There’s no place like… the cinema! This adaptation of the hit stage musical is sure to be popular with young audiences, so check out our guide below to find out all you need to know.
What is the age rating for Wicked?
We rated Wicked PG for mild threat, discrimination. This means the film is suitable for general viewing, but parents and caregivers should be aware that some scenes may be unsuitable for more sensitive children. Below is our content advice on the film, or you can check out our handy visual guide to the age rating and its key content themes here.
violence
Guards are struck as they try to apprehend two women.
threat and horror
Occasional threatening scenes include fantastical creatures and human guards chasing after two women. People narrowly escape an explosion. Monkeys appear in pain and distress as they grow wings, and there are brief scary moments.
sex
People flirt with each other, and it is implied during a dance that a married woman becomes pregnant by another man.
discrimination
A green-skinned woman is mocked, bullied and humiliated because of her skin colour. A disabled woman in a wheelchair is treated in a condescending manner by able-bodied people. Talking animals are persecuted in a fantastical society.
injury detail
A man is briefly seen with a small scratch on his face.
theme
References are made to a mother dying during childbirth. People become upset as a result of persecution and bullying.
Wicked at a glance
Inspired by The Wizard of Oz, Wicked is the first of a two-part adaptation of the long-running stage musical based on the book of the same name by Gregory Maguire. The film explores the origins of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), an aspiring sorcerer who initially finds acceptance at a magical school until higher authorities try to misuse her powers. When she rebels against them, she is villainised by the rulers of Oz, who come to call her the Wicked Witch of the West. Although set in a magical world, the film deals with themes of friendship and prejudice that will resonate with viewers of all ages.
What can I expect from Wicked?
Wicked adapts the first act of the stage musical and builds to an exciting climax in which Elphaba and her friend Glinda (Ariana Grande) try to escape from the Wizard in the Emerald City, as armed guards and flying monkeys pursue them. Although there are only momentary instances of threat and violence for much of the film, this final sequence becomes more intense as the two women are threatened and chased. During their escape attempt, they try to fly away in a hot air balloon, fighting off the guards before the balloon becomes trapped and explodes. The two are unharmed, and have to find another way to escape.
Our Classification Guidelines allow for threat and scary scenes at U, provided they are very mild and the outcome is reassuring. Although nobody comes to serious harm, the escape scene is quite prolonged and includes brief ‘jump scare’ moments as the flying monkeys break through windows and try to grab the women. The ending is also not wholly reassuring, setting up the dramatic stakes for the sequel. We therefore classified the film PG, noting ‘mild threat’ in the content advice.
A wider theme of the story is discrimination. Similar to franchises such as Harry Potter and The Worst Witch, Wicked largely takes place in a magical school in which young sorcerers attend lessons with talking-animal teachers and practise various enchantments. Certain characters are obsessed with popularity, and Elphaba is objectified and bullied by her classmates because of her appearance. This leads to some emotional and upsetting scenes, until she is finally accepted.
Similarly, her sister is treated differently by others because she is disabled and requires a wheelchair. She is condescendingly offered help by others when she clearly says she prefers to manage by herself, and is referred to as ‘tragically beautiful’ multiple times.
Additionally, within the magical land of Oz distressing political and societal shifts are resulting in the talking animals that populate the world alongside Elphaba and Glinda to be marginalised and even arrested. Elphaba fights for their freedom, but scenes in which a beloved teacher – a goat – is dragged away by the authorities may be distressing to very young viewers.
At PG, our guidelines state that ‘Discriminatory language or behaviour should be clearly disapproved of. Some language or behaviour may be permitted if justified by context (for example, reclaimed, historical, lack of discriminatory intent)’. Throughout the film, all forms of discrimination are condemned and a message of acceptance, understanding and equality is clearly promoted. Although occurring in a fantastical setting, seeing beloved characters being mistreated, especially when Elphaba’s skin-colour is used to demonise her as the ‘Wicked Witch’, may be upsetting and poignant for some audiences.
You can read more about how we classify threat & scary scenes, discrimination and more in our BBFC Guides.
