Cinematic Rating
Budget
$150,000,000
Revenue
$758,737,211
Studio
Universal Pictures, Marc Platt Productions
Directed By
Wicked Review
MovieWise Analysis
The Story: Wicked (1998) offers a fresh dive into the Thriller genre. The plot follows a sequence where A cul-de-sac in an oppressive suburb becomes a literal dead end for wife and mother Karen Christianson when she is brutally murdered in her own home. In the wake of the event, Karen's teenage daughter Ellie begins to exhibit bizarre behaviors as she slowly acquires her mother's demeanor and mannerisms. Meanwhile, Karen's husband Ben nurtures a less-than-innocent interest in the family's sultry live-in nanny, Lena.
Cinematic Style: The production design and direction elevate the core premise, moving beyond standard genre tropes. Defined by its unique tone—often described as "Evil never looked so good."—the film balances visual spectacle with character-driven moments.
The Experience: The experience is defined by how it handles its central conflict. It doesn't just present a story; it builds an environment where the stakes feel personal and the resolution feels earned.
The Verdict: While many films in the Thriller space rely on formula, this project takes risks with its storytelling. For fans of the cast, it provides plenty of depth to chew on long after the credits roll.
What Audiences Are Saying
"The film adaptation of Wicked is based on the Broadway musical, which is a loose adaptation of the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. Both Maguire’s novel and the musical are expansions of L. Frank Baum’s original The Wizard of Oz novel was p..."
"*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS* I've been a Wicked fan since 2010. My expectations for this film were extremely high! And I was blown away by how Jon M. Chu was able to bring this story a new life. Everyone involved did an excellent job! The choice to sing live paid off! Not one note was out o..."
"OK, so I'm going to be swimming against the tide a bit with this, but I didn't love it. We start where the "Wizard of Oz" story finishes off, only without the catchy "Ding Dong the Witch is...". Instead we get an ensemble dance number that is energetically performed, colourful and expertly choreo..."
▶ Official Wicked Trailer
Cinematic Stills from Wicked
