Universal's WICKED Films - News & Discussion Thread — Page 124

Although the movie wasn’t nearly as well-received as part one, there was definitely an assumption it would receive at least some token nominations in creative categories, Best Song, possibly Supporting Actress. But Supporting Actress turned out to be very competitive this year with acclaimed performances in better received movies and I suspect there was a feeling the film’s design work was already awarded sufficiently last year.
I thought one of the original songs would get into Best Song, owing to Schwartz’s reputation, the prospect of getting Grande or Erivo to perform, and the category’s generally questionable nominating choices over the years. But the two songs were just so unmemorable, it’s like they never existed at all.

It's astonshing to see the tide turn against this movie. There was always a sense that the second film couldn't live up to the first because of the inherant issues of Act 2 in the source material, but this is the biggest sea change of opinion on a movie I can remember since people reevaluated The Phantom Menace.

TheOtherOne2 said: "Why on earth should any of them have been nominated two years in a row for the same production? They suckered millions of dollars out of people. They don't need Oscars, too."



Yeah I bought this on digital release (assuming id like it) and admit i regret it. One of the worst movies ive seen in a while that somehow makes the second act even worse.

It reminds me a bit of how the final Game of Thrones season ruined the whole shows legacy.

WldKingdomHM said: "I wonder what really happened to the movie ? Did they need to rush it ? Why did they spilt it in two because of the producers ? Did they filmed the second half first?It seems like it was done by two different directors

Props to Ariana thou. Clearly she deserved the nom (I don’t get the hype over Teyana)"


I think to do a Part Two film successfully, they needed to overhaul Act Two and risk alienating the Wicked fans.

Elphaba is so aimless and the Wizard of Oz midquel tie in hobbles how much they can stretch.

Or they could’ve done a rushed Act Two in one movie and stayed faithful, and it would be flawed still but then at least in the same movie you still have “Defying Gravity” and “Popular” to smooth it over. That’s why people don’t care about the flaws in the stage show that much. There’s still enough fun.

Sutton Ross said: "Thisfilmwasnever going to win any Oscars. It wasnot comparable in things likecinematographywith films like One Battle After Another, Train Dreams, or Marty Supreme. It was a fluffy good time and their box office achievement is something to be very proud of. The second one was much weaker anyways."

I've yet to see Train Dreams. My personal favorite of 2025 was Bugonia which I saw at least 5 times. Every time I watch it, I can't help but thinking it'll be a perfect stage play.

gibsons2 said: I've yet to see Train Dreams. My personal favorite of 2025 was Bugonia which I sawat least 5 times. Every time I watch it, I can't help but thinking it'll be a perfect stage play."

Oh man, I absolutely LOVED Bugonia, just stunning, and it absolutely would be a great play. Train Dreams is excellent, as is Sentimental Value. So much brilliant cinema this year.

I agree with Sutton. In hindsight, I'd add: the decision to turn Wicked into two films was a sound - even brilliant - commercial decision yet a questionable one artistically. The second film is harder to even remember, 6 weeks after a viewing. It doesn't have the event status, and only one standalone signature numbers; and even its high points are buried in a lot of expository sequences to move the story's wrap-up forward. I now see how one brilliant 3 hour movie might've served as a satisfying translation of the stage show. For Good will never have the kind of word of mouth the first film did.

TheOtherOne2 said: "TotallyEffed said: "Bugonia was amazing. No one is doing it like Emma/Yorgos."

Bugonia is wonderful, but I think its best performance is given by Jesse Plemons. All five nominees for Best Actor are deserving, but I wish Jesse had gotten in there somehow."



I wasn't surprised about Wicked being shut out, but Plemons and Mescal not getting nominated is definitely a bummer.

gibsons2 said: "TotallyEffed said: "TheOtherOne2 said: "TotallyEffed said: "Bugonia was amazing. No one is doing it like Emma/Yorgos."

Bugonia is wonderful, but I think its best performance is given by Jesse Plemons. All five nominees for Best Actor are deserving, but I wish Jesse had gotten in there somehow."



I wasn't surprised about Wicked being shut out, but Plemons and Mescal not getting nominated is definitely a bummer.

"

Agreed, it's shocking.And yet Jacob Elordi was nominated for basically just sighing the entire time. As much as I love DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan, both of their movies had supporting cast shine in their roles, not the leading actors. But, all in all, 2025 was an amazing year for movies."

Eldori gave a remarkable physical performance - he might not have had much dialogue, but there was a lot more going on than "just sighing the entire time".

These men are all extraordinary actors and there is a reason why Jacob is not included. He can't act and he's boring. He sighs and groans in Frankenstein and then bitched about how long it took to be in makeup. Cool story bro. Next.

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/2026-hollywood-portfolio-cover

Frankenstein, to me, is the Oscar villain: a movie with 9 nominations, including Best Picture, that nobody seems to like very much. It’s kind of baffling.

Wicked won for costumes last year. It's essentially the exact same project two years in a row. Sure, there were some new costumes for the second part but they were already awarded for their design work. It's time to move on.