A parent's guide to 'Wicked': Is the PG movie suitable for young audiences?

Let us be glad, let us be grateful, let us rejoicify that "Wicked" is now here.

More than two decades after landing on Broadway, the pop-culture phenomenon has finally soared to the big screen, with Grammy winners Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande stepping into the witchy roles made famous by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.

The critically popular movie (in theaters Friday) has unleashed an all-out marketing blitz, targeting family audiences with dolls, Lego sets, plushies and plastic wands in recent months. But look beyond your pink- and green-colored glasses, and how kid-friendly is “Wicked” actually?

Having seen the film, we break down everything parents should know going in:

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What is the movie musical 'Wicked' about?

"Wicked" is a prequel to L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," which was famously adapted into a 1939 movie starring Judy Garland. The story imagines if the too-good Glinda (Grande) and misunderstood Elphaba (Erivo) were really former best friends, whose paths crossed while studying sorcery at school. The new movie is faithfully adapted from the 2003 stage musical "Wicked," which itself is loosely based on a not-so-kid-friendly novel by Gregory Maguire.

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Why is the ‘Wicked’ movie rated PG?

The film is officially rated PG for “some scary action, thematic material and brief suggestive material.” In the prologue, Glinda recalls how Elphaba’s mother (Courtney Mae-Briggs) had a secret affair with an elixir-pushing stranger, which is strongly suggested through dance. (Don’t worry, everyone’s clothes stay on.) There is some light innuendo when the dashing Winkie prince, Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), arrives at Shiz University, and the fearsome flying monkeys take wing at both the beginning and end of the movie.

Just how scary are the flying monkeys in 'Wicked'?

They're not quite as terrifying as the ghoulish chimps in the original “Wizard of Oz” film, but younger kids may still wish to cover their eyes. Like the stage musical, there’s an intense sequence late in the movie when a bunch of panicked primates start sprouting wings as the result of a powerful spell. As Elphaba and Glinda attempt to flee Emerald City, they’re also chased by a pack of flying monkeys, who smash windows and snarl at the young witches.

Are any other animals in peril in 'Wicked'?

Yes, in fact, although only briefly. A major subplot in “Wicked” is Elphaba’s valiant attempt to save the animals of Oz, who are being stripped of their rights to speak and teach by the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). At one point, Elphaba's kindly goat professor, Doctor Dillamond (voiced by Peter Dinklage), is forcibly dragged from his history class. Elphaba also frees a cowering lion cub from his cage and returns him to the wild, with the help of magic poppies that put her classmates to sleep.

How long is the 'Wicked' movie?

On the stage, “Wicked” runs 2 hours and 45 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission. By comparison, the film version runs 2 hours and 41 minutes, although it only covers Act 1 of the musical and there is no pause. ("Wicked: Part Two" will be released in theaters Nov. 21, 2025.)

If your child gets antsy and needs a mid-movie bathroom break, we might suggest stepping out during Dillamond's "Something Bad," which bemoans the plight of Oz's four-legged creatures. No offense to the G.O.A.T. himself, but it’s a bleak song sandwiched between peppier numbers “What Is This Feeling?” and “Dancing Through Life.”

So is the ‘Wicked’ movie OK for young kids?

Yes, although your preschoolers likely won’t enjoy it as much as, say, "Moana 2." According to the Broadway musical’s official website, “Wicked” is recommended for children 8 and up, and the same goes for its big-screen iteration. In the first half, Glinda and her cronies do their fair share of sneering and name-calling, as they express their “unadulterated loathing” for Elphaba. But the rancorous roomies soon become inseparable, and parents will appreciate the story’s timeless themes of acceptance and embracing what makes you different.

Sure, some of the film’s grown-up topics may go over kids’ heads. (Unless, of course, they’re super-interested in how fascist regimes use fear and misinformation to keep their citizens in line.) But there is still plenty of music and magic to entertain youngsters, who will no doubt be perfecting their “Defying Gravity” battle cries for many car rides to come.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is 'Wicked' movie suitable for kids? Our guide for parents