Is Wicked woke?
Movie · 2024
Wicked has a wokeness score of 7/10, which we rate as Strongly Ideological. Woke messaging is very prominent and often feels forced or shoehorned in. Characters and plot are primarily shaped to serve the ideology. Many viewers feel the agenda overshadows the entertainment.
Key points
- Elphaba portrayed as victim of systemic prejudice due to green skin, allegorizing racism with Black actress casting.
- Prominent LGBTQ+ representation via queer-coded friendship, diverse openly gay actors, and cast's empowering statements.
- Themes of inequality, animal rights, and anti-authority rhetoric prioritize progressive ideology over fantasy escapism.
Wokeness analysis
Wicked (2024) exemplifies heavily ideological, message-driven entertainment where progressive themes dominate the narrative framework inherited from the original Broadway musical and Gregory Maguire's novel. The story reimagines the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, as a misunderstood victim of systemic prejudice due to her green skin, a clear allegory for racism and othering of marginalized identities. This is amplified by the film's diverse casting, including Cynthia Erivo, a Black actress, as Elphaba, which some conservative reviewers decry as a DEI-driven choice that shoehorns modern racial dynamics into a fantasy tale. Themes of inequality extend to animal rights persecution, with Professor Dillamond's subplot mirroring suppression of dissent, interpreted by critics like those at TFP.org as class struggle, feminism, and anti-fascist rhetoric targeting figures like the Wizard, seen as a stand-in for manipulative authority. LGBTQ+ representation is prominent through subtextual queer coding of Elphaba and Glinda's intense friendship, celebrated by cast members like Ariana Grande and Erivo in interviews as empowering for queer audiences, with Oz declared a 'very queer place.' Openly LGBTQ+ actors such as Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero), Marissa Bode (Nessarose, the first wheelchair user in the role), Bowen Yang, and Bronwyn James add layers of visibility, drawing boycott calls from groups like One Million Moms for pushing an 'LGBTQ agenda' alongside witchcraft. Conservative outlets like Breitbart and National Review highlight trigger warnings in the UK for 'discrimination against green-skinned women' and talking animals as evidence of overreach, while sites like WorthItOrWoke note a 'super diverse' university ensemble resembling a DEI checklist. These elements feel forced to many viewers, reshaping characters and plot to prioritize ideology over pure escapism. The Wizard's regime silences truth-tellers, evoking modern censorship narratives, but the film's earnest preaching on acceptance and defiance alienates those seeking unadulterated fantasy. Despite stellar production values and box office success, the agenda overshadows entertainment, resonating with progressive crowds while frustrating audiences tired of lectures disguised as musicals.
Plot
Wicked (2024), directed by Jon M. Chu, adapts the first act of the Broadway musical, serving as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. It follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), a green-skinned outcast ridiculed for her appearance, who enrolls at Shiz University and clashes with ambitious socialite Galinda (Ariana Grande). Their rivalry evolves into a profound friendship amid revelations of injustice in Oz. Elphaba discovers her magical powers while uncovering the Wizard's (Jeff Goldblum) regime's oppression of talking animals, led by Professor Dillamond (Peter Dinklage). Seduced by power, Galinda becomes Glinda, as Elphaba defies authority in the iconic 'Defying Gravity' sequence, setting her on the path to becoming the Wicked Witch. Featuring lavish production numbers, the film explores themes of prejudice, friendship, and self-discovery in the fantastical land of Oz.
Analyzed by AI on December 30, 2025