The Oscars Missed Its Chance To Properly Celebrate Wicked

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The 2024 film was a major success. The first part of this musical adaptation delighted critics and became a huge box office hit, generating buzz throughout the film industry. The undeniable chemistry between stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande – both in the movie and during their memorable promotional appearances – captured the public’s attention, something Hollywood constantly strives for. The Academy also recognized the film, awarding it 10 Oscar nominations – the second-highest total last year.

While Wicked: For Good performed well in 2025 and had a strong opening weekend, it didn’t create the same buzz as the first Wicked movie. Initial excitement about potential awards faded throughout the season, and ultimately, the film didn’t receive any Oscar nominations when they were announced in 2026.

I’ve always been a fan of Wicked: For Good, but I understand why it’s no longer a contender for Academy Awards. It wasn’t as strong as some of the other films released this year. Many voters likely felt comfortable excluding it, especially since the original Wicked received a lot of recognition last year.

But, did it, though?

Ariana Grande Should’ve Won The Oscar Last Year

Heading into awards season, Ariana Grande was widely expected to be a strong contender for Best Supporting Actress. This was largely because she filmed both parts of Wicked at the same time, essentially delivering one continuous performance as Glinda. Many believed she deserved to win an award for this role even last year, making her a frontrunner this year.

I honestly think even if For Good hadn’t been overlooked by the Academy, the criticism still didn’t quite hit the mark. The second half of the musical it’s based on is much more intense and emotionally complex, and Ariana Grande’s character reflects that. She’s still incredibly talented, but it’s a different kind of performance – less of the instantly captivating, cheerful energy we all loved in the beginning. If it had won this year, it would have felt like the Academy was just trying to right a wrong from last year, and they’re definitely known for doing things like that.

Honestly, I was gutted when Zoe Saldaña won for Emilia Pérez over Ariana Grande. Everyone seemed to acknowledge it was more of a lifetime achievement award for Saldaña, which she absolutely deserves, but it’s frustrating! It feels like the Academy often rewards the performer, not the performance, and it shouldn’t have to be that way. It just reinforces this tired Oscar trope that comedic performances aren’t taken as seriously as dramatic ones, and it’s a real shame because Ariana’s work was genuinely brilliant.

Although Wicked only won two awards out of its ten nominations—for Costume Design and Production Design—its most lasting impact will be the performances of its stars, who truly brought the characters and music to life. The Oscars had the chance to recognize these incredible performances, but unfortunately didn’t. If Ariana Grande were to win an Oscar later in her career for a less memorable role, the Academy would only have themselves to blame for overlooking her work in Wicked.

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2026-01-22 21:58