Wicked is now the serious contender for the Oscars.

Not only did the film gross $358 million worldwide, but it was also liked by the Academy. The Hollywood Reporter journalist claims (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/wicked-win-best-picture-oscars-shock-1236073471/) that the three most important guilds — producers, directors, actors — greeted the film with delight. They say that Oppenheimer was met with a standing ovation, but even that cannot be compared to how Wicked is received. At industry screenings, everyone sang, applauded, cried, and danced.

This might be helped in the Best Picture nominations by this being the first truly major Hollywood project after the pandemic. And the kind that the academics like-bright, nostalgic, old-fashioned in a good way, and sweeping. The academics could miss such classic Hollywood cinema. In the Covid years, such atypical films as "Coda" or "Everything Everywhere and at Once" could win an Oscar. But blockbusters never managed to get that very prize.

On the other hand, that very sweepingness is capable, on the contrary, to stop the academy that may consider that "Wicked" is too lightweight for such a prestigious award (though there is a political context, but who will delve into it). It is also worth taking into consideration that this is the first part, and the academics can hold back their votes for the second part, just like what happened with the final chapter of "The Lord of the Rings", which won in all of its nominations.

In the same way, what interests me the most is how the musical is going to perform abroad, that is to say, not in the USA. Everything is more or less clear with America - many have watched the musical, and even if they haven't, they are immersed in the context. With the rest of the world, things are not so straightforward, and not everyone has any associations with "Wicked". At the same time, it's obvious that Universal tries to make an event out of the film in all ways possible, just like with "Barbie". But still, this green witch is not a custom image as much as this pink doll. Anyway, should this green witch be opted by the academics, the "Oscar" will come literally back to big Hollywood cinema.

Wicked is now the serious contender for the Oscars.

Not only did the film gross $358 million worldwide, but it was also liked by the Academy. The Hollywood Reporter journalist claims (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/wicked-win-best-picture-oscars-shock-1236073471/) that the three most important guilds — producers, directors, actors — greeted the film with delight. They say that Oppenheimer was met with a standing ovation, but even that cannot be compared to how Wicked is received. At industry screenings, everyone sang, applauded, cried, and danced.

This might be helped in the Best Picture nominations by this being the first truly major Hollywood project after the pandemic. And the kind that the academics like-bright, nostalgic, old-fashioned in a good way, and sweeping. The academics could miss such classic Hollywood cinema. In the Covid years, such atypical films as "Coda" or "Everything Everywhere and at Once" could win an Oscar. But blockbusters never managed to get that very prize.

On the other hand, that very sweepingness is capable, on the contrary, to stop the academy that may consider that "Wicked" is too lightweight for such a prestigious award (though there is a political context, but who will delve into it). It is also worth taking into consideration that this is the first part, and the academics can hold back their votes for the second part, just like what happened with the final chapter of "The Lord of the Rings", which won in all of its nominations.

In the same way, what interests me the most is how the musical is going to perform abroad, that is to say, not in the USA. Everything is more or less clear with America - many have watched the musical, and even if they haven't, they are immersed in the context. With the rest of the world, things are not so straightforward, and not everyone has any associations with "Wicked". At the same time, it's obvious that Universal tries to make an event out of the film in all ways possible, just like with "Barbie". But still, this green witch is not a custom image as much as this pink doll. Anyway, should this green witch be opted by the academics, the "Oscar" will come literally back to big Hollywood cinema.