You’ve heard the high notes. You've seen the green face paint everywhere. Honestly, at this point, it feels like Jon M. Chu’s massive cinematic adaptation of Wicked has taken over the entire planet. But figuring out the best ways to watch Wicked isn't as straightforward as just clicking a button on Netflix, especially with the weird split-release schedule for the films and the ongoing Broadway juggernaut.
It’s a bit of a maze. You have the first part of the movie, the upcoming second part, the legendary stage show that refuses to close, and the inevitable "when will it stream" guessing game.
Let's get into the weeds of how you can actually see Elphaba and Glinda do their thing.
The Big Screen: Seeing Wicked Part 1 in Theaters
If you want the full, ear-shattering experience of Cynthia Erivo hitting those F5s in "Defying Gravity," the theater is still the primary way to watch Wicked. Universal Pictures didn't spend a small fortune on practical munchkinland sets just for you to watch this on a cracked iPhone screen.
The first film—officially titled Wicked—hit theaters in late 2024. Because of the sheer scale of the production, the studio decided to split Gregory Maguire's reimagined Oz into two distinct movies. Part 1 covers the entire first act of the stage musical, ending right at that iconic flight. If you're looking for showtimes, check the heavy hitters like AMC, Regal, or Cinemark.
Pro tip: If your local theater has IMAX or Dolby Cinema, use it. The sound mixing for the orchestral tracks is dense. In a standard theater, you might lose some of the nuance in Stephen Schwartz’s lyrics during the big ensemble numbers like "One Short Day."
The Waiting Game: When Is Wicked Part 2?
Here is where people get tripped up. You watch the first movie, the credits roll, and you're left hanging. You're going to be waiting a while for the conclusion. Wicked Part 2 is currently slated for a November 2025 release.
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Universal originally toyed with different dates to avoid clashing with other blockbusters, but they've seemingly settled on the Thanksgiving corridor. This second installment will cover the darker, more political "Act 2" of the story—think "No Good Deed" and "For Good." Until then, the only way to see the end of the story is to head to a theater with a stage.
Streaming Realities: When Will Wicked Hit Peacock?
Everybody wants to know when they can watch it from their couch. Since Wicked is a Universal Pictures release, its streaming home is guaranteed to be Peacock.
Universal usually follows a "theatrical window" of about 45 to 90 days. For a massive hit like this, they’ll lean toward the 90-day mark or even longer to milk the box office. We are likely looking at a digital "PVOD" release (where you pay $20 to rent it on Amazon or Apple) roughly two months after the premiere, followed by a Peacock debut about a month after that.
Don't expect it to pop up on Netflix or Disney+ anytime soon. Licensing deals are fickle, but Comcast (which owns NBCUniversal) keeps their biggest gems close to the chest. If you have a Peacock subscription, keep an eye on the "New Releases" tab toward the end of the winter season.
The OG Experience: Watching Wicked on Stage
Sometimes the best way to watch Wicked is the way it was meant to be seen: live. The Broadway production at the Gershwin Theatre in New York City has been running since 2003. It's a powerhouse. It literally never stops.
If you aren't in NYC, you aren't out of luck.
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- The North American Tour: There are usually two separate tours crisscrossing the U.S. and Canada. They hit cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas for multi-week "sit-down" runs.
- The West End: If you’re across the pond, the Apollo Victoria Theatre in London is the permanent home for the show.
- International Productions: Wicked has been translated into several languages, with notable runs in Japan, Germany, and Brazil over the years.
Ticket prices for the stage show vary wildly. If you're trying to save money, look into the Digital Lottery. Most cities offer a limited number of $35 or $40 tickets via an app (like TodayTix) or a specific lottery website a day or two before the performance. It's a gamble, but it's how I've seen the show three times without going broke.
What Most People Get Wrong About "Pro-Shots"
I see this question on Reddit and TikTok every single day: "Is there a filmed version of the original Broadway cast?"
Sort of, but mostly no.
There is a legendary archive recording of the original cast (Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth) housed at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. However, you can only watch it if you are a researcher with a specific, valid reason—you can't just walk in and ask for popcorn.
There is no official "pro-shot" (professionally filmed stage performance) available for public streaming. Unlike Hamilton on Disney+ or Waitress on Apple TV, Wicked has guarded its stage intellectual property fiercely. They wanted people to buy tickets to the live show or the new movie, not watch a grainy 20-year-old recording. If you see a "full movie" on YouTube that looks like it was filmed from someone's lap in the balcony, that's a bootleg. It's illegal, the quality is terrible, and frankly, the actors hate it.
The "Wizard of Oz" Connection
If you’re diving into the ways to watch Wicked to understand the lore, you might want to revisit the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. It’s currently streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max) because it’s a Warner Bros. property.
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Watching the original film—or reading the 1900 L. Frank Baum book—makes the "easter eggs" in the Wicked movie much more satisfying. You’ll catch why certain characters lose limbs or why certain shoes are such a big deal.
Digital Purchase and Physical Media
For the collectors out there, Wicked will eventually land on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. Physical media enthusiasts (myself included) prefer this because the bitrate is higher than streaming, meaning the colors look "poppier" and the blacks aren't all pixelated.
Expect a "Collector's Edition" probably around March or April. Usually, these come with behind-the-scenes features on how they trained the "flying" monkeys and how many gallons of green makeup Cynthia Erivo had to endure.
Summary of Actionable Steps
If you’re ready to go, here is your immediate game plan:
- Check Local Listings: Use Fandango or Atom Tickets to find Part 1 in theaters. Aim for a premium large format (PLF) screen like IMAX for the best audio.
- Monitor Peacock: If you’re a homebody, mark your calendar for roughly 90 days post-release. That’s your likely streaming window.
- Enter the Lottery: Download the TodayTix app or check the official Wicked website for the city you live in. Set a daily alarm to enter the $35-40 ticket lottery.
- Avoid Scams: Do not buy "digital downloads" from sketchy third-party sites claiming to have the movie early. They are almost always malware or low-quality theater rips.
- Listen to the Cast Recording: While you wait to see it, the 2003 Original Broadway Cast Recording is on Spotify and Apple Music. It remains the gold standard for learning the score before you see the cinematic version.
The world of Oz is bigger than it's ever been. Whether you’re sitting in the front row of the Gershwin or waiting for the Peacock drop, you’ve got options. Just make sure you bring some tissues for "For Good"—it hits harder than you'd think.