• "Wicked" adapts the first half of the Broadway musical of the same name.
• Starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, it was a massive undertaking with a reported $160 million budget.
• Here are some of the behind-the-scenes details and stories that were part of the making of the film.

Warning: Some "Wicked" spoilers ahead.

"Wicked," the film adaptation of one of the longest-running Broadway musicals of all time, was understandably a major undertaking.

The movie, directed by Jon M. Chu ("In The Heights"), only tackles the first half of the stage musical in its two-hour and 41-minute runtime ("Wicked" part two is set to hit theaters in 2025). Depicting Elphaba and Glinda's school years and creating the world of Oz required major practical sets, some insurance fears, and of course, lots of green paint.

With a reported $160 million budget, "Wicked" had a stellar opening weekend at the global box office to the tune of $164.2 million. Needless to say, people are loving "Wicked" and all its fun easter eggs.

Here are some of the behind-the-scenes details and filming secrets from the making of "Wicked," part one.

The cast sang live on the set of 'Wicked.'

Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and the rest of the cast decided to sing live on set, and that's the audio that you hear in the film itself.

Ariana Grande didn't remember saying 'RIGHT!' during 'Popular.'

In Grande's version of "Popular," she enthusiastically yells "Right!" in response to Erivo's Elphaba finishing one of her sentences. The moment, which is a departure from Chenoweth's delivery on the original cast recording, has gone viral on social media.

Grande, however, didn't remember delivering it on set, she revealed on TikTok.

'Popular' was filmed with a piano accompanist.

Chu told The New York Times that given that "Wicked's" vocals were recorded live, the production filmed "Popular" with a pianist on set.

Having a live accompanist meant that Grande could play with tempo in her performance, rather than having to adhere to a pre-recorded instrumental track.

Erivo did her own stunts.

Elphaba loops around in the sky during "Defying Gravity" — and Erivo did so herself on set, flying through the air on wires while in costume.

"How can you hire an actor that does their own stunts, amazing acting, sings, and then you integrate all three of those things together and land it over, and over, and over, and over, and over again?" Chu said in a behind-the-scenes video.

Grande also did stunts in 'Wicked.'

In "Popular," there's a moment where Grande swings around on a chandelier. On "The Tonight Show," she shared footage of her doing the stunt with Erivo and a stunt coordinator.

"One of our stunt coordinators was standing in the room just to make sure that I didn't break all of my limbs," Grande said. "He was standing in the corner really stoically and bravely, and my foot just kind of almost breaks his face."

Cynthia Erivo chose to be painted green rather than using CGI.

In a video uploaded to the "Wicked" Instagram account, Erivo said that she was given the choice to either be painted green, or have the color applied in post-production.

"I wanted to look back at a reflection and see a green woman in front of me. I really wanted for her skin to feel textured. When you look at it, there's freckles, and there's tone, and shade, just like skin should be. She has these green eyes that come from the genetic makeup of who she is, and it isn't just on her, it's in her," Erivo said.

Erivo also wore fake ears on set to cover her piercings.

Erivo has multiple piercings in her ears. Rather than cover them up individually, the production team just opted to give her new ears entirely.

"I have a million piercings, so they brought in a prosthetic artist, who created basically a shell for my ears — those aren't my ears!" she told Elle.

Grande and Erivo spent five hours together when they first met.

The actors told Deadline that they wanted to deliberately build their friendship and "take care of each other," as Grande said.

"The first time we met was at my house," Erivo said. "We sat and chatted for a good few hours — five — and I think we just saw each other immediately. It was really easy. We didn't have to think about it, we were just there and that has continued."

Grande and Erivo both had COVID the week before their respective biggest numbers.

The actors told The New York Times that they each got COVID once on set. For Grande, it was the week before "Popular," Glinda's biggest, mostly solo number. Erivo had it the week before she shot "Defying Gravity," the climax of the first film.

Grande and Erivo got matching tattoos.

The stars got multiple "Wicked"-themed tattoos, including matching "For Good" tattoos on their palms, poppies on their hands, and hearts on their legs. Each actor also has individual tattoos, such as a broom and hat for Erivo.

The pair gave a tour of their matching tattoos on "The Kelly Clarkson Show."

The 'tornado wheel' in 'Dancing Through Life' was almost deemed too dangerous.

The wheel setpiece has three different rotating pieces, each with a ladder cutting across the middle. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Chu called the set "very dangerous" — to the extent that the production's insurance was not keen on allowing it.

"I wasn't sure they were gonna allow Jonathan Bailey in the tornado wheel because of safety. Which makes sense, because this is, he needs to carry on. We can't injure our Fiyero," choreographer Christopher Scott told EW.

Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth said they changed their character descriptions.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Chenoweth and Menzel — the original Glinda and Elphaba — spoke about how they were asked to be in the film.

"We both texted, and she said, 'Have you seen the description of us in the movie?' And it was like, it didn't say 'old, decrepit,'" Chenoweth said. "It said something like that. But then we changed it and we said, 'No, we're not going to be those wise men.'"

"Can't we just be beautiful fairy goddesses?" Menzel said.

"We might have had that one part changed," Chenoweth said. "Just that one."

Kristin Chenoweth got Ariana Grande matching Glinda jackets.

Chenoweth posted several photos of herself and Grande wearing the matching painted pink jackets on Instagram.

"Leading my babygirl down the yellow brick road," she captioned the post. "I surprised @arianagrande with these jackets on set at @wickedmovie… a little physical memento of our 'passing of the wand.'"

"Wicked" is now playing in theaters.

• "Wicked" adapts the first act of the 2003 Broadway musical.
• The film, which stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, references that show and "The Wizard of Oz."
• Here are details, references, and easter eggs you may have missed in the movie.

The "Wicked" movie is a revelation — and it's full of references to "The Wizard of Oz" and the original "Wicked" Broadway show that came before it.

The film, directed by Jon M. Chu, adapts the first act of the 2003 musical written by Winnie Holzman with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. That show, which itself is an adaptation of Gregory Maguire's novel imagining a backstory for the Wicked Witch of the West, follows the magically inclined, green-skinned Elphaba and her school enemy-turned-best friend Glinda. Those roles were originated by Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth on Broadway, and in the film, they're played by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

The impressive "Wicked" box office numbers prove it's hitting with multiple generations of fans who love all those adaptations. In its opening weekend, the film earned an estimated $164.2 million worldwide.

The film has plenty of easter eggs for fans of the "Wicked" Broadway musical (you'll hear some familiar act two musical cues) and those with only a surface-level understanding of Oz. We've rounded up some details and references that you may have missed in the film.

There are multiple rainbows in the film, nodding to 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow'

"Wicked" pays its thematic due to the most iconic song from "The Wizard of Oz," invoking rainbows multiple times. You can see one in an early shot, in the pattern of the tulips that the Munchkin children run through heralding Elphaba's death, and again during Elphaba's run through a field in "The Wizard and I."

The title card is a reference to 'The Wizard of Oz'

There's been some controversy on social media over bad movie theater etiquette after people started taking photos of the "Wicked" title card in theaters. The whimsical, curly font is a reference to the original title card for "The Wizard of Oz."

The film includes multiple musical cues that reference 'For Good'

"Wicked" basically uses the opening notes of "For Good," an Elphaba and Glinda duet in act two of the musical, as shorthand for their developing relationship throughout the film.

There's a great example of this on the "Wicked" soundtrack, at the 0:06 minute mark of "Dear Old Shiz" after someone asks Glinda if she and Elphaba were friends.

Nessarose's silver slippers have tornado heels

Elphaba and Nessarose's father presents Nessa with a pair of silver heels. The shoes, which eventually pass to Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," are silver as they were originally in L. Frank Baum's novel. However, they're presented in a ruby case — similar to the 1939 movie.

The heels also have a swirling tornado pattern at the heel, referencing Nessa's eventual demise when Dorothy's house falls on her after getting picked up in a cyclone.

There's another pair of red slippers in the film, though

During "Popular," Glinda pulls out a pair of shining, ruby-red slippers, a reference to the ones Dorothy wears in "The Wizard of Oz."

Glinda is backlit with a halo during 'What Is This Feeling'

When Glinda sings the lyric, "These things are sent to try us," she stands in front of a door with a circular window. When she centers her head in front of it, the light coming through the window turns golden.

Jonathan Bailey rides a familiar horse in 'Wicked'

Bailey apparently got to make one casting request for "Wicked": he wanted to bring along his favorite horse.

"I knew there was only one man for the job, and that was Jack the horse that I worked with in 'Bridgerton,'" Bailey said on "Late Night with Seth Meyers."

One shot of Elphaba resembles the original Broadway poster

When Elphaba puts on her black hat at the Oz Dust Ballroom, it briefly shadows her eyes and obscures part of her face. The shot mimics the original poster for the Broadway musical, in which the top half of Elphaba's face is covered.

Unlike the poster, however, Erivo's Elphaba isn't smiling in the moment.

Fiyero being unaffected by Elphaba's poppies is foreshadowing

Big spoilers for part two if you're not up to date on the original musical, but through a series of unfortunate events, Fiyero eventually turns into the Scarecrow.

Like the Scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz," Fiyero does not succumb to the sleep-inducing effects of the poppies. Instead, he helps Elphaba spirit away the lion cub from their classroom.

As a bonus — that lion cub will eventually grow up to be the Cowardly Lion from "The Wizard of Oz."

Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth aren't the only Emerald City cameos

It'd be extremely difficult to miss Menzel and Chenoweth's meaty cameos during the "Wiz-O-Mania" sequence that takes place in the Emerald City. There are two others you may have missed, however: writer Winnie Holzman and composer Stephen Schwartz, who wrote the Broadway musical. Schwartz also has an iconic line during the sequence: "The Wizard will see you now."

"It took a lot of convincing to get them into this movie because they resisted it," director Jon M. Chu told Entertainment Weekly. "I was like, 'You guys have to be in this.' We didn't know where, and then once Stephen wrote that section to Wiz-O-Mania, it became very clear that Stephen had to do, 'The Wizard will see you now.'"

Also, Idina Menzel does her iconic 'Defying Gravity'

If you're even a surface-level "Wicked" fan, you probably didn't miss this one. In case you did, you can hear her do it at about the 4:00 minute mark of "One Short Day" on the film's soundtrack.

The Wizard hologram says 'Omaha' because, canonically, he's from Nebraska

During the "Wiz-O-Mania" presentation in the Emerald City, a hologram of the Wizard pretends to read the Grimmerie, the magical text of Oz. To do so, he just says the word "Omaha" a few times.

He is indeed referencing Omaha, Nebraska — because that's where the Wizard is from.

There are crates and posters nodding to the Wizard's old life

In the attic set used in "Defying Gravity," there are posters referencing the "Wise and Magnificent Oscar Diggs." In the above behind-the-scenes shot, you can see crates with the same text, and others that say, "Omaha, NE."

That is the Wizard's real name — and back in Nebraska, he was a magician.

There's a lyric change in 'Defying Gravity'

In the Broadway musical, the chorus sings, "Look at her, she's wicked — get her!"

But in the movie, things are more grave. The chorus sings, "Look at her, she's wicked — kill her!"

"Wicked" is now in theaters.

• "Gladiator II" and "Wicked" are both in theaters.
• While "Glicked" isn't as much of a viral double feature as "Barbenheimer," it would be pretty fun.
• If you have time for only one, though, see "Wicked."

"Gladiator II" and "Wicked" are facing off at the box office this weekend.

"Glicked," a portmanteau of the dueling releases, may not live up to the "Barbenheimer" phenomenon of 2023 — the two films would need to make over $2 billion at the box office to pull that off. But they're both positioned for success as blockbusters.

"Gladiator II," directed by Ridley Scott, is the sequel to his 2000 film starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix. Its protagonist is Lucius Verus (Paul Mescal), a long-lost Roman heir sent away for his own safety by his mother, Lucilla (Connie Nielsen), after the events of the first film.

"Wicked" is an adaptation of one of the longest-running Broadway musicals. Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, this film covers only the first act of the musical, which serves as an origin story for the Wicked Witch of the West from "The Wizard of Oz." (The second part is coming in 2025.)

Having screened both of them, I can say it's absolutely worth seeing both movies eventually, ideally in theaters. The double feature would be a good time, and far less existentially depressing than "Barbenheimer."

But if you've got the time, money, and energy for only one movie this weekend, you should see "Wicked."

'Wicked' vs. 'Gladiator II,' by the numbers

Both movies have been well received so far and are certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, but critics and audiences generally seem to like "Wicked" a bit more.

If time is of the essence, there's no tie-breaker — they're nearly the same length.

If you want something you can see with the whole family, "Wicked" is more kid-friendly.

Now on to the more subjective stuff.

'Wicked' is a better movie than 'Gladiator II'

The witches have it, folks. To briefly summarize my "Wicked" review:

• Erivo and Grande are extraordinary as Elphaba and Glinda. It's not unlikely that Grande will pick up an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress (despite some hubbub over whether she belongs in that category) — and frankly, everyone should watch Erivo sing "The Wizard and I."
• "Wicked" does make some frustrating choices and feels a bit self-indulgent.
• It's still one of the best movie musicals in recent memory and makes a convincing argument for why it needed to be a two-part film.

"Gladiator II" is fun — but not quite as good, and narratively messy.

• It has trouble juggling its large cast and many contentious relationships. That results in an irritating underutilization of Pedro Pascal, who is otherwise just as heartstring-tugging as usual.
• But the action sequences are pretty fun, as long as you're not too pedantic about historical accuracy. (Colosseum sharks.)
• Denzel Washington is great, even if his character, Macrinus, is a little inscrutable.

'Gladiator II' has more Paul Mescal in it, though

Can't argue with that. Mescal is bloody, feral, leading-man material in "Gladiator II."

Be warned that people might start singing at 'Wicked'

Universal Pictures has scheduled sing-along screenings of "Wicked" that start on December 25. They can't really come soon enough, though. The New York Times reported on audience members' frustrations with their compatriots belting out songs — and that was just at early-access screenings.

Let's be clear: You should definitely not start singing along at "Wicked" unless it is a designated sing-along screening. It's rude and disrupts other people's enjoyment of the film. Do what the rest of us have done since we were children and strain your voice by belting "Defying Gravity" in the comfort of your own living room.

Ultimately, follow your own taste

"Wicked" and "Gladiator II" are both worth the price of admission (and maybe even of a popcorn and soda). Ultimately, it boils down to whether you have a strong preference for or against musicals.

If you're thirsting for blood, go see "Gladiator II." If you're craving off-the-charts theater-kid energy, obviously go see "Wicked."

• "Wicked," the movie, is based on "Wicked," the hit 2003 Broadway musical.
• Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande play Elphaba and Glinda, roles originated by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.
• Here's what you need to know about how the movie pays homage to the musical.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Wicked" the movie.

Jon M. Chu's "Wicked" film is a reboot of one of the longest-running Broadway shows of all time — and it pays its respects to that history through a long-rumored cameo.

"Wicked," the musical, is a loose adaptation of Gregory Maguire's novel that imagines a backstory for the Wicked Witch of the West from L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." The show premiered on Broadway in October 2003 starring Idina Menzel as Elphaba, the green-skinned woman who would become the Wicked Witch, and Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda, her roommate and future Good Witch.

Though "Wicked" has cycled through many Elphabas and Glindas over its extensive theatrical run, Menzel and Chenoweth remain iconic as members of the original cast. Now, they're passing the mantle to the film's Elphaba and Glinda — Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

Idina Menzel and Kristen Chenoweth have a significant cameo in the Emerald City

The cameo, which probably made Broadway fans squeal, happens once Elphaba and Glinda make their way to the Emerald City.

After sorcerer Madame Morrible recognizes Elphaba's immense magical talent, Elphaba enrolls at Shiz University to be her pupil. She ends up rooming with Glinda, her conceited classmate, and the two strike up a rivalry. Eventually, they become friends, and when Elphaba is summoned to meet with the Wizard in the Emerald City, she brings Glinda with her.

Once they reach the city, the pair take in the sights, including a play about the history of Oz and the Wizard. Menzel and Chenoweth appear as two of the show's principal players, and they're both credited on IMDb as "Wiz-O-Mania Super Star."

This isn't just a throwaway moment either. As far as cameo appearances go, this is a pretty meaty one: Menzel and Chenoweth have significant singing roles — Menzel even does her original "Defying Gravity" end riff.

The most satisfying part of their appearance, however, is their interaction with Grande and Erivo on-screen. There's one significant moment where Menzel and Erivo, and Chenoweth and Grande — the Elphabas and Glindas, respectively — stand face to face. Cheekily, Chenoweth places her mouth over Grande's mouth to prevent her from vocalizing and stealing the spotlight.

Both Menzel and Chenoweth have been champions of the film and supported it at its Los Angeles premiere. Both told Entertainment Tonight that they didn't think Erivo and Grande needed their advice — only their congratulations.

"Kristin and I are just so proud that we were a part of creating this beautiful legacy," Menzel said.

"You always hope they do a movie, especially when it's a juggernaut like this was, but you never know," Chenoweth said.

"Wicked" is now in theaters.

• "Wicked," directed by Jon M. Chu, is a film adaptation of the iconic stage musical — well, just act one.
• Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande's individual performances and chemistry carry the film.
• Though it can get bogged down in itself, for the most part, "Wicked" earns its lengthy runtime.

"Wicked" is expansive, indulgent, and a few minutes too long. It's also extraordinarily, immersively good.

Directed by Jon M. Chu ("Crazy Rich Asians") and starring Broadway and pop music's biggest legends — Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, respectively — "Wicked" is a stunning act of adaptation. The stage musical version is also an adaptation, the looser kind, of Gregory Maguire's novel of the same name. In 1995, the Wicked Witch of the West was turned into a tragic heroine named Elphaba.

If the novel reinterpreted the "Oz" canon, outlining what happened years before Dorothy's house fell from the sky, and the stage musical transformed it into something new, Chu's musical film also makes it feel novel.

The film follows the same beats as the musical's first act: Elphaba, a young woman who grew up marginalized due to the green color of her skin, enrolls at Shiz University by virtue of her prodigious, natural magical ability. She rooms with future Good Witch Glinda and uncovers a conspiracy that threatens some of Oz's most vulnerable. Challenging it, however, turns her into a villain in the eyes of the people.

Chu and "Wicked's" screenwriters Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox benefit from the relative freedom of time and resources of a blockbuster film. While the film's runtime looks absurd on paper — it sits at two hours and 41 minutes long and only manages to tackle the Broadway production's first act — it would be easier to call "Wicked" bloated if its most expansive choices didn't directly serve its central relationship: Elphaba and Glinda's.

We see brief flashes of playful, snarky dialogue and prolonged sequences, interjected into musical numbers, that capture every beat of their changing relationship.

'Wicked' is focused on Elphaba and Glinda. Erivo and Grande's chemistry sells it.

For the most part, "Wicked" doesn't get too dialogue-heavy and relies on its musical numbers to advance the story. When it decides to stretch those numbers out, it's usually for a good reason.

Those interjections range from a sly extra two bars to help a lyric sync to morphing already-long songs like "Dancing Through Life" into extended turning points in Elphaba and Glinda's friendship.

As in the stage musical, Glinda lends Elphaba the ugliest hat in her closet for a party. She's ridiculed upon arrival, but after she starts dancing alone, Glinda joins her, and the two become friends. "Wicked" takes its sweet time with that dance sequence — and, in turn, gives it the narrative weight it deserves.

That relationship wouldn't work without Erivo and Grande's individual performances. Grande disappears into Glinda, and only a few times will you hear a well-earned vocal styling reminiscent of her personal discography. Vocally, she soars and delivers songs like "Popular" with giddy aplomb.

Her performance shines best, however, in her comedic sensibilities. She riffs easily off Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, who plays a Winkie prince that the two meet at school, or her classmate sycophants, played by Bowen Yang and Bronwyn James. This should be enough to make her a best supporting actress Oscar contender.

Erivo delivers the film's grounding performance, and she captures the vulnerability, naïveté, and girlishness underneath her character's bristling exterior. When you finally hear her sing on "The Wizard and I" — the film's standout number — it's far enough that you're waiting for it. Erivo, of course, smashes it, drawing on Elphaba's deep sense of joy and curiosity as she fantasizes about the Wizard curing her social ostracization.

The one problem with 'Wicked'

It's clear that both actors, from their ineffable chemistry on screen, are having the time of their lives in these roles — and that goes for the rest of the production as well. In turn, if there's one crime that "Wicked" commits, it's perhaps that it loves itself and its source material a little too much.

The film goes to great lengths to pay its respects to the original stage musical, including in one utterly euphoric cameo best left unspoiled for the true "Wicked" enthusiasts. In other instances, like its repeated invocation of the "For Good" theme from Act Two in the score, it can feel too self-referential.

"Wicked" also starts to get bogged down in its tone-shifting endgame. Most egregiously, it crushes its momentum during "Defying Gravity," in which Elphaba, now an enemy of the state after refusing to conspire with the Wizard, successfully gains the power of flight in order to escape.

Rather than letting Erivo's extraordinary vocal performance and the music drive the film's climax, "Wicked" bogs down Elphaba's ascendance with too many brief action sequences, dialogue exchanges, and additional musical interludes. Toward the end of the film — and in anticipation of Erivo's final notes — it's too much.

In the end, though, "Wicked" is one of the best musical adaptations recently put to screen. Chu renders his vision of Oz with clear passion and verve and makes storytelling decisions that successfully argue why this needed to be a two-part movie.

At the very least, I won't complain about getting another two (or more) hours like these ones.

"Wicked," also starring Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum, opens in theaters on Friday.