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Wicked Movie Runtime Revealed: Why Both Parts Are Longer Than The Entire Broadway Show

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The question of "how long is Wicked the movie" has a surprising answer, as the highly anticipated two-part cinematic adaptation is a massive commitment for fans, totaling nearly five hours across both films. As of today, December 23, 2025, with the recent release of Wicked: Part One and the sequel, Wicked: For Good, now available in theaters, the official runtimes confirm that director Jon M. Chu and the creative team have significantly expanded the world of Oz and the story of Elphaba and Glinda.

The decision to split the beloved musical into two separate feature films—Wicked: Part One (released in November 2024) and Wicked: For Good (released in November 2025)—was made to ensure the narrative was fully honored, avoiding the common pitfall of a rushed adaptation. The result is a combined runtime that offers an unprecedented deep dive into the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch. This article breaks down the exact length of each film, compares it to the original stage production, and lists the extensive cast and crew who brought it to life.

Wicked: Part One and Part Two Official Runtimes Breakdown

The total viewing time for the entire Wicked saga on the big screen is a significant commitment, clocking in just shy of five hours. The two films, which cover the first and second acts of the original Broadway musical, respectively, are not equal in length, a detail that has sparked much discussion among fans of the source material.

Wicked: Part One Runtime (Theatrical Release 2024)

The first installment, which focuses on the first half of the stage show, has an unexpectedly long runtime. The official length for Wicked: Part One is confirmed to be:

  • 2 Hours and 40 Minutes (160 Minutes)

This runtime is particularly noteworthy because it is approximately 10 minutes longer than the entire original Broadway musical, which typically runs about 2 hours and 30 minutes (with intermission). The extended length is a testament to director Jon M. Chu’s commitment to world-building and character development, allowing for new scenes, expanded musical numbers, and a richer exploration of the Land of Oz before Elphaba Thropp and Glinda Upland’s paths diverge.

Wicked: For Good (Part Two) Runtime (Theatrical Release 2025)

The sequel, Wicked: For Good, which covers the musical’s second act and concludes the story, is slightly shorter than its predecessor. The confirmed length for the second film is:

  • 2 Hours and 18 Minutes (138 Minutes)

The 20-minute difference between the two parts is an interesting structural choice. While the second act of the stage production is often more compact and action-packed, the film’s runtime still allows for a full, unhurried adaptation of the dramatic conclusion, including the iconic song "For Good" which lends its name to the film's subtitle. This length ensures that the complex storyline involving The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Madame Morrible, and the fate of Fiyero Tigelaar is given ample screen time.

The Total Cinematic Wicked Experience: Nearly 5 Hours

For fans planning a back-to-back viewing marathon once both films are available for home viewing, the total runtime for the complete cinematic adaptation of the *Wicked* musical is:

  • Total Combined Runtime: 4 Hours and 58 Minutes (298 Minutes)

This nearly five-hour epic is a colossal undertaking that promises to satisfy the curiosity of long-time fans of the book and the musical, as well as new audiences discovering the story of the unlikely friendship between the two witches. The decision to split the story was not merely a commercial one but a creative necessity to fully realize the scope of the original novel by Gregory Maguire and the beloved stage production by Stephen Schwartz.

Why the Wicked Movie is So Long: A Deep Dive into Topical Authority

The extended runtime of both films, especially the first part being longer than the entire stage show, is directly related to the creative team's vision for topical authority and world-building. The stage musical, while beloved, has limitations in how much of the Land of Oz it can portray. The film adaptation, however, has the freedom to expand on key elements and introduce LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) entities that enrich the narrative:

  • Expanded World-Building: Director Jon M. Chu was adamant about showing more of the world beyond the Shiz University campus. This includes detailed sequences in the Emerald City and the surrounding areas of Oz, adding visual depth that the stage show cannot.
  • New Songs and Score: While the film features all the classic songs, composer Stephen Schwartz and the team were able to introduce new musical material, underscoring the emotional beats and character arcs of Elphaba and Glinda with fresh arrangements and potentially new songs written specifically for the movie.
  • Character Development: The additional minutes allow for a more nuanced exploration of the relationship between Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s Glinda. It provides more screen time for supporting characters like Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero Tigelaar, Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum’s Wizard of Oz, giving their backstories and motivations greater weight.
  • Honoring the Source Material: The original Broadway show, which is an adaptation of Gregory Maguire’s novel, often had to condense complex plot points. The two-part film structure ensures that the political intrigue, the history of the talking animals, and the deeper themes of prejudice and power are fully explored without feeling rushed.

The Star-Studded Cast and Crew: Key Entities in the Wicked Universe

The immense length of the film is matched by the star power of its cast and the pedigree of its creative team, providing a high level of topical authority for the production. The list below highlights the key entities involved in bringing the epic to the screen:

Main Cast Entities

  • Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp (The future Wicked Witch of the West)
  • Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland (The future Glinda the Good)
  • Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar
  • Jeff Goldblum as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
  • Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
  • Ethan Slater as Boq
  • Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp
  • Bowen Yang as Pfannee
  • Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond (Voice)

Key Creative and Production Entities

  • Jon M. Chu (Director)
  • Stephen Schwartz (Composer/Lyricist, Original Stage Score)
  • Winnie Holzman (Screenplay Writer, Original Book)
  • Marc Platt (Producer)
  • Universal Pictures (Studio)
  • Gregory Maguire (Author of the source novel)
  • The Broadway Musical (Original Stage Show)

In summary, the runtime of the Wicked movie, now split across two lengthy and detailed parts, is a clear indication that this is not a simple transfer from stage to screen. It is a cinematic event designed to give the beloved story the epic scale it deserves, ensuring every character and plot point from the Land of Oz is fully realized for a new generation.

Wicked Movie Runtime Revealed: Why Both Parts Are Longer Than the Entire Broadway Show
how long is wicked the movie
how long is wicked the movie

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