The yellow brick road runs strong through my life. I grew up watching The Wizard of Oz. My theatrical debut was as the Wicked Witch of the West in my junior high musical. The first Broadway show I saw was with a lottery ticket to Wicked. Not to mention, I love a good prequel (I know, it’s also a parallel story; don’t come for me).
Point being, I was eager to share the Wicked franchise with my kids. I waited, unsure if it was appropriate for my now 6-year-old. Then, said 6-year-old and lover-of-all-things-fancy-and-fabulous caught a trailer featuring Galinda, and it was cued up for family movie night quicker than it took Elphaba to tell Fiyero to “get stuffed!”
Despite my 11-year-old’s insistence that he would hate the movies, my kids both became instant fans. But just because Wicked and Wicked: For Good worked for my kiddos doesn’t automatically mean they’re appropriate for yours. It depends on your individual child and your family values. Here’s what to weigh as you decide if your child is ready for the Wicked movies.
Both Wicked and Wicked: For Good are rated PG.
Common Sense Media suggests Wicked for ages 10+ and Wicked: For Good for ages 11+. I found this too conservative. Are the movies going to be right for every 6-year-old? Probably not. My daughter is a tough-as-nails second baby who punches above her weight thanks to an older brother. But I would feel comfortable showing these movies to most 8-year-olds.
There’s zero swearing in Wicked or Wicked: For Good, although “shiz” is used as a stand-in.
In Wicked, there’s heavy flirting, one smooch, and obliquely implied sex when passionate dancing is immediately followed by a childbirth scene.
Wicked: For Good is briefly a bit spicier with a passionate kiss cutting to Elphaba and Fiyero lying together, him bare-chested. The copulation is clear to adults but went right over my 6-year-old’s head. (If my son caught it, he said nothing.)
It wasn’t explicit, and if my kids had inquired, a quick discussion about two consenting adults would suffice. Did I feel awkward watching this scene with my kids? Absolutely. But my discomfort isn’t the barometer for appropriateness.
I value being open with my kids about sex, in an age-appropriate way, making this scene cringey but not a deal-breaker. If you value waiting until marriage or are conservative about sex, you might want to at least fast-forward.
Animals are mistreated in both movies, which might upset some kids.
Violence between humans is mostly mild scuffles, except one scene in Wicked: For Good where people are violent toward each other. However, this is heavily stylized using shadows.
That’s not to say it’s all over-the-rainbow and iridescent bubbles. Both movies have political oppression, civic unrest, and threats of violence, but nothing graphic or gory, and it serves to support the positive messages.
Dark themes of injustice, mistreatment of animals, the animatronic Oz head, and, of course the flying monkeys, might be scary for especially-sensitive kids.
For what it’s worth, my 6-year-old was way more afraid of the newest Wallace and Gromit movie we watched next. (To be fair, those gnomes are terrifying.)
And here’s the thing: I don’t know that it’s our job to shield our children from every scary thing. The “safe fear” that comes from a scary movie scene can be a growth moment for kids.
There’s little substance use in either movie, save for a few swigs of green elixir that “dulls the pain” and is responsible for Elphaba’s green skin.
The messages in Wicked and Wicked: For Good are so important that I think they outweigh the chance of nightmares and the awkwardness of a postcoital snuggle scene. The story highlights integrity, standing up for what’s right, and not judging a book by its cover.
The movies also feature excellent disability representation, from casting a disabled actor to play wheelchair user Nessarose to design choices that highlight accessibility. This, along with the parallels with Elphaba’s skin color to how society fixates on “curing” rather than embracing disability, gives powerful messages of inclusion.
Although it has dark themes, Wicked and Wicked: For Good are fairly clean. There’s some non-graphic violence, insinuations of sex, and briefly hinted-at substance use. Kids who are particularly sensitive might find some parts scary.
Overall, positive messages of integrity, standing up for what’s right, and not judging a book by its cover outweigh any potential negatives. The movies are appropriate for most kids 8+, but parents should evaluate their values and their child’s temperament when deciding if it’s the right choice for their family.
Stay in-the-know about your child's interests and what they're searching for. Thousands of parents trust BrightCanary monitoring for their teens and tweens.
