Film opinion: How ‘Wicked’ took the film industry by storm
Over the past seven months, Wicked has taken the film industry by storm - earning a total of $634.4 million at the worldwide box office, making history as the highest grossing adaptation of a Broadway musical ever.
It is a well deserved success, as it is easily one of the best musicals to have ever hit the big screen.
Film News Blitz’s Amelie da Costa discusses the worldwide box office success of Wicked.
A beloved story
The beloved Broadway musical storyline was prominent throughout the movie and excelled expectations.
With a budget of $145 million, the whole team went above and beyond to utilise that money in set design and costumes - ensuring that the imagined on-stage sets became a reality.
Some of the well-known locations such as Emerald City, Munchkinland and Shiz University, burst to life on screen and shined throughout the story with many clever nods to The Wizard Of Oz.
Creative costume design
Many of the costumes played a significant role in the movie becoming one of the greatest musical to on-screen adaptations of all time.
The costumes have intricate designs and spectacular detail, however, the one that stood out the most was Glinda’s bubble gown, which was very different from its original Broadway aesthetic.
The dress was so elegant and airy, matching the characters personality and grace immaculately.
This allowed audiences to really get a feel of who Glinda is within the first five minutes of the film.
All the costumes brilliantly reflected each character’s personality, with many paying respect to the original Broadway designs.
This included Elphaba’s look - often dressed in long, dark clothing, perfectly capturing her reserved nature.
While the film's visual aesthetic and costume design are undoubtedly top-tier, there are other factors that make Wicked the best movie musical ever.
READ MORE: Film news: ‘Wicked: For Good’ trailer teases emotional showdown for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
Unrivaled cast
The casting of Wicked is truly unmatched.
The film features stars such as Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey and Ariana Grande all in one film.
This, in itself, is impressive yet also surprising.
Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba, is mostly known for her powerful vocals and performances in theatre and film.
She won many awards for her work on The Color Purple - claiming a Tony award, an Emmy and a Grammy, respectively.
Jonathan Bailey, best known for his role in the Netflix series Bridgerton, surprised many fans when he was cast as Prince Fiyero - showcasing his impressive talent and vocal range on the big screen.
Considering, not many people knew he had it in him.
Despite the early backlash for the casting of Glinda, pop star Ariana Grande silenced many fans and critics as she showcased her powerful operatic voice throughout the film, reminding people of where her career started.
All three actors are originally from theatre backgrounds, and it’s clear throughout - making them an elite trio to co-exist in a single cast.
The whole cast went above and beyond to captivate audiences with their outstanding performances.
The characters’ authenticity is comparable to the beloved originals, while maintaining their own originality.
Wicked has many reasons why it's the greatest musical adaptation of all time.
These are just a few.
But, considering the positive responses from audiences, along with record-breaking numbers at the box office, the greatness of Wicked can't be denied.
READ NEXT: Film news: ‘James Bond’ reboot — Denis Villeneuve to direct, but who will wear the tux?
