Everything You Need To Know About The Wicked Movie Runtime: Part I, Part II, And Why It's Longer Than The Broadway Show

As of December 13, 2025, the definitive answer to "how long is the movie Wicked?" is a two-part epic journey, with the first installment, *Wicked: Part I*, officially clocking in at a substantial 2 hours and 40 minutes (160 minutes). This length is a clear signal from director Jon M. Chu that the film adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical is not cutting any corners, offering audiences a deep, immersive dive into the untold story of the Witches of Oz. This two-part cinematic event, produced by Universal Pictures, ensures that fans will get the full scope of Elphaba Thropp and Glinda Upland’s origin story, from their unlikely friendship at Shiz University to their ultimate destiny as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. The decision to split the narrative into two films directly impacts the final runtime, giving each chapter the necessary breathing room to adapt the complex plot, intricate score, and rich character development from Stephen Schwartz’s musical and Gregory Maguire’s novel.

The Complete Cast and Creative Team Behind the Two-Part Epic

The *Wicked* film adaptation boasts an all-star cast and a formidable creative team, ensuring a spectacular visual and musical experience that justifies the extended runtime. The depth of the ensemble cast allows the movie to explore the many facets of the Land of Oz and its inhabitants.

• Director: Jon M. Chu (Known for *Crazy Rich Asians* and *In the Heights*)
• Screenwriter: Winnie Holzman (Who also wrote the book for the original Broadway musical)
• Composer/Lyricist: Stephen Schwartz (Returning to adapt his own iconic score)

Key Cast and Character Roles

The core of the film's narrative rests on the shoulders of its two leading ladies and their supporting cast. The following entities are central to the story and its extended length:

• Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp: The misunderstood, green-skinned young woman who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West.
• Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland (formerly Galinda): The beautiful, popular, and ambitious young woman who becomes Glinda the Good.
• Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar: The Winkie Prince and love interest who complicates the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda.
• Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible: The formidable headmistress of Shiz University.
• Jeff Goldblum as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The mysterious and powerful ruler of the Emerald City.
• Ethan Slater as Boq: A Munchkin student at Shiz who is infatuated with Glinda.
• Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp: Elphaba’s younger sister, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the East.
• Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond: The voice of the sentient, goat-like professor at Shiz University.
• Bowen Yang as Pfannee: A classmate of Elphaba and Glinda.

Wicked: Part I Runtime — A Deep Dive into 160 Minutes

The first film, *Wicked: Part I*, is scheduled for release on November 27, 2024, and its official runtime is a substantial 2 hours and 40 minutes. This runtime is a critical piece of information for moviegoers planning their trip to the theater, as it means the film is nearly three hours long, including trailers and previews. This extended duration for *Wicked: Part I* is noteworthy because it’s actually longer than the entire original Broadway musical, which typically runs for about 2 hours and 30 minutes (not including the 15-minute intermission). The length of *Wicked: Part I* is primarily due to Jon M. Chu's vision to fully adapt the source material without making significant cuts. The first film is expected to cover the entire first act of the musical, culminating in the iconic song "Defying Gravity." By allocating 160 minutes to this half of the story, the director can:

• Expand World-Building: Dedicate more time to establishing the vibrant, yet politically complex, Land of Oz and Shiz University.
• Deepen Character Arcs: Allow for a more nuanced exploration of Elphaba and Glinda's evolving friendship and rivalry, showcasing their individual struggles and motivations before they become their fabled personas.
• Preserve Musical Numbers: Ensure that the beloved songs, such as "The Wizard and I," "Popular," and the climactic "Defying Gravity," are presented in their full glory with elaborate choreography and cinematic scope.

This generous runtime suggests a commitment to the emotional and thematic complexity of the story, giving audiences a richer experience than a single, rushed adaptation would allow.

The Split Decision: Why Wicked Became Two Separate Movies

The decision to split *Wicked* into two distinct films—*Wicked: Part I* and *Wicked: For Good*—was initially met with some skepticism but has been fully justified by the creative team, especially given the confirmed runtimes.

A "Bigger Canvas" for a Complex Story

Director Jon M. Chu explained that trying to fit the entire narrative into one film would have required "cutting out songs or cutting down characters," which he felt would have been a "fatal compromise" to the beloved material. The story, which spans Elphaba’s life from her birth to her eventual confrontation with Dorothy, is simply too dense for a single movie, especially one that needs to appeal to both long-time fans of the musical and newcomers. The two-part structure allows the filmmakers to:

• Retain All Songs: Ensure that virtually every note of Stephen Schwartz's score is included, a necessity for a musical with such a devoted following.
• Explore Subplots: Give proper attention to secondary, yet crucial, storylines involving characters like Fiyero, Madame Morrible, and Nessarose, which provide essential context for Elphaba's transformation.
• Respect the Act Break: The original musical naturally divides the story into two acts, with the intermission falling after "Defying Gravity." The film split mirrors this structure, providing a natural, high-stakes cliffhanger for the first movie.

Wicked: For Good (Part II) Runtime and Release Date

The second installment, officially titled *Wicked: For Good*, is scheduled to be released one year later, on November 21, 2025. The runtime for *Wicked: For Good* has been reported to be 2 hours and 18 minutes (138 minutes). This makes the second film about 22 minutes shorter than the first, which is logical as the first part must spend more time introducing the world, the characters, and their backstories. When you combine the runtimes, the entire cinematic experience of the *Wicked* saga totals:

2 Hours 40 Minutes (Part I) + 2 Hours 18 Minutes (Part II) = 4 Hours 58 Minutes Total

This nearly five-hour combined runtime for the two films underscores the dedication to a comprehensive and detailed adaptation, providing fans with a truly epic saga that spans two years of theatrical releases. The anticipation built between the two parts is also a savvy marketing strategy, keeping the *Wicked* buzz alive for an extended period.

Comparing the Wicked Movie to the Broadway Musical

One of the most surprising facts about the *Wicked* movie duration is the comparison to its stage counterpart. The original Broadway production of *Wicked* has a typical runtime of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, not including the 15-minute intermission.

Wicked Stage Show Total Runtime: ~2 hours 45 minutes (with intermission)
Wicked Movie Part I Runtime: 2 hours 40 minutes

The cinematic adaptation of just the first half of the story is nearly as long as the entire stage show. This stark difference highlights the expanded scope of the film. While the stage show relies on theatrical conventions and the audience's imagination to bridge gaps, the movie uses its extended runtime to visually realize the world of Oz, add new musical moments, and flesh out scenes that were merely implied on stage. For fans of the *Wicked* musical, the long runtimes of both *Part I* and *Part II* are a promise: a faithful, uncompromised, and visually spectacular adaptation that fully honors the source material. Prepare your popcorn, settle in, and get ready to be swept away to the Land of Oz for nearly five hours across two unforgettable years.