Wickedis the newest hitmovie musical adaptationthat is breaking records at the box office and making waves in the media. The film, which premiered August 23, 2025, has quickly become a classic for both fans of the stage musical and new viewers, setting anall-time second-weekend recordfor box office sales. The immediate success and popularity of Jon M. Chu’s film comes as no surprise considering the equally exciting reception it earned as a stage musical when it debuted in 2003.
It is hard not to fall in love with the familiarworld of Ozand its magical qualities — from talking animals to the charming local of Munchkinland. However,what makesWickedstand the test of time is its message about friendship and acceptance told by its two leading ladies:Glinda and Elphaba. In the recent film, Glinda (Ariana Grande-Butera) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) share many powerful moments that demonstrate the importance of female friendship.
10Glinda Cries For Elphaba In “No One Mourns The Wicked”
Glinda Feels Guilt
The first scene inWickedthat hints atElphaba and Glinda’s iconic friendshipfeatures the opening song of the musical, “No One Mourns the Wicked”, sung by Glinda and the Munchkin ensemble. Though Elphaba is not included physically in this number, her presence is felt strongly. As the Munchkins celebrate the demise of the"Wicked Witch of the West", Elphaba’sinfamous nickname, Glinda sings alongside them.
However, it is clear that something haunts Glinda as she struggles to hide what is bothering her. Later, it becomes clear that this is because of her complicated friendship with Elphaba: She is mourning their relationship while feeling guilt over participating in the celebration of her death. In fact, in the song, Glinda recounts the difficult childhood her friend had as an outcast, reminding the Munchkin ensemble to have some grace for her and that “it couldn’t have been easy.”
9Glinda Joins Elphaba At The Dance
Glinda Chooses Elphaba Over Image
Although the twoleads have a bumpy start after becoming roommates atWicked’s Shiz University, their enemies' dynamic turns to friendship at the Ozdust Ballroom. When Elphaba shows up in the witch hat given to her by Glinda as a prank, she is mocked by fellow students. However, Glinda makes up for her wrongdoing by joining Elphaba’s solo dance and encouraging the others to do the same.
Elphaba and Glinda’s danceis one of the most touching displays of the pair’s friendship in the movie. Beyond remedying her mal intentions, Glinda’s decision to join in on the dance is meaningful for Elphaba because she has, up until this point, been alone and isolated. From this point on, the two women decide to “work in tandem,” each supporting the other in the face of their peers. Indeed, Glinda chooses to participate in the strange dance, despite threats from her popular posse of Pfannee (Bowen Yang) and Sheshen (Bronwyn James).
8Elphaba Includes Glinda In Her Lessons With Madame Morrible
Elphaba Supports Glinda’s Passions
At the same time that Glinda has orchestrated her cruel prank on Elphaba, Elphaba makes a surprising decision to plead Glinda’s case to her magic mentor, Michelle Yeoh’sMadame Morrible, who doesn’t want to teach Glinda magic. Not only does Elphaba insist that Glinda be included in their magic seminar, but she threatens to quit if Madame Morrible does not abide by her wishes.
This is one of Elphaba’s most heartfelt examples of selflessness inWicked, especially when Glinda has actively participated in the bullying that Elphaba endures at Shiz. She could revel in Madame Morrible’s singular attention to her talents, but Elphaba chooses to give Glinda a shot at her dream of studying magic by putting aside her own ego. This olive branch eventually sets into motion Glinda’s storyline of becoming a witch by the events of the originalWizard of Oz,whenGlinda had previously not been able to do magic.
7Glinda & Elphaba’s First Heart-To-Heart
Glinda Teaches Elphaba It Is Ok To Be Vulnerable
Another significant moment of friendship inWickedis the first heart-to-heart conversation that Elphaba and Glinda share after the emotional events at the Ozdust. As they settle into their dorm that night, Glinda prompts Elphaba to tell her something she has never told anyone before, as one of the first acts of their newfound friendship.
Although Glinda may be shallow at times, her performance in this scene demonstrates that she has a good heart. When Elphaba confides that she is to blame for her mother’s death and sister Nessarose’s (Marissa Bode) disability, Glinda reassures her that this is not the case; her mother’s medicinal choices in her second pregnancy are at fault. This is also significant for Elphaba, who has avoided emotional vulnerability and intimacy. In turn, Glinda learns to take a genuine interest in others and step outside of her charmed life.
6Glinda Gives Elphaba A Makeover In “Popular”
Glinda Helps Elphaba Recognize Her Natural Beauty
After opening up to one another, Elphaba and Glinda are given a lighthearted moment duringWicked’s famous hit song, “Popular.“In true Glinda fashion, she decides to help her new friend find confidence in the only way she knows how — a makeover. There are many reasons why this number stands out inWicked, includingGlinda’s eye-catching costume, upbeat choreography, and multiple comedic moments.
However, the chemistry between Glinda and Elphaba is a joy to watch onscreen, as the two women get a brief moment of playfulness through the makeover. Beyond this, Glinda helps Elphaba to appreciate and recognize her friend’s natural beauty, which is in no need of extra makeup or new fashion to be apparent. Elphaba is perfect as she is, and from this point on in the film, demonstrates an increased sense of confidence.
5Glinda’s Note To Elphaba For Her Trip To Emerald City
Glinda Shows Genuine Happiness For Elphaba
In many moments ofWicked, Glinda’s jealousy of Elphaba’s powers and close relationship with Madame Morrible are apparent. However, when Elphaba receives an invitation to visit the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), Glinda chooses to be happy about her friend’s opportunity and writes her a heartfelt message on a card as she departs on the train to Emerald City.
On the back of the Emerald City pamphlet that Glinda gives her are the words, “I hope you get your heart’s desire,” something that Elphaba has been working toward since she first arrived at Shiz. This is a turning point for Glinda, representing that her love for Elphaba is genuine, as is her message of well-wishes. Compared to her earlier scenes where she hopes to “get her way,” thisWickedscene shows how Elphaba has taught Glinda about the importance of selflessness in friendship.
4Elphaba Invites Glinda To The Emerald City
Elphaba Shares Her Success
When Elphaba is invited to the Emerald City for a meeting with the Wizard, she chooses once more to extend a friendly hand to Glinda. After reading Glinda’s thoughtful note, Elphaba encourages her to hop onto the train leaving for the Emerald City, and after an amusing exchange, Glinda accepts the offer excitedly and leaps on. In this brief, but important Wicked scene, Elphaba demonstrates her altruistic side once more.
Furthermore, Glinda’s eventual introduction to the Wizard changes the course of her fate for her toearn the title of “Glinda the Good Witch.” Even though Elphaba is on her own journey, she chooses again to recognize Glinda’s interest in meeting the Wizard and helps her to do so by insisting she join her. At the end of the day, Elphaba would rather rise to the top with Glinda by her side than enjoy her new power on her own because her newfound friendship is the most important thing to her.
3Glinda Encourages Elphaba When She Is Nervous About Meeting Oz
Glinda Is Valuable Emotional Support For Elphaba
Jon M. Chu’sWickedis filled with small heartwarming moments of friendship between the two leading ladies, that bolster the show’s story. One is how Glinda empowers Elphaba when she is nervous about meeting Oz upon arriving at the Emerald City. Though Elphaba attempts to turn back multiple times, Glinda clings onto her friend, ensuring she gets her dream of meetingthe Wizard, who then reveals himself to be a villain.
However, this moment beforehand is especially meaningful because it is one of the few times that Elphaba has shown insecurity about her magical powers, which she usually seems to be confident about. Instead of letting her friend go on with doubts, Glinda delivers a heartwarming speech to Elphaba about how much she believes in her, repeatedly reaffirming that she is ready for her challenge. Here, Glinda demonstrates the importance of leaning on friends in times of need and being someone’s strength when they may be feeling weak or insecure.
2Glinda & Elphaba Agree To Disagree In “Defying Gravity”
The Two Women Decide To Respect Their Different Desires
Few moments inWickedare as powerful asElphaba’s song “Defying Gravity.“The power ballad includes a brief duet between the two young witches, before it becomes Elphaba’s breathtaking solo about her newfound independence and vowing to stop the Wizard with her powers. Although Glinda and Elphaba go separate ways by the end of the song, they remain in support of each other, understanding that they both have different ways of problem-solving and standing up for what is right.
“I hope you’re happy,” both Glinda and Elphaba say throughout the scene, sincerely wishing the best for their friend. It is clear to audience members that this friendship has not been broken yet because of Elphaba’s decision to escape and Glinda’s to conform. Rather, they can understand and respect the wishes of the other individual in this complicated situation. Though she chooses to stay behind, Glinda knows the importance of Elphaba’s decision.
1Glinda Gives Elphaba A Cape Before She Leaves
Glinda Wants To Protect Elphaba
In one of their last moments, duringWicked’s “Defying Gravity,” Glinda and Elphaba realize that they will have to go their separate ways from this point on. For Glinda, this means allowing Elphaba to escape from the Emerald City withthe Grimmerie. One of Glinda’s final acts of affection for Elphaba comes at the end of the song when she notices her friend shivering from the nerves of what she is about to do.
Glinda quickly grabs a cape and wraps Elphaba in it, which ironically becomes the last piece of Elphaba’s famous Wicked Witch of the West outfit. This small gesture of affection shows that Glinda worries about the safety and health of her friend, wanting to protect her as much as possible beforeElphaba’s choice to inevitably depart from Oz. Her wish is granted, and Elphaba immediately glows with confidence at her now-completed wardrobe, before flying off on her broom in the epic ending ofWicked.
Wicked
Cast
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
