Wicked has finally flown into cinemas with fans describing the much-anticipated first instalment as ‘incredible’ and called for Oscar nods for stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.

The movie is an adaptation of the smash hit musical and a prequel to The Wizard Of Oz, telling the untold story of Elphaba The Wicked Witch of The West and Glinda, The Good Witch Of The South. 

One emotional scene in particular has had quite the impact on audiences leaving them ‘sobbing’ and ‘broken’.

As Elphaba (Cynthia) breaks down at the Ozdust Ballroom after being isolated due to her green skin and tears run down her cheeks former foe Glinda (Ariana) takes her head in her hands in what is the start of their firm friendship. 

Racing to emotional fans gushed: ‘This scene made me cry’: ‘I WAS SOBBING”: ‘This scene is so sad’: ‘This broke me’: ‘I will never be the same’: ‘Ugh they had me tearing up they ate this so bad I want part 2 NOW’.

Wicked has finally hit cinemas with fans describing the adaption of the smash hit stage musical as ‘incredible’ and called for Oscar nods for stars Ariana Grande (R) and Cynthia Erivo (L)

One emotional scene in particular (pictured) has had quite the impact on audiences leaving them ‘sobbing’ and ‘broken’ 

While others wrote about the movie: ‘Wicked is such an incredible adaptation of stage to film. Ariana, Cynthia Jeff [Goldblum] Michelle [Yeoh] and everyone else was absolutely amazing in it. I’ll be seeing it again and probably crying again. Just a beautiful film’.

‘Ariana was absolutely incredible in Wicked as as a long time fan I could not be more proud of her’:  ‘Defying Gravity in Wicked gave me a loss for words. Cynthia was absolutely incredible’: ‘Yall I’m still so shook like… Cynthia, Ariana and Jonathan [Bailey] are so incredible I can’t wait for Wicked part 2’. 

‘Wicked reaction: like a Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins, Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl, or Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls – Ariana proves that trained singers can enhance an acting role. her comedic timing had my theatre rolling out of their chairs. that Oscar HAS to be hers’.

‘I would like to say, Ariana secured her Oscar nom with No One Mourns the Wicked and then she secured her win at the Ozdust Ballroom scene’: ‘Hope Cynthia gets an Oscar for Wicked. EGOT is coming’.

‘Just finished watching Wicked.. oh Ariana Grande that Oscar is yours.. Cynthia Erivo that Oscar is yours.. Jon Chu you are a BRILLIANT man. my heart is so complete’.

Meanwhile critics as they, for the most part, praise the leading stars’ performances, yet while some reviews have branded the film a ‘fabulous spectacle’ others have declared: ‘it doesn’t come close to defying gravity’.   

The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw described it as a ‘sugar-rush fantasy with the overpowering star presence of Cynthia Erivo; it basically dunks you face-down in a hyperreal ball pit of M&Ms for two and three-quarter hours.’

Praising Cynthia’s performance he added: ‘Erivo’s charismatic Elphaba exerting a planetary pull over a star-studded cast’.

As Elphaba (Cynthia) breaks down at the Ozdust Ballroom after being isolated due to her green skin and tears run down her cheeks former foe Glinda (Ariana) takes her head in her hands 

Racing to emotional fans gushed: ‘This scene made me cry’: ‘I WAS SOBBING”: ‘This scene is so sad’: ‘This broke me’: ‘I will never be the same’

The Daily Mail’s Brian Viner writes: ‘It’s a fabulous spectacle, which demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible.’ 

A huge fan of the casting choice he added: ‘Erivo and Grande are both pitch-perfect and altogether sensational. 

Read More Cynthia Erivo reveals the ‘psychological tricks’ she used with Ariana Grande on the set of Wicked

‘I confess to finding Wicked’s songs a little repeтιтive but it’s hard to imagine anyone delivering them better than those two, while Grande has proper comedic flair, which she brings to bear every time Glinda tosses her luxuriant tresses.

‘Yeoh, Bailey and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard offer splendid support.’

Peter Debruge of Variety praised: ‘Unlike several recent tuners, which tried to hide their musical dimension from audiences, Wicked embraces its idenтιтy the way Elphaba does her emerald skin. 

‘Turns out such confidence makes all the difference in how they’re perceived.’

Dave Fear of Rolling Stone wrote: ‘When Erivo nails that moment and rides into Oz’s history books on a broomstick, for a split second you feel like there’s no place you’d rather be than riding alongside her. Not even home.’ as he added: ‘Erivo is the one truly defying gravity’

Meanwhile The Independent praised Ariana and Cynthia’s performance, but felt the pair were let down by the actual cinematography of the film. 

The movie is an adaptation of the smash hit musical and a prequel to The Wizard Of Oz, telling the untold story of Elphaba The Wicked Witch of The West and Glinda, The Good Witch 

While others wrote about the movie: ‘Wicked is such an incredible adaptation of stage to film. Ariana, Cynthia Jeff [Goldblum] Michelle [Yeoh] and everyone else was absolutely amazing 

‘He played some songs for us, and we sang together for the first time. It worked. It was one of the most gratifying things to know that there was someone who was that open and available, because she was, and that meant I could be as well. 

‘We also had a beautiful relationship offscreen.’ 

Likening the way it was sH๏τ to a TV advert, Clarisse Loughrey wrote: ‘Wicked is sH๏τ and lit like we’re being sold an Airbnb in Mykonos’. 

Admitting that Cynthia ‘nails those notorious high notes on Defying Gravity’ Clarisse also wrote that despite its length and only being part one of the story, the film doesn’t feel dragged. 

However she concludes: ‘Wicked will need to dream bigger and brighter, otherwise it may just fade completely under the spell of a classic.’ 

The Telegraph gave the movie a scathing review as they claimed that the film’s leading actresses ‘don’t come close to defying gravity in this bloated, beige screen adaptation of the Wizard of Oz prequel’. 

Robbie Collin writes that the ‘casting of the leads feels off’ as he describes Cynthia as playing the role with a ‘wet-eyed severity that lends a grim medicinal quality to the film’s more emotional pᴀssages.’ 

Wicked is out in cinemas now. 

Critic Reviews on Wicked

The Guardian

Peter Bradshaw described it as a ‘sugar-rush fantasy with the overpowering star presence of Cynthia Erivo; it basically dunks you face-down in a hyperreal ball pit of M&Ms for two and three-quarter hours.’

The Daily Mail 

Brian Viner praised: ‘It’s a fabulous spectacle, which demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible’.

The Independent 

Clarisse Loughrey praised Ariana and Cynthia’s performance, but felt the pair were let down by the actual cinematography of the film, as she likened it to a TV advert. 

Variety

Peter Debruge praised: ‘Unlike several recent tuners, which tried to hide their musical dimension from audiences, Wicked embraces its idenтιтy the way Elphaba does her emerald skin.’

Rolling Stone

David Fear added: ‘When Erivo nails that moment and rides into Oz’s history books on a broomstick, for a split second you feel like there’s no place you’d rather be than riding alongside her. Not even home.’

The Telegraph 

Robbie Collins gave the movie a scathing review as he claimed that the film’s leading actresses ‘don’t come close to defying gravity in this bloated, beige screen adaptation of the Wizard of Oz prequel’. 

BBC

Nicholas Barber wrote: ‘The film ends with a song called Defying Gravity, so it’s only fair to say that that’s precisely what Wicked doesn’t manage to achieve’.