The Wicked movie was highly anticipated, and many ended up loving it after seeing it, yet the interviews of the cast members were of concern to people. Many people in the comments thought it strange that Ariana Grande (who plays Glinda) and Cynthia Erivo (who plays Elphaba) kept getting emotional when asked questions. These questions were ones that the commenters did not think would provoke a reaction quite like this and thought that maybe something had gone on behind the scenes that the public doesn’t know about yet. Or maybe this is all a grab for attention for the movie, so that more people will watch it after seeing these viral interview moments. Although there are differing opinions on these emotional moments, others say it is cringeworthy when Ariana and Cynthia hold each other’s hands during the interviews. Amanda Holden, a reporter, commented to Cynthia, “Every interview I’ve read of you and Ariana, it just says that you end up in tears all the time.” Cynthia then replied, “We do. And I think it’s because people have come in with such energy and they come in, their responses, their emotional responses come into the room with us. It’s the first time we’ve been able to talk about it, so we’re both reliving and rehashing all the things we’ve been through and the journey we’ve been on. We can’t help it, we get very emotional about it.”

Aside from the negative reviews, many people absolutely love the movie. Countless watchers rave about the movie and have purchased much of the merchandise available in stores. Wicked’s strategic marketing and advertising are a big component of how popular the movie has grown. If you were to walk into the Target in Marlborough East or Framingham it would be filled with Wicked memorabilia. Wicked has officially launched collections with Stanley, Starbucks, r.e.m beauty, O.P.I., Monopoly, Build-A-Bear, Betty Crocker, Squishmallows, Lego, Vera Bradley, Rice Krispy Treats, GAP, Stoney Clover, Crocs, Hot Topic, Funko Pop, Casetify, and more. Their extensive marketing efforts are estimated to have cost around 150 million dollars. Wicked has taken the world by storm, capturing the attention of both admirers and critics.