forward to Ultimate Oz Universe: The Lost Lands, a graphic novel set in the wicked world of Oz. The 114-page novel from Artists, Writers, and Artisans, Inc. (Awa) and Simon & Schuster is largely inspired by the original 1900 book by L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The news comes with the following press release:

The magic of Oz has been influential throughout legendary musician Sir Elton John's life, from childhood to inspiring the iconic song Goodbye Yellow Brick Road to now.

To say that the first part of Jon M. Chu's blockbuster take on Broadway smash Wicked went down well with fans and critics alike would be something of an understatement. The filmmaker's Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo starring Wizard Of Oz prequel wasn't just popular — it was a box-office record breaker. Now Chu just has the unenviable task of, er, sticking the landing on his wildly ambitious Wicked Witch Of The West origin story with Wicked: For Good. Luckily, if the spellbinding first trailer for our return to Oz is anything to go by, it looks like we're in safe hands. Hold onto your hats (and brooms) — it's gonna be emotional:

Holy Shiz! When we talked to Chu last year following Wicked's release, the director told Empire he had the goods for Part Two, confidently hailing For Good 'a doozy'. And on present evidence, that was no lie.

Exclusive: Andrew Herwitz’s Film Sales Company has come on to represent worldwide sales on two documentaries and two narrative features that are about to receive their world premieres at Tribeca Festival (June 4-15).

Jeffrey McHale’s documentaryIt’s Dorothy!explores the cultural relevance of Dorothy Gale, the heroine of L. Frank Baum’s 125-year-old classicThe Wizard Of Oz. The Spotlight Documentary entry uses archival footage and interviews with the women who portrayed Dorothy from Judy Garland to Diana Ross to examine the character’s enduring appeal.

She Runs The World focuses on the story of American athlete Allyson Felix,...

Universal Pictures has announced the nationwide theatrical re-release of The Wiz, the 1978 Oscar-nominated musical starring music legends Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, screen icon Lena Horne, and comedy titan Richard Pryor.

The landmark film, which reimagines L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, through the lens of 1970s Black culture, will return to theaters nationwide for special screenings on May 18 and May 21, 2025.

Nearly five decades since its original release, The Wiz remains a defining moment in cinematic history, celebrated for its bold, revolutionary vision of Oz. Based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, The Wiz tells the story of Dorothy (Oscar nominee Ross), a Harlem schoolteacher who is transported to the magical land of Oz during a snowstorm.

There, she embarks on a journey to meet the all-powerful ruler of Oz, The Wiz (Grammy and Emmy winner Richard Pryor), and find a way back home. Along the way,...

Judy Garland‘s daughter, Lorna Luft, is opening up about Wicked.

The 72-year-old actress and singer says her late mother “would’ve loved” the movie in an interview with People.

“She would’ve loved it [Wicked],” she said while attending the opening night of Stephen Sondheim‘s Old Friends on Broadway on Tuesday (April 8).

Keep reading to find out more…

When asked what songs Judy might love from the project, she said: “I have no idea. But she would’ve loved it.”

“I think it’s just an honor to be here,” she added of being at the Old Friends premiere. “And Stephen Sondheim is a treasure, a national treasure to all of us.”

Judy passed away in 1969, and starred as Dorothy Gale in the 1939 adaptation of L. Frank Baum‘s The Wizard of Oz.

Wicked is based on Stephen Schwartz‘s Broadway musical of the same name, based on Gregory Maguire‘s novel.

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Unless a house has suddenly fallen on you in the land of Oz, then you know that Wicked is one of the most talked about films of the past year. It grossed a total of $634.4 million across the globe, with pink and green fans flocking to see it in droves. Starring Ariana Grande-Butera and Cynthia Erivo as Glinda the Good and Elphaba, this blockbuster is available to stream at home.

Making big-budget blockbusters can be an isolating process, especially if you're a performer used to working with other actors and physical sets who is, all of a sudden, confined to a recording booth or something similar. This is what Peter Dinklage experienced when he worked on "Wicked," Jon M. Chu's massively successful (and Oscar-winning) adaptation of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's long-running Broadway musical. In the film, Emmy-winner Dinklage plays Doctor Dillamond, a talking goat who teaches at Shiz University and earns the affection of the young green-skinned witch Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo), but according to an interview Dinklage had with Cinema Express in November 2024, he didn't totally love the experience, because he was not physically on set.

"It was a bit of a lonely process, recording in a sound booth apart from the rest of the cast, but it's such an honour to be part of something...

After seemingly having concluded its theatrical run with critical acclaim, box office success, and a couple of Oscars under its belt, the musical adaptation Wicked announced that it intends to defy gravity for a little while longer. The movie debuted in its final major territory, Japan, this past week. It has earned over $5 million in Japan so far, elevating both its box office haul, and its ranking on the all-time list of the highest-grossing films in history. Wicked is based on the popular Broadway musical of the same name, which itself is based on Gregory Maguire's novel, which was inspired by L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard of Oz" books.

Although some viewers underestimate the power of children's films, these stories can deliver some of the most powerful and shocking twists audiences have ever seen.

There are plenty of incredible children's films to choose from, and quite a few have incredible plot twists that leave the audience astonished.

Scrappy-Doo Returns as the Villain Scooby-Doo (2002)

Scooby-Doo is a franchise that has evolved for more than fifty years in movies, television shows, shorts, comics and more. In 2002, Warner Bros. took the major step in turning Scooby-Doo into a live-action movie, starring Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Linda Cardellini and the incredible Matthew Lillard. The film would see the gang reunite after years of splitting up to solve a fascinating mystery on Spooky Island. Although fans were mixed about what they thought about the film, Scooby-Doo has aged quite well as a nostalgic, fun adventure.

As Scooby-Doo is well known for its tropes,...

Take a look at the Oscar-winning live-action, musical fantasy feature, “Wicked”, directed by Jon M. Chu, adapting L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz”, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, now available on digital platforms:

“…set in the ‘Land of Oz’, before and continuing after the arrival of ‘Dorothy Gale' from Kansas…

“…the new film follows ‘Elphaba Thropp’. a green-skinned woman, and explores the path that leads her to become the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’…

‘… all while forming an unlikely friendship and later rivalry with ‘Glinda Upland’…

“…who would go on to become ‘Glinda the Good’…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

It's no surprise that the biggest night in movies opened with a performance from one of the biggest films of the year. To open the 97th Academy Awards ceremony, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo took the stage to perform a show-stopping medley of songs from The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and, of course, the duo's box office hit Wicked.

The Oscars opened with a bittersweet, heartfelt tribute to the city of Los Angeles, which is currently rebuilding in the aftermath of January's devastating wildfires, before ceding the stage to Ariana Grande. Dressed appropriately in red, Grande delivered a stunning rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," followed by Erivo's performance of "Home" from The Wiz. Then, the two actresses reunited on-stage to bring down the house with "Defying Gravity," their signature piece that closes Wicked's first act.

Related'Wicked' Star Shares Emotional Response to Oscar Nod That Could Put Her...

“Wicked”, the live-action, musical fantasy feature, directed by Jon M. Chu, adapting L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz”, streams March 21, 2025 exclusively on Peacock:

“…set in the ‘Land of Oz’, before and continuing after the arrival of ‘Dorothy Gale' from Kansas…

“…the new film follows ‘Elphaba Thropp’. a green-skinned woman, and explores the path that leads her to become the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’…

‘… all while forming an unlikely friendship and later rivalry with ‘Glinda Upland’…

“…who would go on to become ‘Glinda the Good’…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Three months after its theatrical debut, Wicked has finally set a streaming release date on Peacock, and fans are going to be thrilled with all the additional content that’s available. After taking in nearly $730 million at the worldwide box office, director Jon M. Chu’s celebrated musical will hit the streaming service on March 21, 2025.

In addition to its regular version, a special sing-along version of Wicked will also be available for viewers, which presumably has the lyrics on the screen like karaoke, so you can belt out the film's many musical numbers in the comfort of your own home. It's part of the full "Defying Gravity" collection being presented by Peacock, which also includes Defying Gravity: The Curtain Rises on Wicked NBC Special, and Making Wicked, both of which give fans a look at what went into creating the film, with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage featuring stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande,...

Wicked co-screenwriter Dana Fox revealed that the second part in the saga, Wicked: For Good, will go even deeper in exploring Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda's (Ariane Grande) relationship with one another. Speaking with Screen Rant at the Writer's Guild of America awards, Fox explained that For Good will expand upon the second act of the original Broadway musical, which is considered by some to be less exciting than act one. Fox stated:

"Part Two actually has a little bit more room to be able to explore. Part One was pretty packed in terms of what was in the first act of the play, and all the things we knew we had to do. We explored, we deepened, and we tried to give you moments that you didn't have in the play... But in the second movie, there's a little bit more space for interpretation and space to go...

This article contains potential spoilers for "Wicked: For Good."

If you saw "Wicked" and are familiar with "The Wizard of Oz," you've probably already drawn some connections between the two. You might know, for instance, that a couple members of Dorothy's famous crew have already popped up in "Wicked," albeit under different names. And of course, if you've seen the original Broadway musical, you know exactly how the two stories intersect, as the entirety of "The Wizard of Oz" takes place in the background of the show's second act.

Jon M. Chu's "Wicked: For Good," which is set to arrive in late 2025, will complete the story, revealing all of the larger Oz connections to those who haven't seen the play live. That includes the character of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), headmistress of Shiz University. Madame Morrible doesn't appear in "The Wizard of Oz," which, of course, is mostly...

"Wicked," the hit film based on the Broadway music of the same name has garnered a lot of love from audiences and critics alike. While our own review found it a bit messy, the majority of critics appreciated the bright, bold Broadway adaptation, praising the performances of stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in particular. They both act and sing their hearts out as Glinda (the "Good Witch") and Elphaba (the "Wicked Witch of the West") respectively, which led some fans to be completely shocked when they checked the Oscar nomination announcements and saw that "Wicked" had not been nominated for either Best Original Song or Best Original Score. 

"Wicked" did nab four nominations, for Best Actress for Erivo, Best Supporting Actress for Grande, Best Film Editing, and the coveted Best Picture award, so it's not like Academy voters ignored the movie entirely. It turns out there's a good reason...

Ariana Grande has been the talk of Hollywood lately thanks to her standout performance as Glinda the Good in last year's Wicked. This awards season, she's up for multiple trophies, including Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards, where she'll compete against the likes of Zoe Saldaña and Isabella Rossellini, to name a couple. Her stock has risen so much that now the former Nickelodeon star is apparently being offered a slew of roles, including one in the upcoming Spaceballs 2.

According to a new in-depth profile on Grande published by The Hollywood Reporter, the actress and singer is so hot right now following the success of Wicked that she's been approached about numerous follow-up roles. These include, the profile says, "a disaster wedding comedy, a female detective romp set in a Housewives-style reality show, and a Spaceballs sequel." However, Grande, now 31, isn't too eager to just accept anything that comes her way.

Ariana Grande is worldwide famous for her global pop star persona, but her career started in acting and theater. Following the massive success of Wicked, the actress could make a switch to a sci-fi comedy.

Grande played Glinda in Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the 2003 musical Wicked, and, for her role, she received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress. She is set to reprise her role in the upcoming second part, Wicked: For Good, but her talents are not overlooked in the film industry. In a lengthy interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Grande shied away from directly confirming she was offered a role in the upcoming Spaceballs 2.

Related'One Battle I Lost': Wicked Producer Revealed the Change He Wanted for the Film (& The Change Made it Better)

Wicked's 10 Oscar nominations prove the change was necessary.

Asked about her future projects, which also include "a disaster wedding comedy,...

Wicked had a series of professionals both on screen and behind the screen, which is why it was a big success. Marc Platt, who was the producer of the film, has a wide experience in theater and the movie industry, but he had a different idea for Wicked.

The 2024 hit is based on the 2003 Broadway musical, which has had multiple renditions all over the world since. Although the musical tells the whole story with an intermission, director Jon M. Chu divided the screen adaptation into two separate features. However, during the annual Producers Guild of America, Marc Platt revealed he wanted the film to be released all at once with an intermission, per The Hollywood Reporter.

Related'The Gatekeeping Fan Girl': Ariana Grande Explained Her Nonnegotiable Changes in Wicked and Acting Future

Ariana Grande will never stop protecting Wicked.

"I remember going to the movies as a kid and...

Filmmakers faced unique challenges in how to make individual parts of a singular vision work on their own. And now both are competing for Best Picture.

Something unusual’s going on in this year’s list of Academy Award Best Picture nominees. Namely that one of the films aired its first installment in theaters mid-2021 pandemic… and another hasn’t even released its second half yet. Those films? Dune: Part 2 and Wicked. Should either overcome long odds — Wicked is tied for fifth in the Gold Derby ranking, while Dune is ninth in the 10-film race — it would be the first time that one half of a two-parter took home the biggest prize of the film season.

“History could be made,” chuckles Tanya Lapointe, one of the producers from Denis Villeneuve‘s Dune 2. “It’s a fascinating year.”

To put it mildly. Audiences and voters have been used to literal...

When Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings hit theaters in 2001, it was as if overnight, the fantasy genre was birthed to audiences everywhere. Lord of the Rings has proven so influential to cinema that even 20 years later, fantasy films are still liberally borrowing from the acclaimed trilogy and original author J. R. R. Tolkien's worldbuilding.

Despite how much Lord of the Rings changed cinema, it by no means created fantasy. The genre had an expansive catalog in the '80s, which holds a few quality gems. From pulpy cult classics like Dragon Slayer to the iconic Conan the Barbarian, there are plenty of noteworthy fantasy movies to check out.

Updated by Jordan Iacobucci on January 27, 2025: The Lord of the Rings may be the pinnacle of fantasy, but it was far from the first word in the genre. These epic fantasy films predate the beginning of Peter Jackson's...

Despite earning several Oscar nominations a few days ago, Universal's Wicked didn't witness much of an uptick in box office numbers this weekend. Not that it should matter to the musical blockbuster, which has already generated a massive haul globally. This weekend, its 10th, Wicked passed Dune: Part Two to become one of the top five biggest hits of 2024. The movie is based on the major Broadway musical of the same name, which itself was based on Gregory Maguire's novel. The book, in turn, was inspired by L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz stories.

The movie musical Wicked has been a hit from the gate, but it recently surpassed the $700 million mark at the global box office. This places it comfortably as one of the most successful films of the year, and it still has some major markets to release in.

Per Deadline, as of Wednesday, Wicked topped $700 million globally. That total is broken down into $240.4 million internationally, and $460.6 million at the domestic box office. The news comes in the wake of Wicked’s nomination for the PGA Awards – along with The Penguin, Dune: Part Two, and Shōgun.

Related 'Return to the Arena': Spartacus Revival Series Gets First Look Trailer (With 1 Returning Star)

The first action-packed sneak peek at Spartacus: House of Ashur has just been released.

It is particularly impressive that Wicked was able to reach that global milestone since the film has already been released for VOD (video on-demand). In fact, in...

One of Wicked's most iconic songs included a subtle reference to Dorothy Gale, a character who is expected to appear in the franchise's upcoming sequel, Wicked: For Good. Wicked has exceeded expectations in terms of success, and critics reviewing Wicked have praised the performances, soundtrack, and references to the Broadway musical. Winning the Golden Globe for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, Wicked has become a global phenomenon and has quickly risen to become one of the most acclaimed musical movies of all time.

Loosely based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, originally written by L. Frank Baum. Director Jon M. Chu's adaptation explores how Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) rose to become the Wicked Witch of the West, the most feared and hated figure throughout Oz, and the events that took place in the Emerald City before Dorothy Gale arrived.

Remakes and re-imaginings are modern Hollywood's biggest trend, as every year, at least one major studio releases a new take on one of their older films. The anime industry is no different, as the last few years have seen several big-budget remakes of classic anime films and series. However, there are some anime films that, despite desperately needing a remake, have yet to receive one.

There are many reasons an anime film may need a remake. Sometimes, the passage of time has caused the movie's animation to become dated and hard to watch. Other movies attempted to adapt beloved novels, manga, or TV shows but failed to do them justice, leaving fans desperately wanting more. And sometimes, a film misses the mark despite having a fascinating premise, leaving fans wondering what could be if the idea was handled correctly.

Related 10 Best Anime Based on Asian Folklore, Ranked

Folklore and mythology...

Splitting the Tony-winning musical in half on the big screen, Wicked: For Good is slated to arrive in 2025, and there are already a ton of exciting details. Based on the eponymous musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, Wicked is set in the world of L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz, and follows Galinda (the eventual good witch) and Elphaba (the eventual wicked witch) as they attend the prestigious Shiz University. The stage production was a smash-hit, and it was only natural that Hollywood would come calling, but delays pushed the surefire blockbuster further and further down the line.

When the movie finally did arrive in 2024, Wicked was greeted with stellar reviews that put particular emphasis on the film's scale and the performances of the main cast. Though changes from the stage production were inevitable when adapting a Broadway musical, the most ambitious choice was to split the story into two separate films.

Ariana Grande-Butera reveals how filming with Cynthia Erivo for Glinda and Elphaba's pivotal duet in Wicked: For Good provided her with an experience unlike anything else she has done during the production of the two-part musical adaptation. Following on from 2024's Wicked, the 2025 sequel reunites with Glinda and Elphaba during the events of the original tale of The Wizard of Oz. Wicked: For Good sees Grande-Butera's Galinda step into the role of Glinda the Good Witch, as Oz brands Elphaba an enemy of the people.

After Wicked left audiences in wonder, Grande-Butera teased to Variety that there is still even more spectacle to come as she opened up about filming one of Wicked: For Good's most essential numbers. When speaking about "For Good", the star stated that the experience stood out to her most out of everything she had done for the two-part adaptation. The week of filming had...

Wicked dives into the personal life of The Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West, and even her name is a subtle Easter egg to the original story. The 2024 movie is based on the Broadway musical of the same name, which is itself based on the 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. The author did the work of diving a little deeper into the world of Oz, providing a prequel story that gave audiences a look at everything from the villain's perspective. Maguire ultimately named the Wicked Witch Elphaba, and this same name has carried over into the Wicked musical and, of course, the movie.

Maguire's Wicked novel was a smash hit, and less than a decade after its release, it was adapted into a Broadway musical—which is currently the fourth-longest running and winner of over 100 awards. Now, Wicked has been adapted to the screen, broken into two parts, with...

Once upon a time, about 24 years ago, when Marc Platt (“La La Land”) moved from production president of Universal Pictures to launch his own producing shingle at the studio, he brought with him a movie adaptation of the 1995 Gregory Maguire novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” a prequel to L. Frank Baum’s classic “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and the 1939 Judy Garland musical. Linda Woolverton’s first script was a straight film adaptation; a small part of the mix was the origin story of two witches of Oz, Glinda the Good Witch and Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West.

A blockbuster movie musical like “Wicked” (Universal) is the sum of years of dedicated labor and deliberate decisions about what to keep from the book or the show, or what to add and change for the movie. Somehow, over two decades, producer...

Many have noticed the following trend in recent years, and it strikes everyone as incredibly odd. Whenever a major Hollywood studio pours millions into a high-profile movie musical, they insist on eschewing the fact that they have done so in the film's advertising. One might note that the early previews for Jon M. Chu's "Wicked" didn't feature any of the film's songs, despite being based on one of the most popular Broadway musicals of all time. Likewise, trailers for "Mufasa: The Lion King" didn't boast any of the film's songs, despite them having been written by Disney superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda. Earlier this year, previews from the musical rendition of "Mean Girls," also adapted from a Broadway show, didn't have any singing in them, and the ads for the 2023 hit "Wonka" were also song-free. 

This has led many pundits and critics to ask why Hollywood is manufacturing a stigma against musicals.

Plenty of incredible movies in 2024 featured astounding performances that exceeded audience expectations. Whether it was long-awaited adaptations of beloved stage shows, biopics of legendary musical figures, or surprisingly effective horror sequels, lots of talented actors managed to go above and beyond in their roles and give some of the best performances of the year. From major names to relative newcomers, it was impressive how actors managed to deliver exciting performances that nobody saw coming.

While audiences sometimes go into movies with sky-high expectations, it’s always nice to leave a theater being genuinely surprised by the performance seen on screen. Looking back on all the films released in 2024, it's striking just how much up-and-coming talent there is in Hollywood and how older, beloved figures have also maintained their relevance even after decades of performing. All of these movie performances achieved something special, delivering unforgettable moments that reminded viewers why cinema...

Wage disparity in Hollywood, especially with the gender pay gap, is an ongoing concern, but in the case of The Wizard of Oz, Toto the dog made more than some of the human actors. The Wizard of Oz is a timeless masterpiece brimming with imagination and whimsy, which boasts an ensemble of cherished characters. Among them is Judy Garland's captivating portrayal of Dorothy Gale, who embarks on a journey to find her way home with her loyal companion Toto. The film's release in 1939, also known as "Hollywood's Golden Year," saw numerous classics come to the big screen.

Within this lineup, The Wizard of Oz stands out due to its delightful songs, captivating characters, and the utilization of Technicolor technology. However, there are many controversies surrounding The Wizard of Oz, including stories of dangerous makeup and workplace harassment. The film also had significant wage gaps; Terry the dog, cast as Toto,...

Cynthia Erivo reveals how a quiet and honest moment between Elphaba and Ethan Slater's Boq is one of the moments from Wicked's big screen adaptation that she wishes had been included in the final cut. Adapting Gregory McGuire's reimagining of L. Frank Baum's classic fantasy world, where the Wicked Witch of the West's tragic past and rise to wickedness, Erivo portrays Elphaba in Wicked, the future Wicked Witch, while Slater portrays Boq Woodsman, a classmate of Elphaba's at Shiz University from Munchkinland.

With Wicked receiving its digital home release, Erivo, Grande-Butera and director Jon M. Chu sat down with Variety to discuss moments that were removed from the movie in the final edit. Both Grande-Butera and Erivo agreed that the moment where Elphaba and Boq discuss their true romantic feelings for others before her departure to the Emerald City was one of their favorite scenes that didn't make the cut,...

Smash hit musical Wicked will be available to stream for a premium price this week ahead of a physical media release in February.

Not too many Broadway musicals have had the impact that Wicked has had over the last 20 years or so. With a book by Winnie Holzman based on Gregory Maguire’s novel and taking place both before and around the events of L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz and its iconic 1939 film adaptation, the story follows Elphaba Thropp, a girl born with green skin who will become the Wicked Witch of the West.

She accompanies her paraplegic sister, Nessarose, to Shiz University. On arrival, she accidentally unleashes a burst of magic, attracting the attention of Madame Morrible, who enrols her at the school and forces popular socialite Galinda to share her room, sparking a mutual loathing between the girls. This covers the majority of part one,...

In episode 7 of Silo Season 2, Lukas Kyle came to the realization that the key to Salvador Quinn’s coded letter was probably not in any of the books in It’s secret library, but in L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. His boss, Bernard, had a pretty heated altercation with Judge Robert because the latter was refusing to hand out warrants as easily as the former judge, Meadows, used to. Due to this argument, Robert learned that Camille was the one who had sheltered Knox and Shirley to keep them from being lynched, but instead of coming apart at the seams, the couple promised to always be transparent with each other. Meanwhile, Mechanical almost turned against each other trying to find out who was responsible for poisoning their food (it was Maeve). And over in Silo 17, Juliette decided to take yet another plunge into the waters to get...

The best movies on Max include not only the best Warner Bros. movies but also a ton of other films that make it one of the best destinations for entertainment in the streaming world. In January 2025, the animated Dcu brings the fifth season of Harley Quinn to the streaming service on January 16, while the new A24 film, A Different Man, premieres one day later on January 17. The biggest news for Max is the arrival of Aew All Elite Wrestling, which will simulcast its shows on Max and add its entire pay-per-view library to the service.

More big news for animated Dcu properties is that the first season of James Gunn's Creature Commandos has been such a success that Max renewed it for a second season before the first one wraps up its run. Max also announced in December 2024 that it was bringing HBO back to the streaming service with...

85 years later, Victor Fleming's The Wizard of Oz, the 1939 Oscar-nominated adaptation of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is still widely lauded as one of the best movie musicals in history for its revolutionary setting and scale, memorable characters, and Judy Garland's wonderful performance. It's no wonder it remained influential enough to inspire Gregory Maguire's 1995 villain-reclamation novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which achieved new heights as a widely lauded Tony-winning musical Wicked. Now, Wicked, the first part of director Jon M. Chu's two-part envisioning of the beloved stage classic, is finally headed to the big screen after a journey more circuitous than the Yellow Brick Road, and the stakes couldn't be higher.

Once Upon a Time puts many unique spins on classic fairy tale characters. Once Upon a Time's concept is creative: the Evil Queen casts a Dark Curse that sends fairy tale characters to Storybrooke, Maine. Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter, Emma Swan, is destined to break this curse when she is 28. Emma arrives in Storybrooke because Henry, her son, finds her. However, the Evil Queen — Regina Mills in Storybrooke — adopted Henry when Emma gave him up at birth. This immediately establishes a complex family tree in Once Upon a Time, containing many surprises, twists, and turns.

And the Evil Queen is not the only character with a new identity in the real world. Marco and Archie Hopper exist: two characters formerly known as Geppetto and Jiminy Cricket from The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi. Another example includes Ashley Boyd, known as the titular character from Charles Perrault's Cendrillon (Cinderella). In fact,...

Smash-hit musical movie “Wicked” is flying into homes this New Year’s Eve — with a load of deleted scenes, commentary and other extras.

Following its theatrical run, the Universal Pictures film, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, will be available exclusively to purchase or rent on Dec. 31, 2024, on major digital platforms. Bonus content in the digital release includes a singalong version, plus a 40-minute journey through Oz that “celebrates the film’s transformative on-screen magic,” and other material.

Rent 'Wicked' On Prime Video

In the U.S., “Wicked” will be available from digital retailers nationwide, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu), Comcast Xfinity, Cox and Microsoft Movies & TV. “Wicked” will also debut on 4K Uhd, Blu-ray and DVD on Feb. 4, 2025.

“Wicked” set the record for the biggest opening for a movie based on a Broadway show ever and has grossed $392 million domestically to date.

Wicked, Universal's beloved musical fantasy film, has achieved the extraordinary by becoming the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation of all time. The record was previously held by Mamma Mia!, a 2008 feel-good romance film directed by Phyllida Lloyd, which earned $610 million at the global box office. Wicked has surpassed this benchmark, amassing an astonishing $634 million worldwide after only six weeks of release.

Directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), the film marks the first installment of a two-part series, which is loosely based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, L. Frank Baum's Oz books, and the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. The first musical act has surprised many fans globally, including those who typically dislike musicals.A month prior, Wicked broke the all-time domestic box office record by becoming the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation, earning $214.3 million by its second...

Amid its dominant run, Wicked just crossed a major milestone at the box office. Inspired by the Broadway musical, the movie stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp alongside Ariana Grande's Galinda Upland. It debuted to exceptional reviews and featured a runtime that was the same length as the original play, though it featured only half of the musical's story. A sequel, the upcoming Wicked: For Good, is set to be released on November 21, 2025. After the success of the original movie, it is poised to see immense success.

After all, according to a report by Deadline, the blockbuster musical just became the highest-grossing stage musical adaptation of all time. With a global estimate of $634.4 million through the weekend, it passed Mamma Mia!'s $611 million total for the title. Wicked's total comes from a split that featured $424 million in the domestic box office and $210 million internationally. Mamma Mia!, by contrast,...

Now having completed a month in release, Universal’s blockbuster hit Wicked passed a massive new milestone at the domestic box office on Thursday. Not only has the musical now entered the list of the top 50 highest-grossing films of all time, it has become only the third film of the year to pass the $400 million milestone. Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked is based on the iconic Broadway musical of the same name, which itself is based on Gregory Maguire’s novel. The novel was inspired by the works of L. Frank Baum, proving that nobody can call into question Hollywood’s aversion to original ideas.

Take a look at more footage from the “Wicked” live-action, musical fantasy feature, directed by Jon M. Chu, adapting L. Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz”, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, available December 31, 2024 on digital platforms to purchase or rent:

“…set in the ‘Land of Oz’, before and continuing after the arrival of ‘Dorothy Gale' from Kansas…

“…the new film follows ‘Elphaba Thropp’. a green-skinned woman, and explores the path that leads her to become the ‘Wicked Witch of the West’…

‘… all while forming an unlikely friendship and later rivalry with ‘Glinda Upland’…

“…who would go on to become ‘Glinda the Good’…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

In episode 6 of Silo Season 2, Knox and Shirley led a small battalion of warriors from Mechanical to the Up Top and pushed back the barricades that had been set up on the stairwell by Judicial and It all the way from the 130th level to the 120th level. Since Bernard was starving out the Down Deepers and even attempted to poison them so that they’d be compelled to give up Knox and Shirley for allegedly killing Meadows, they had to gain access to the farms so that they wouldn’t have to depend on anyone for their food. Elsewhere in the silo, Robert Sims became the new judge, while Amundsen was given the position of the new head of security of It. Bernard tasked Lukas Kyle with decoding Salvador Quinn’s letter and, later on, made him his shadow. Meanwhile, Sheriff Paul Billings decided to side with Knox and...

The Big Short and Don't Look Up director Adam McKay thinks Wicked is "one of the most radical big studio Hollywood movies ever made." Not only that, but he went on to add that, "if America keeps going on the track it is, I wouldn't be surprised to see the movie banned in 3-5 years."

In a new series of tweets on the platform formerly known as Twitter (and now known as X), the deeply politically-minded and active director broke down some of the reasons why he's so surprised about the "striking" juxtaposition between the film's message and the time at which it's coming out.

Related 'Wicked' Was Almost a Very Different Movie...In the 1990s

Two significant industry figures were vying for the rights of Gregory Maguire's novel in the 1990s.

After all, "America has never been more right wing and propagandized," McKay noted. And it's...