Grade: A+… A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to see the stage production of “Wicked” at The Pantages theater in Hollywood, California. The first act was decent enough to hold my attention, but to me, the second act was a chore to get through. I was bored in the second act. To be honest, I do not consider “Wicked” to be my favorite stage musical. That honor would go to Phantom of the Opera for a variety of reasons.

When I first was informed that they were bringing “Wicked” to the giant silver screen, I would give it a second chance and go see it at the movies. Director Jon M. Chu’s version of “Wicked” easily surpassed my expectations. I believe “Wicked” is one of the best movies of 2024.

The “Wicked” movie is literally the first act of the stage production, with the second act arriving in theaters in 2025. I pray the second part lives up to the amazing spectacle the first movie provides.

In Chu’s “Wicked” the audience is entertained wire to wire with beautiful songs, breathtaking sets, and mesmerizing performances by Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (Galinda). For those that are not in the know, Wicked’s main message is about accepting others that may be different than yourself and seeing the good in people.

“Wicked” had me laughing, in awe, and even shedding a few tears. It is a beautiful story of acceptance and I believe it is a story the world needs to hear at this time. People can learn a lot from Elphaba and Galinda’s story.

I saw “Wicked” in Dolby Cinema and I highly recommend seeing it in the Dolby format because the movie is simply a visual spectacle. From the colorful flowers in “Munchkin Land” to all the rich emerald colors in the “Emerald City,” it truly was a feast for the eyes that should not be missed. Everything was done perfectly to immerse the audience into the “Land of Oz.” The costume design for so many different types of characters and the very creative set designs alone are worth the price of admission.

Cynthia Erivo, as Elphaba, is a strong contender for Best Actress. She gave such a powerful and captivating performance and it needs to be experienced by movie lovers of all ages.

“Wicked” is easily one of the best movies of the year and I do predict it will be among the “Best Picture” nominees come Oscar time. Fly (on a broomstick maybe?) with your friends to your nearest theater and experience all the magic this incredible film delivers!