"Wicked-mania is here, and after seeing the Wicked movie with my two kids, the visually stunning and perfectly cast movie is definitely here to stay. Numbers are in for opening weekend, and the Wicked movie made $114 million domestically, making it the biggest box office launch of all time for a Broadway adaptation by a landslide, according to The Hollywood Reporter. With all the hype, parents may be wondering if they should take their kids to see the Wicked movie or if it would be better to spring for a babysitter and see it kid-free.
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I, too, wondered if the Wicked movie was appropriate for kids. 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). 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 you’re planning to see the Wicked movie and wondering if it’s family-friendly, here’s everything to know about the new film, including reviews from parents who took their kids to see the Wicked movie opening weekend.
When Does the Wicked Movie Come Out?
Wicked officially debuted in theaters on Friday, November 22, 2024, with some theaters offering 3D and IMAX viewing opportunities. We saw it in 2D, but imagine it would be spectacular in 3D.
Additionally, a viral social media post and subsequent news reporting 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, it was recently announced that 1000 theaters across the country are going to be offering special singalong viewings of the Wicked movie around Christmastime.
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. And after seeing the movie, it’s truly only a taste of everything you’ll see on the big screen.
Why is Wicked Rated PG?
The Wicked movie is rated PG for some “scary action, thematic material, and brief suggestive material.” This likely means the brief suggestive material will go over most kids’ heads. After seeing the movie, it is indeed very brief and only mildly suggestive. Viewers learn a little bit more about Elphaba’s parents in her backstory in the beginning of the film. While my kids did ask what was happening, I just said, “They’re showing us who Elphaba’s real dad is.”
Parental guidance comes more into play for the scary action, in my opinion. You know your kid best, and if, say, they were scared by the flying monkeys in the movie The Wizard of Oz (like I was as a kid), they may find that part of the movie scary as well.
What is the Wicked movie about?
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. The Wicked movie adaptation includes even more backstories than the musical does, as we meet a young Elphaba and Nessarose.
Is the Wicked Movie Appropriate for Kids? Parents Weigh In
My 9-year-old REALLY loved the Wicked movie—even though she was constantly bouncing around in her movie theater seat. She even shared some of the lessons she thought the Wicked was trying to teach, “It was about not making fun of people, being yourself, and not always doing what your friends are doing.” I also listened to her sing Popular to herself as she went to sleep 🥹.
I asked other parents who’d seen the Wicked movie opening weekend to share their reviews. And some parents also shared helpful tips about seeing the movie on The Everymom Instagram. According to the parents who responded with children ages 4 through 13, said yes, the Wicked movie is OK for kids. But with some caveats. Some thought it was a little long (it runs 2 hours and 40 minutes). The flying monkeys are indeed scary (I jumped during one scene). And kids who already liked musicals were more likely to enjoy the Wicked movie.
“My 8 year [old] has watched the broadway musical twice and LOVES singing to all the songs! She loved the movie and sang all day long afterwards. I only wish they included outtakes at the end. We watched some of them at home so she could understand just how talented these ladies were in the movie.”—Stephanie
“Took my 5-year-old and she was laughing and singing the entire movie.”—@mandilpayne
“My almost 12-year-old wasn’t into it, she says she doesn’t like musicals but my 9-year-old LOVED it… She immediately requested to see part two, like, right now.”—Kelly
“My 9-year-old said it was ‘so good’ and that ‘Loathing’ is stuck in her head.”—Kate
“9.5-year-old loved it.”—@lilmrsu
“10 [year old] loved it but loves musicals. I thought it was kid-appropriate but could be long,”— @spacecadet.cait
“My 13-year-old who is a musical theater kid and has seen the Broadway show twice was ready to hate it, but it’s her new favorite movie. My 10-year-old didn’t like the Broadway show and can’t sit through anything also loved it. It’s worth the hype.” —Leah
Parent Tips Before Taking Kids to see Wicked
“We’ve listened to the broadway soundtrack a bit, and I’ve explained the basic storyline, so seeing it all play out was really cool for her.”—Kelly
“I took my 4-year-old… and she loved it. If you as a parent are concerned, then preview it first.”—@chsworkingmoms
“I took my 5 and 8 year old after seeing it myself first. I warned them about the monkeys, and they both loved it and won’t stop talking about it”—@rosie513
FAQs About the Wicked Movie
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. “12-year-old liked, but 10-year-old thought it was too long,” shared Heidi, a mom of two from Ohio. Like the play, the Wicked movie runs for 2 hours and 40 minutes (but without an intermission). So younger kids might not have the patience for a full viewing. Again, you know your kids best.
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. Wicked Part One closes with an onscreen, “To Be Continued.”
Is the Wicked movie scary?
The Wicked movie does have some scary and intense scenes, mostly near the end when the monkey guards transform into flying monkeys. So if you’re worried your kiddos will be frightened, you might want to warn them before they see the movie. My 12-year-old said the monkeys would have given her nightmares if she was younger.
What should I wear to the Wicked movie?
You will not be alone in wearing a Wicked outfit to see the movie in theaters. We saw plenty of sparkly emerald green and pink ensembles. You could even repurpose that pink gear from the Barbie movie!
When should I go to the bathroom during Wicked?
This legitimate question was trending on Google last week: When to pee during Wicked? Given the movie’s length and, if your kids are like mine, the amount of slushies slurped down in the first few minutes, you will need your own intermission. So if you don’t want to miss any songs, at about an hour into the movie, you’ll catch a quiet moment after Fiyero and Elphaba save a lion cub, but before Elphaba sings, I’m Not That Girl. We took advantage of that time for a bathroom break.
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 will 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. “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?
The following Wicked Act 1 songs are also in the Wicked movie, plus one bonus track. 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 was released the same day as the movie, November 22, 2024.
- 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
Final Thoughts on Taking My Kids to See the Wicked Movie
Now that I took my kids to see the Wicked movie, my FYP is overflowing with Wicked content, making me appreciate the film even more with each new tidbit I learn. For example, Cynthia Erivo did all her own stunts! Actress Marissa Bode made history as the first actress with a disability to play Nessarose. Jonathan Bailey shared that the Dancing Through Life rotating library was real and was performed by Parkour dancers. The list goes on.
Given the grand(e) scale of the Wicked movie, it was 100 percent worth seeing it on the big screen versus waiting for the movie to come out on streaming. My kids and I are even thinking about seeing it again—this time, in 3D or IMAX!
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.