"Earlier this year, I took my two daughters, ages 8 and 11, to see Wicked when the tour came to our town. I’d seen the musical years earlier and couldn’t wait for them to experience everything I loved about it: the powerful female leads, strong messages about friendship and inclusion, and that epic “Defying Gravity” moment (IYKYK). I couldn’t remember if the play was 100 percent appropriate for kids, but after a little research, I found it was recommended for ages 8+. My kids loved the first act and got a little tired during the second act (I should’ve booked the matinee). But when the Wicked movie was announced, they were both excited to see it in theaters.
If, like me, you are wondering if the Wicked movie is appropriate for kids, here’s everything to know about the upcoming film.
When Does the Wicked Movie Come Out?
Wicked debuts in theaters on Friday, November 22, 2024, the weekend before Thanksgiving. Movie tickets went on sale October 9, so if you’re hoping to see Wicked opening weekend, book ASAP.
If taking younger kids, an afternoon movie might be best given my experience with an evening Wicked musical. Additionally, a viral social media post warned that the “theater kids” of the world might be singing along to the movie. So if you really want to hear Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s vocals versus a chorus of movie theater strangers, grab a ticket earlier in the day. Of course, if you want to be part of a singalong, theaters may offer special singalong viewings down the road.
Official Wicked Movie Trailer
The Wicked movie trailer debuted a few months ago. It revealed some of the musical’s top songs and incredible visual effects.
When Does Wicked Part Two Come Out?
News to me and to many, is that the Wicked movie coming to theaters this year is only part one of a two-part series. So kids will be left wondering how the saga ends—and will have to wait until next year for closure! Wicked Part Two comes to theaters on November 21, 2025.
Why is Wicked Rated PG?
The Wicked movie is rated PG for some “scary action, thematic material, and brief suggestive material.” Which likely means that brief suggestive material will go over most kids’ heads.
For comparison, another family-friendly movie coming Thanksgiving weekend, Moana 2, is also rated PG, but for “action and peril.”
Is the Wicked Movie Appropriate for Kids?
The play and the movie are based on the book by Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. It’s a retelling of The Wizard of Oz that reveals the backstory of the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, and her surprising friendship with the good witch, Glinda. Similar to some recent live-action Disney movies like Maleficent, we learn more about the backstory of “villains” we thought we knew. It’s been hinted that the Wicked movie adaptation will include even more backstories than the musical does.
Is the Wicked movie scary?
Without seeing the movie, parents can surmise from the rating and the Wicked movie trailers that there are some scary action scenes. For example, we see glimpses of the very realistic flying monkeys and a burning witch.
You know your kid best, so there may be parts of the live-action movie they find scary. With that said, from my memory of the play, the scarier moments are more in the second act. However, we don’t know if part one of the movie will follow the same format as the play.
How long is Wicked?
Another factor that may go into choosing whether to bring your kids to see Wicked is the length of the film. Similar to the play, the Wicked movie runs for 2 hours and 41 minutes (but without an intermission.) So younger kids might not have the patience for a full viewing. Again, you know your kids best.
Do the Actors Sing Live in the Wicked Movie?
It’s no secret Wicked became a phenomenon thanks to the music and the powerhouse vocals from Elphaba and Glinda—roles originated by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth on Broadway. Viewers of the Wicked movie should expect to be wowed again with Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Galinda/Glinda. Director Jon M. Chu shared in a recent featurette video that “these are the best singers in the world,” so it was an easy decision to have them sing live on the Wicked movie set. In Grande’s words, “it was a no brainer” for her and Erivo to sing live. “We chose to sing live,” said Erivo, “because it meant that we would be further connected to the words we were saying and to each other.”
Which Songs Will Be in the Movie?
Although the studio hasn’t officially revealed which songs will be in each Wicked movie, Deadline reported the following Wicked Act 1 songs will be in the Wicked movie:
- “No One Mourns the Wicked” by Wicked Movie Cast
- “Dear Old Shiz” by Wicked Movie Cast, Shiz University Choir
- “The Wizard And I” by Cynthia Erivo and Michelle Yeoh
- “What Is This Feeling?” by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo
- “Something Bad” by Peter Dinklage and Cynthia Erivo
- “Dancing Through Life” by Jonathan Bailey, Ariana Grande, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, and Cynthia Erivo
- “Popular” by Ariana Grande
- “I’m Not That Girl” by Cynthia Erivo
- “One Short Day” by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
- “A Sentimental Man” by Jeff Goldblum
- “Defying Gravity” by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
- “Ozdust Duet – Bonus Track” by The Wicked Orchestra
Additionally, Tony-award winner Stephen Schwartz previously confirmed there will be new songs in the movie adaptation of Wicked. If your kids aren’t yet familiar with the songs now’s the time to start jamming out in anticipation of seeing the Wicked movie. The official soundtrack will be released the same day as the movie, November 22, 2024.
Final Thoughts on Taking My Kids to See Wicked
If the trailers are any indication of the grand(e) scale of this movie, I 100 percent want to see it on the big screen of the theater to appreciate the scope of the movie. My family always sees a movie the day after Thanksgiving, so will we choose to see Moana 2 or Wicked? I’ll probably leave the choice up to my kids and go with the more popular pick.
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
A mom of two, Kathy is passionately committed to sharing the honest, helpful—and often humorous—stories of motherhood, as she navigates her own everyday adventures of work, marriage, and parenting. She honed her creative and strategic skills at advertising agencies in Detroit and Chicago, before pivoting from marketing to editorial. Now instead of telling brand stories, she’s sharing her own, with articles published across popular parenting sites—including hundreds of stories on The Everymom.