It’s no secret that the newest adaptation of Wicked has completely taken over the world. From teary-eyed press interviews and lyrics which we find we must ‘hold space’ for, this movie seems to be a perfect resurgence of a genre that lies deep inside all of us (even if you say it doesn’t): musicals.
If you’re anything like me, the end of a heart-wrenching, gut-punching film like Wicked calls for a ten-minute tea break before we stretch for the remote and turn to the next-best thing. So, for your viewing pleasure, here are some films which will scratch that Wicked itch. After you’ve finished crying.
Tick, Tick…Boom!
‘Tick, Tick…Boom!’ is a musical adaptation I could recommend to anyone. Andrew Garfield stars in the 2021 film, so you still have your heartthrob fix if you’re missing Jonathan Bailey, *swoon*, and although there are no witches or wizards, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial magic completely shines through. It’s been a while since I watched this film, but I still very much remember tears springing to my eyes by the end, and there is no need to worry about the music, the songs are completely sing-alongable.
Into The Woods
Into the Woods is a complete masterpiece, with music composed by Stephen Sondheim himself, you can never go wrong. Like Wicked, Into the Woods is a jumble of mishap and tragedy in a seemingly fairytale world. The musical adaptation is a joyful, yet deeply emotional work of art, and, aside from James Corden, a marvellous watch.
In the Heights
By the same director that brought us Wicked, In the Heights is an excellent follow-up to satisfy your musical fix. This movie takes the underdog trope to a whole new level, focusing on the life of bodega owner, Usnavi, played by Anthony Ramos (again, *swoon*), who dreams of bigger things. If you’re into extravagant dance numbers and romantic drama, this is the film for you.
Oz: The Great and Powerful
Finally, if none of these musicals were enough to satisfy your Wicked cravings, and you find yourself just wanting to go back to the land of Oz, then I bring you to Oz: The Great and Powerful. Disney’s adaptation follows the Wizard’s origin story as he meets the witches of Oz. Although it doesn’t include any musical numbers, and has a few discrepancies to the lore of Wicked, it is still an excellent adaptation to get your teeth into if you’re still washing off all that green face-paint.