close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

    • Is the movie ‘Wicked’ suitable for children? Our guide for parents
    news

    Is the movie ‘Wicked’ suitable for children? Our guide for parents

    Vaseline Posted on

    play

    Let’s be happy, let’s be thankful, let’s rejoice that ‘Wicked’ is here now.

    More than two decades after landing on Broadway, the pop culture phenomenon has finally arrived on the big screen, starring Grammy winners Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the witchy roles made famous by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.

    The critically popular film (in theaters Friday) has unleashed an all-out marketing blitz in recent months, targeting family audiences with dolls, Lego sets, stuffed animals and plastic magic wands. But look beyond your rose-and-green glasses and just how kid-friendly is ‘Wicked’?

    After watching the film, we break down everything parents need to know going in:

    Join our viewing party! Sign up to get USA TODAY’s movie and TV recommendations delivered straight to your inbox.

    What is the movie musical ‘Wicked’ about?

    “Wicked” is a prequel to the 1900 children’s novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum, which was famously adapted into a 1939 film starring Judy Garland. The story imagines that the too-good Glinda (Grande) and the misunderstood Elphaba (Erivo) were really former best friends, whose paths crossed while studying sorcery at school. The new film is a faithful adaptation of the 2003 musical Wicked, which is itself loosely based on a not-so-child-friendly novel by Gregory Maguire.

    Why is the ‘Wicked’ movie rated PG?

    The film is officially rated PG for “some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material.” In the prologue, Glinda recalls how Elphaba’s mother (Courtney Mae-Briggs) had a secret affair with an elixir-pushing stranger, which is heavily suggested through dance. (Don’t worry, everyone’s clothes stay on.) There are some light allusions when the dashing Winkie Prince, Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), arrives at Shiz University, and the terrifying flying monkeys both at the beginning and take off at the end of the film. .

    How scary are the flying monkeys in ‘Wicked’?

    They’re not as scary as the creepy chimpanzees in the original “Wizard of Oz” movie, but younger children may still want to cover their eyes. As in the musical, there is an intense scene late in the film where a bunch of panicked primates begin to grow wings as a result of a powerful spell. As Elphaba and Glinda try to escape Emerald City, they are also chased by a pack of flying monkeys, who smash windows and growl at the young witches.

    Are there any other animals in danger in ‘Wicked’?

    Yes, indeed, even if only briefly. A major subplot in “Wicked” is Elphaba’s courageous attempt to save the animals of Oz, who are deprived of their right to speak and teach by the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). At one point, Elphaba’s friendly goat professor, Doctor Dillamond (voiced by Peter Dinklage), is forcibly dragged out of his history class. Elphaba also frees a cowering lion cub from its cage and returns it to the wild, using magical poppies that put her classmates to sleep.

    How long is the movie ‘Wicked’?

    On stage, “Wicked” lasts 2 hours and 45 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission. By comparison, the film version runs 2 hours and 41 minutes, although it only covers Act 1 of the musical and there is no intermission. (“Wicked: Part Two” will be released in theaters on November 21, 2025.)

    If your child gets restless and needs a bathroom break, we might suggest going outside during Dillamond’s “Something Bad,” which laments the plight of the four-legged creatures of Oz. No offense to the GOAT itself, but it’s a somber song sandwiched between the spicier numbers “What Is This Feeling?” and ‘Dancing through life’.

    So is the ‘Wicked’ movie suitable for young children?

    Yes, although your preschoolers probably won’t enjoy it as much as, say, “Moana 2.” According to the Broadway musical’s official website, “Wicked” is recommended for ages 8 and up, and the same goes for the big-screen version. In the first half, Glinda and her cronies do a fair amount of mocking and swearing as they express their “unadulterated disgust” for Elphaba. But the resentful roommates quickly become inseparable, and parents will appreciate the story’s timeless themes of acceptance and embracing what makes you different.

    Sure, some of the film’s adult topics may go over children’s heads. (Unless, of course, they’re super interested in how fascist regimes use fear and disinformation to keep their citizens in line.) But there’s still plenty of music and magic to entertain the young, who will no doubt be singing their “Defying Gravity” rallying cries for many car journeys to come.

    Vaseline
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like