Home Ziharkah3

The Epic Screen Time: How Long Is The Wicked Movie (Part One & Part Two) Total Runtime?

• minute read
Contents

The wait is finally over, and the official screen times for the two-part cinematic event, Wicked, are now confirmed, revealing an epic commitment for fans. As of late December 2025, with Wicked: Part One already a massive hit and the highly anticipated sequel, Wicked: For Good, just around the corner, we can definitively break down the total runtime for the journey to Oz. The combined length of the two films is substantially longer than the original stage musical, a decision that promises a deep dive into the untold story of Elphaba and Glinda.

The decision to split the beloved Broadway musical into two separate films, Wicked: Part One and Wicked: For Good, was made by director Jon M. Chu to ensure that none of the complex story, iconic characters, or Stephen Schwartz’s powerful score was cut. This ambitious approach has resulted in a massive, nearly five-hour total cinematic experience, giving fans far more time in the Emerald City than ever before.

The Definitive Runtime Breakdown: Part One vs. Part Two

The total cinematic journey through the world of Oz is delivered across two distinct, feature-length films. The runtimes for both parts are now confirmed and offer a fascinating comparison to the original stage production's length.

Wicked: Part One Runtime (The Beginning)

The first installment, which focuses on the initial meeting and burgeoning friendship between Elphaba and Glinda at Shiz University, clocks in at a substantial length. This runtime allowed for a comprehensive setup of the world and characters, exceeding the length of the entire stage show’s first act and then some.

  • Official Runtime: 2 Hours and 40 Minutes (160 minutes)
  • Release Date: (Released in 2024)
  • Key Comparison: This single film is approximately 10 minutes longer than the entire two-act, two-hour-and-thirty-minute Broadway musical (including intermission).

Wicked: For Good (Part Two) Runtime (The Conclusion)

The highly anticipated conclusion, officially titled Wicked: For Good, is set to hit theaters on November 21, 2025. Recent theater listings, including from AMC, have provided a definitive runtime for the sequel. The second part is notably shorter than the first, which is consistent with the stage musical's second act being shorter than the first.

  • Reported Runtime: 2 Hours and 17 Minutes (137 minutes) or 2 Hours and 18 Minutes (138 minutes)
  • Release Date: November 21, 2025
  • Key Comparison: The sequel is about 23 minutes shorter than Part One.

The Grand Total: When combined, the total screen time for both films, Wicked: Part One and Wicked: For Good, is an impressive 4 Hours and 57 Minutes (297 minutes) based on the 2 hour and 17 minute runtime for the sequel. This nearly five-hour saga is a testament to the creative team's commitment to adapting every nuance of the source material.

Why the Wicked Movie is Split and Has Such a Long Runtime

The original stage production of Wicked has a runtime of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, plus a 15-minute intermission. The decision by Universal Pictures and director Jon M. Chu to expand the story into two extensive films was driven by a desire for narrative completeness and character depth.

The stage musical, while beloved, moves at a brisk pace, particularly in the second act, which covers a significant amount of Elphaba Thropp’s transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West and Galinda Upland’s evolution into Glinda the Good. Many subplots and character moments from Gregory Maguire’s original novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, were condensed or cut for the stage. The two-part film structure allows the adaptation to incorporate these elements.

The extended runtime of Wicked: Part One (160 minutes) suggests that the film spends significant time establishing the world of Oz, the political climate in the Emerald City, and the detailed backstory of Elphaba and Glinda’s relationship. The first film culminates with the iconic number "Defying Gravity," which typically ends the first act of the stage show.

Wicked: For Good (Part Two) then has 2 hours and 17 minutes to explore the second half of the story, including the pivotal song "For Good," the confrontation with The Wizard of Oz, and the ultimate fates of all the main characters. The slightly shorter length of the second film indicates a tighter focus on the dramatic conclusion and the emotional payoff of the five-hour saga.

The Star-Studded Cast and Creative Team Behind the Epic Length

The enormous runtime is justified by the caliber of the talent involved, both in front of and behind the camera. The film is a passion project for Universal Pictures, with a massive budget dedicated to bringing the fantastical world of Oz to life with stunning visuals and elaborate musical numbers.

Cast and Crew Profile

The film is helmed by a team committed to honoring the legacy of the musical while expanding its scope for a new generation of cinema-goers.

  • Director: Jon M. Chu (known for Crazy Rich Asians and In the Heights)
  • Screenplay: Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox (Holzman wrote the book for the original musical)
  • Music and Lyrics: Stephen Schwartz (original composer)
  • Studio: Universal Pictures

The Leading Ladies

The heart of the film rests on the shoulders of its two phenomenal leads, whose performances anchor the extensive screen time:

  • Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp: The powerhouse vocalist and Tony Award winner brings her dramatic intensity to the role of the misunderstood, green-skinned witch.
  • Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland: The pop superstar and former Broadway performer steps into the role of the bubbly, popular witch-to-be, marking a major cinematic return.

Other major entities and characters who fill out the extensive cast and contribute to the film's length include Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero. The addition of new songs and expanded scenes for these characters contributes directly to the total runtime, ensuring that the saga of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good is told in its fullest, most glorious form.

wicked movie runtime
wicked movie runtime

Detail Author:

  • Name : Dr. Johanna Bode
  • Username : mathew.prosacco
  • Email : orrin.buckridge@gmail.com
  • Birthdate : 1973-12-27
  • Address : 94293 Donnelly Neck New Floyport, MO 32395-6700
  • Phone : 1-804-507-2256
  • Company : Gulgowski Ltd
  • Job : Stock Broker
  • Bio : Iure esse quia libero facere omnis dolorem. Omnis libero dolor veritatis accusantium aut pariatur sed. Soluta maiores sed neque voluptas sit sed. Iure nam rerum quia quas veritatis voluptatem.

Socials

facebook:

instagram:

linkedin:

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/beer2010
  • username : beer2010
  • bio : Cumque officia labore asperiores. Eum illum repellendus ipsum atque officiis quidem amet atque. Id sed consequatur cupiditate at.
  • followers : 131
  • following : 166

Random Posts