Wicked release date is still a few days away, a partnership between Amazon and Universal Pictures gave some Prime access to early screenings on Monday, November 18, meaning viewer reactions to the movie are now emerging.

Following these early Wicked screenings, Rotten Tomatoes now reveals that the audience score for the movie sits at an impressive 99%, as of writing. This score is likely to change as more reviews are added, but the 99% comes from over 1,000 verified ratings, meaning the site has verified that those providing ratings are ticket-holders. The critics' score for the movie isn't yet available, but one should begin to take shape on Rotten Tomatoes on Tuesday evening after the review embargo is lifted.

What Wicked's Near-Perfect Audience Score Means For The Movie

The Musical Adaptation Could Be 2024's Biggest Release

The Wicked musical, which first played in 2003, has been wildly successful. Combined with the lasting love for The Wizard of Oz, this existing fanbase means that there's been a great deal of anticipation leading up to the release of Chu's adaptation, and the enthusiasm from early screenings is a sign that the movie will please this audience. Wicked was already expected to be one of the biggest box office performers of the year, and the stellar audience score certainly suggests that this will be the case.

The Wicked budget is estimated to be about $145 million, meaning it's likely looking at a break-even point of between $290 million and $362 million. Even if the audience score was more lukewarm, it was likely going to sur these amounts, meaning it's now in even better shape to be one of the biggest hits of 2024. The early success of the first Wizard of Oz prequel bodes well for Wicked Part Two, which carries a similar budget and will hit theaters in November 2025.

Lorna Luft, the daughter of The Wizard of Oz's Dorothy actor Judy Garland, shared a glowing review for Wicked, calling it "astounding," as well as "brilliant, touching and honest."

Our Take On Wicked's Glowing Audience Score

Ariana Grande Is Set To Make A Major Mark On Movies

Early social media reactions to Wicked have been generally positive from critics, meaning the film could emerge right out of the gate with a lot of positive sentiment. The Wizard of Oz remains one of the beloved and iconic movies of all time, and the early response to the prequel suggests that this new blockbuster take on the franchise won't sully that original film's legacy.

In addition to a positive early response, the Wicked cast, Grande in particular, is sure to be a major draw for younger audiences. Though Erivo already has some impressive credits under her belt, including the underrated Bad Times at the El Royale (2018), Grande has a much more minor presence in the world of film, and it will be interesting to see how well she anchors such a large production. Though it remains to be seen how general audiences – many of whom won't be superfans – respond to the movie, Wicked is off to a great start.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes