“Wicked” has made its way to theaters, sparking excitement among both new and long-timefans, along with a range of opinions.

With unforgettable songs, costumes and performances, many are hoping to relive the magical experience they had when they first watched the Broadway musical, while those who will watch it for the first time can experience the magic this story holds in a whole new way.

With the new cast performing a twist of the original, the anticipation has finally come to an end as fans rushed to theaters to see the film.

Anticipation before the release

Before the release of the movie, expectations were already high, with fans hoping it would live up to the iconic musical.

Jadyn Marder (9), a fan since she was in second grade, thought the musical had many great elements, including a heartwarming story.

At first, Marder said she didn’t know how to feel about the movie, but as the clips were posted, she looked forward to seeing it on the big screen.

“I’m really attached to the original, so I’m hoping they don’t change anything too much,” Marder said.

Amelie Stanis (10) has the same expectations for the movie. She watched the musical about a year ago and instantly fell in love with “Wicked.” She was eager to see if it could capture the same magic that made the stage show unforgettable.

“I hope that they include all the music the way it is, but also bring their own new stuff into it,” Stanis said.

Stanis explained that the reason she enjoys the musical is because it conveys the message that not everything is as it seems.

“It tries to tell people to not take everything at face value —to look deeper,” Stanis said.

Many fans connected to the musical’s theme, including Myra Crowe (10), who found the message meaningful.

Crowe has been a fan for two years and said when she first started getting into the musical, her mom surprised her with tickets to see it performed on Broadway, which made her even more of a fan.

Crowe said she loves both people who were cast for the leads, Ariana Grande playing Glinda and Cynthia Erivo playing Elphaba.

She’s excited to see their take on their characters and how they’re going to differ from the original actors.

“I do hope that they put their own spin on the story, and they make it powerful in a different way,” Crowe added.

Reactions after the release

After the release of the film, it’s clear that “Wicked” has made a lasting impression on both die-hard fans and newcomers.

Stanis shared that Wicked completely lived up to her expectations, leaving her thrilled with how the movie came out. She said she can’t wait to see the next part in theaters next year and really enjoyed watching and listening to the song “Popular.” She added that Ariana Grande executed it perfectly.

She also mentioned that she liked how the movie mirrored the original Broadway musical, capturing the magic and energy that made it so well known.

“Out of 10 stars, I would give it a 10,” Stanis added.

Marder felt the same way about the movie and said she would also rate it 10 stars.

Marder shared that her favorite part of “Wicked” is how the “Defying Gravity” scene differs from the original musical. She liked how in the movie it looked like Glinda might join Elphaba, but she’s stopped by the guards, making the moment more dramatic.

“It was really fun, and I got to go with my friends, and we all dressed up. It’s a great thing to do with your friends,” Marder said.