Top 10 Moments in Wicked We Have on Loop

Fans got quite the New Years Eve gift when the digital release of “Wicked” brought with it some exciting deleted scenes. While the theatrical release is already two hours and 40 minutes long, some fans are adamant that one scene, which provides some crucial insight into Elphaba and Galinda’s friendship, should have made the cut. The short snippet sees Galinda asking Elphaba why she left her behind to go off and save a lion cub with Fiyero. Sharp-eared viewers will also pick up the melody of the musical’s classic duet, “For Good,” weaved into the soundtrack. To tide us over until “Part 2”, we’re going to be thinking about this one for a while.

Although a behind-the-scenes featurette spilled the beans about the original Broadway stars’ presence in the film, no one could have been prepared for just how big their cameos would be. In fact, to call it a cameo would be an understatement. Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, the original Glinda and Elphaba, get a whole musical number to themselves in the Emerald City. They play Wise Women #1 and #2 leading the city’s theater troupe. There’s even a fun moment where the two seem to symbolically pass the torch to the actresses inheriting their roles. It’s a moment die hard fans will probably never forget.

Ariana Grande’s ad-libs are a major part of why her Glinda is so great. In the climactic chase scene before “Defying Gravity,” as the Wizard’s guards pursue her and Elphaba into a hot air balloon, she gets one of her biggest laughs. That instantly iconic line ordering the guard to give her back her leg was actually Grande’s own invention, and it’s shockingly true to the character. Fans have gotten a lot of mileage out of the moment, reposting and remixing it to score TikTok fancams. It’s easily one of the highlights of the whole sequence, delivering some much-needed hilarity.

The moment Glinda joins Elphaba on the train to Emerald City has been a favorite since the movie’s first full trailer dropped. It’s also such a perfect representation of who she is. Yes, she’s graceful and magnanimous, but when push comes to shove, she’s certainly not going to pass up a good thing for the sake of decorum or humility. It may be Elphaba’s moment, but it’s not every day you get the opportunity to meet the Wizard himself.

At its heart, “Wicked” is about the friendship between its two leads. Elphaba and Glinda’s journey from enemies to besties is one of the reasons the musical has had such staying power. The movie hits that theme pretty hard in the Ozdust Ballroom scene. Having set Elphaba up to be laughed at by their peers, Galinda has a change of heart and the two share a meaningful dance that’s sure to wring the tears out of you. The scene is “Wicked’s” version of the “Try Not to Cry” Challenge. It’s an unforgettable moment that just begs to be watched again and again.

Sometimes, it’s about the small touches. A brief but delicious moment in “Popular” went viral after “Wicked” hit theaters. When Galinda is trying to teach Elphaba the ways of the socially gifted, there’s a point where she enthusiastically and forcefully growls the word “right.” Ariana Grande’s vigorous line reading became a viral sound on TikTok, with users splicing it into their own videos. The virality reached all the way to Grande herself, who admitted she’d forgotten she even said it like that until she heard it played back, and said she even scared herself.

Jonathan Bailey’s role as Fiyero only served to further cement his designation as “the internet’s boyfriend”. He storms Shiz University with his floppy hair and devil may care attitude, bewitching every single person on screen and in the audience. Yes, “Dancing Through Life” is a carefully crafted piece of choreography, editing, and musical goodness that’s everything we want from a movie musical. But with all those low angles of Bailey as he works the room, it’s so easy to get swept up in the magic that you’ll soon be asking yourself “Why is this song 6 hours long?”

It’s the defining vocal moment of the entire “Wicked” score. Elphaba’s battle cry at the end of “Defying Gravity” is the part where every performer gets to make her mark. Cynthia Erivo’s take on the riff is singular, riveting, and gives us goosebumps all over. And, of course, it’s also gone viral. Although the original riff is known for its difficulty and potential to damage some vocal cords, it hasn’t stopped us all from trying. Fans, social media users, and even other celebrities have been attempting to match Erivo’s vocal agility with varying but always entertaining results.

Marissa Bode made history as the first performer to play Nessarose who also uses a wheelchair in real life. But, her legacy in the role is also marked by another highlight. Her reading of the line “me and Boq,” in particular, has given fans a lot of enjoyment. Her decision to speak-sing this part of “Dancing Through Life” is absolutely the right choice for the movie. But, out of context, the sound has become a trend on social media that’s hard to get away from. It’s been recreated, parodied, and even spliced into other songs. The world’s been having a collective “Boq Off” ever since.

As the only full song the official YouTube channel for the movie had released, it’s easy to see why “What Is This Feeling?” would catch fire the way it has. It’s garnered over 20 million views since it was published on the site and keeps climbing. But, there’s another reason, too. The mid-song dance, led by Galinda and the students of Shiz University, just scratches something in our brains. If you could call choreography catchy, that would be the perfect word for it. It’s been recreated all across social media, only furthering the spread of “Wicked” fever far and wide, across all cardinal directions.




What “Wicked” moment lives in your head rent free? Let us know in the comments.