As a good witch once said, with the right help, "there's nothing that can stop you from becoming popular." This proved to be true as Fansided announced its Fandoms of the Year. It takes a lot of enthusiasm for a project to be considered on par with Dune: Part 2 or Ironman's Academy Award-winning star Robert Downey Jr., but in the category of movies, Wicked nabbed a spot.
Just how popular is Wicked?
One of the easiest ways to quantify the appeal of a movie is to track its profits at the box office. In just four weeks in theaters, Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the Stephen Schwartz musical has crossed the $500M threshold. There's a good chance that people will return to showings again when the sing-along version comes out for Christmas. The film has already gained 33 wins and 111 nominations, The American Film institute has already named it the Movie of the Year and Ariana Grande has received the Best Supporting Actress award in honors from San Diego to St, Louis. Heartland Film has named it the winner of the truly Moving Picture Award.
But let's move past the numbers. The marketing of the film was genius. Starbucks released related merchandise and character-themed drinks. Target had more than 150 items exclusive to its stores in time for the holidays and the movie release itself. YouTube enthusiasts could go behind the scenes with featurettes. It was hard to avoid joining the fandom before the movie ever played at its premiere and that was, in large part, because it was everywhere and seemed to be for everyone.
Why we love Wicked at Fansided
Fansided Entertainment & Lifestyle Director Cody Schultz says that "Wicked is a brilliant cinematic adaptation that captures the magic and heart of the beloved Broadway show that has been a part of our lives for over 20 years now" and there is no denying the truth of that. We knew from trailers and featurettes that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande would be "nothing short of extraordinary." Schultz accurately predicts that those of us who fell in love with Elphie and Glinda this year will remember "the masterful vision of Jon Chu... was a true love letter to the fans worldwide who first fell in love with the story."
I, myself, dressed in green and black and saw it on my birthday as someone who has been singing along to "Popular" since my 20s. I loved every minute of it and was surprised that I only cried three times. Here at Tea and Banter, I wrote with enthusiasm about this film's upcoming release because I remembered what it was like to connect with the witches of Oz and find power in "Defying Gravity."
Thanks to everyone involved in Wicked for making us include this movie in the Fandoms of the Year. I can't wait for Wicked: For Good to be released on November 21, 2025.