Wicked recently turned 3 months old on Wednesday—and nonetheless it has been a hit movie. On opening weekend, the Broadway musical earned $164.2 million; soon climbing to $635 million worldwide in the box office. This magical movie has earned so many titles, the most impressive being the highest grossing film to be based on a Broadway show, which is HUGE for the musical community.
Wicked is directed by Jon M. Chu and stars household names like Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. The story stemmed from the book written by Gregory Maguire and bloomed into a Broadway success. The first appearance of this fantasy novel was in 2003 located in San Francisco—starring Kristen Chenoweth as Glinda and Idina Menzel as Elphaba. It then went on to premiere 8,000 times and won 3 Tony awards, 7 Drama Desk awards, and a Grammy award for best musical show.
The two-part film (yes, there is another one coming) follows Elphaba, a magical misunderstood girl, and a popular, bubbly girl named Glinda. Both end up attending a mystical school called Shiz—and they end up as roommates together. It was rocky for them at first, with Glinda judging Elphaba at every turn, but eventually, they form a friendship despite their differences. Reaching the end of the movie, Elphaba faces her challenges with contradicting beliefs from Shiz that go against her own. She ultimately ends up turning on the admin and is labeled as the “Wicked Witch.” This sets the stage for the main antagonist in Wizard of Oz; which Wicked is set before.
It is clear that Elphaba is misunderstood and perceived as someone who is “evil,” but aside from the main plot, there is also a deeper meaning to Wicked. It is shown throughout the movie, that no matter the differences, relationships and friendships can still be formed. It is set that everyone judges too quickly and makes that their whole perception on someone. This idea being shown in Wicked is incredible, and I think very needed especially with how divided everyone seems to be now. This movie shows that friendship can still stand despite different goals and interests. This movie sets an amazing example on no matter how many contrasts someone might share with someone, it does not mean a beautiful bond cannot be formed.
Despite the amazing portrayal of this, Wicked also shows that not every friendship can withstand the weight of life. As I mentioned before, at the end of the movie Elphaba protests the rulings of Shiz and turns against the staff. This ultimately drives the girls apart. They’re forced to choose between loyalty and social expectations. Glinda wanted approval and public power, while Elphaba chose to stand against the practices of the staff. Though the sad diversion of the two, the movie still captures the imprint friendship leaves on someone, and how important they stay to each other.
Really, Wicked isn’t just about friendship; it’s about the way friendships and relationships shape our perception of ourselves and how it helps somebody grow. Showing that no matter the outcome, it still leaves the biggest imprint on our lives and soul.
