When the lights went down and the familiar green glow washed across the screen, it became clear that Wicked was not here to tiptoe into Oz. Jon M. Chu’s long awaited adaptation arrives bursting with colour, spectacle, and some of the most breathtaking vocal performances cinema has had in years. What could have been a cautious translation of a beloved stage show becomes something far richer. This is a full bodied, emotionally charged, visually sweeping piece of film-making that proves the world of Oz was always meant to expand.

A tale rewritten for the screen

From the first moments at Shiz, the scale feels instantly cinematic. Chu builds a world that feels lived in and layered rather than theatrical. The vivid greens of the Emerald City, the muted autumnal tones of Shiz, and the subtle shimmer woven through Oz’s landscapes all combine to create a version of the world that feels fresh without losing its roots.

There was plenty of scepticism around the story being divided into two films, but the end result proves just how right that choice was. Splitting the story in two turns out to be one of the film’s smartest decisions. Instead of racing from song to song, Part One lets relationships breathe. It gives room for Elphaba and Glinda to grow from strangers to rivals to a deeply bonded, fiercely devoted friendship that anchors the entire story, building a foundation that genuinely earns its emotional punch.

Cynthia Erivo delivers a remarkable Elphaba

Cynthia Erivo’s performance is extraordinary. Not just good, not just impressive, but truly exceptional. She anchors the entire film with a mixture of vulnerability and raw power that is impossible to look away from. Every note she sings feels like it is pulled from somewhere deep and aching. Her quieter moments reveal as much as her towering vocals, and when she reaches the climactic “Defying Gravity” the cinema might as well have levitated with her.

It is a performance made for the big screen. Electrifying, emotional, unforgettable.

Ariana Grande shines with surprising depth

Ariana Grande’s Glinda is another triumph. Grande doesn’t play Glinda as a parody or a cartoon. She leans into her sweetness, her insecurity, her yearning to belong. Her vocals are pristine, effortless, and beautifully shaped for the camera. What surprises most is how grounded and emotionally resonant she is. Her chemistry with Erivo is the engine of the film, and the two play off each other with genuine warmth and tension.

Together, they elevate the story far beyond anything expected.

Jonathan Bailey charms as Fiyero

Now… Jonathan Bailey. A moment of appreciation. His Fiyero is magnetic, mischievous, and layered in a way the stage version rarely gets to explore. Bailey brings wit, swagger, and an instant spark to every scene he enters. “Dancing Through Life” is one of the film’s standout musical set pieces, choreographed with playful energy and made irresistible by Bailey’s easy charm. He adds a modern, youthful confidence that makes the love triangle more engaging and gives Fiyero real depth.

A supporting cast that enriches Oz

Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible carries a chilling elegance. She commands every scene with a quiet menace, her measured delivery making the character’s manipulations feel all the more unsettling. Jeff Goldblum’s Wizard is delightfully slippery with moments of surprising fragility. It is pitch perfect casting. Goldblum plays him with a blend of charm, chaos, and insecurity that makes him both magnetic and morally murky. His interpretation adds nuance to the Wizard’s authority, grounding the character in vulnerability rather than pure theatrics.

The ensemble work is strong across the board, giving Oz a distinct political and emotional texture that feels more defined than in any previous version. Every supporting performance feels carefully shaped, adding richness to a world already bursting with detail.

A visual feast backed by real heart

Cinematically, Wicked is a marvel. The production design is intricate, the colour palette lush, the special effects woven with purpose rather than excess. Chu’s direction is sharp, emotional, and confident, balancing huge spectacle with intimate character work. The choreography, staging, and cinematography all work together to craft musical numbers that feel both grand and grounded.

The film is big in every way, but always rooted in emotion.

CultureCues Standout Moment(s): I simply couldn’t pick one

I could not pick just one. Two scenes defined this film for me, each unforgettable in its own way.

The Oz Dust Ball. The dance between Elphaba and Glinda is tender, luminous, and quietly devastating. The soft lighting, the hesitant steps turning into genuine connection, the way Glinda’s eyes fill when she realises what this friendship means to her. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the theatre. It is the emotional core of Part One made physical, a moment of pure sincerity that captures everything the story is building toward.

THAT high note. Elphaba rising on the balcony during “Defying Gravity”. The swelling orchestration, Cynthia’s unmatched vocals, Glinda watching with love and heartbreak, and the camera lifting with Elphaba’s final note. It is goosebumps inducing, era defining cinema.

Does Part One stand alone? Almost

Inevitably, it feels like half of a story. The final stretch builds to a soaring, breathtaking crescendo just before the narrative cuts off. But this isn’t a flaw. It is anticipation. The film ends exactly where it intends to, leaving audiences desperate to follow Elphaba into the next chapter.

As a beginning, it is exceptional. And as a promise, it is thrilling.