movie fans musical lovers and anyone who has ever dreamed of flying – it's time to talk about Wicked at the 2025 Oscars! The movie adaptation of the Broadway smash hit went into the night with a massive 10 nominations. So did Wicked work its magic and bring home some gold? Let's dive into the results the performances and all the buzz from Hollywood's biggest night.
Wicked's Oscar Tally: How Many Awards Did It Actually Win? The Results Are In!
Okay so everyone was wondering if Wicked would be a big winner at the 97th Academy Awards. With 10 nominations hopes were high for the musical extravaganza. Did it sweep the categories? Well not exactly but Wicked did manage to snag a couple of well-deserved wins!
Here are the Oscar wins for Wicked:
- Best Costume Design: This Oscar went to the legendary Paul Tazewell. This was a historic win as Tazewell became the first Black man to win in this category! He thanked his team in the U.K. and gave a shout-out to his "Ozian muses" Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
- Best Production Design: The award for Best Production Design went to Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales. They truly created the amazing world of Oz for the big screen.
So while Wicked didn't take home Best Picture or any of the acting awards those two wins are still a big deal. Costumes and Production Design are huge parts of bringing a fantastical world like Oz to life and the Academy recognized the outstanding work in these areas.
Defying Gravity… and Expectations! Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's Opening Performance Stole the Show
Even if Wicked didn't win every award it was definitely a star of the Oscars ceremony. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo who play Glinda and Elphaba respectively opened the whole show with an unforgettable musical performance. And let me tell you they brought the house down.
Ariana started things off with a beautiful version of "Over the Rainbow" as a nod to The Wizard of Oz. Then Cynthia Erivo took over with a powerful rendition of "Home" from The Wiz another iconic musical. And then BAM they joined forces to sing "Defying Gravity" the signature song from Wicked. It was epic.
The performance was truly gravity-defying in more ways than one. They weren't just singing they were acting bringing the characters of Glinda and Elphaba to the Oscar stage. The audience was completely captivated and gave them a huge standing ovation. Even host Conan O'Brien joked about Wicked during his monologue saying it's "the perfect movie for anyone who’s ever finished watching The Wizard of Oz and thought sure but where did all the minor characters go to college?" Funny right?
Both Ariana and Cynthia were also nominated for acting awards for their roles in Wicked Cynthia for Best Actress and Ariana for Best Supporting Actress. While they didn't win this time their performance showed everyone that they are true stars and that Wicked is a force to be reckoned with.
Wicked: For Good? Sequel Teased and More Oz is on the Way!
Before the Oscars ceremony even began Cynthia Erivo hinted at what's coming in Wicked: For Good the second part of the movie adaptation. She told Jesse Palmer on the red carpet that "these girls have to deal with the consequences of their decisions and it’s both joyful and heartbreaking and all the things you could possibly imagine."
She also mentioned that the sequel will feature songs that fans already know and love and some surprises too. Wicked: For Good is set to premiere in November so we don't have too long to wait to see what happens next in Oz. After the buzz from the Oscars and the excitement for the sequel it is clear that the world of Wicked is just getting started on the big screen.
Wicked Oscar Wins at a Glance:
- Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
- Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
Wicked's Oscar Night: A Success Story Even Without Best Picture
So did Wicked win Best Picture at the Oscars? No. But did it have a night? Absolutely! Two Oscar wins a show-stopping opening performance and tons of buzz leading up to the release of Wicked: For Good It's safe to say that Wicked made a big impression at the 2025 Oscars and that fans are even more excited for the next chapter in this magical story. Whether you are a longtime Wicked fan or new to the world of Oz it looks like there is plenty to be excited about. Get ready for more Wicked!