There’s something magnetic about the world of Wicked—the sisterhood drama, the romantic entanglements, the music (how can we forget the music?), and the idea that sometimes the “villain” is just the only person in the room who’s willing to call out nonsense. Once the movies end, many fans are left with a familiar ache of: I need more.
So if you’ve fallen down the emerald-green rabbit hole of Wicked and its much anticipated follow-up Wicked: For Good, then welcome, you’re among friends. Movies like Wicked come in all flavors (variety is the spice of life, after all) with fantasy, drama, humor, and emotional complexities, so whether you want something family-friendly, moodier, or even over-the-top, there’s something for everyone (one of them includes so much eye-popping candy, I’m sure you know where I’m headed with this.)
So grab your broomsticks, and let’s head down this yellow brick road together with these 10 films which you can stream on HBO Max, and Disney+, amongst others.
Into the Woods (2014)
If Wicked fans love one major thing (among other things, I’m sure) it’s a fairy tale with complications, and Into the Woods carries that blueprint. If you enjoy watching musicals and moral gray zones that make you mutter “oh great, another existential crisis” at the screen, then Into the Woods is your jam. The tonal elements in the movie are its charm, though it can give you whiplash by being whimsical one minute, and dark the next, but the ensemble cast makes it worth the watch.
Emily Blunt could sing about her grocery list and I’d still watch, Anna Kendrick somehow makes every indecision into a character arc, and Meryl Streep plays the role of the Witch so convincingly that you wonder if she has a broomstick parked off-screen. Into the Woods embraces its dark corners, unlike Enchanted which keeps the tone light. If you enjoy your stories with fantasy and a side of melancholy like Big Fish, then you’ll like watching Into the Woods.
Maleficent (2014)
Maleficent is for anyone who watched the original Sleeping Beauty and thought, “Okay, but what if the tall angry woman had a point?” If Elpheba is the misunderstood girl next door, Maleficent is like her moodier goth sibling, the kind of person who swears she’s totally fine but then dramatically stares into the distance. The best part of the movie has to be Angelina Jolie’s performance; she embodies Maleficent with icy, broody, and wounded brilliance (and let’s be honest, her cheekbones deserve their own Wikipedia page.)
Maleficent is perfect for anyone who is drawn to villain-redemption arcs like in Cruella. Tonally, the film’s darker mist-soaked tone is miles away from the “sparkly ballet fever dream” vibe of The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, and while it’s not flawless, it’s the closest relative to Wicked in terms of how easily a misunderstood woman can become a myth. If you enjoy the kind of movies where classic fantasy stories are reframed through the eyes of the “monster” like in Beastly, then Maleficent should be next on your watch list.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms (2018)
Have you been craving some holiday magic fantasy? Perhaps with more peppermint and glitter, and fewer flying monkeys? Then, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms doesn’t shy away from bringing visual extravagance to the forefront. The plot in itself leaves a lot to be desired, but though it’s not structurally elegant, it’s charming.
Mackenzie Foy (remember Renesmee from Twilight: Breaking Dawn? Yeah that’s her!) is sweet and gentle as Clara Stahlbaum, and Keira Knightley’s performance was the movie’s biggest surprise (if you’ve watched the film, you know what I’m talking about), and she commits to her role as the Sugar Plum Fairy in a bizarre, yet oddly captivating way.
Being a Christmas fantasy film, it’s extremely nostalgic to watch around the holidays, and is one of the only entries on the list capturing that spirit. Like Wicked, if you’re someone who enjoys watching family-friendly fantasy with lavish world-building, but also want something where it feels like an illustrated storybook has come to life, like in A Wrinkle in Time, then the Four Realms checks those boxes.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
If you like your fantasy a little weird (or, a lot weird) and a little sugary, then Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is your next watch. Johnny Depp’s Willy Wonka is truly the highlight of the film; he gives the character a sort of offbeat eccentricity that can be considered either genius or unsettling, depending on your mood. The film works because of Burton’s signature whimsical gloom, that has been turned up a notch. The production design has to be the film’s greatest strength, each scene looked like it was carefully crafted by a candy-obsessed architect.
Just like how Wicked reframed Elpheba as a character with a misunderstood reputation from the “Wicked Witch of the West,” similarly, Charlie shows Wonka’s truth about why he is the way he is by giving the audience some context into his life. Though some fans find his childhood trauma unnecessary to dive into, I find that his backstory adds an additional layer of depth to Wonka who’s usually considered to be ‘strange’ or ‘mysterious.’ Charlie is tonally closest to The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, just substitute the glitter with candy. If you enjoy movies with oddball, yet tender protagonists like in Edward Scissorhands, then Charlie and the Chocolate Factory offers the same sugar rush.
The Greatest Showman (2017)
If you love flashy musicals that proudly lean into spectacle, without apologizing for it, The Greatest Showman is pure entertainment. The selling point of the film has to be Hugh Jackman, not because his character is flawless (far from it), but because he truly believes life’s problems can be solved with a good dance and jazz hands. The soundtrack carries a third of the movie (seriously, I was humming to ‘The Other Side’ continuously for weeks), the choreography carries another third, and Zac Efron and Zendaya’s chemistry carries the rest.
To be frank, the movie isn’t historically accurate, and cuts out some of the more ethically questionable things P.T Barnum did in real life, but The Greatest Showman is a highly sandpapered version of his legacy, and can’t really be considered his biopic. The Greatest Showman, though popular, was remembered mostly for its music, and its showy approach is the opposite of Ella Enchanted, which is more subdued. If you’re in the mood for another musical with heartfelt undercurrents, watch Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Enchanted (2007)
Enchanted is for anyone who loves fairytale tropes, but also wants to poke fun at them (which, let’s be honest, Wicked viewers will appreciate.) The film is completely charming with its musical numbers and surprisingly grounded emotional arc. Amy Adams gives a wonderful performance as Giselle, where she’s equally earnest and sincere, but in a way that the satire never slips into mockery.
Where Into the Woods unravels fairytales in a somber way, Enchanted celebrates the genre while also parodying it, and that’s what makes the film still feel so fresh today. Though the sequel, Disenchanted, tries to recreate that same magic onscreen two decades later, I personally feel it falls short. I did appreciate Amy Adams’s slightly darker persona, but overall, the movie didn't land for me. If you enjoyed the meta-fairytale tone of The Princess Bride, then you’ll find Enchanted scratches the same cheekiness mixed with warmth itch.
Cruella (2021)
With style, attitude, and enough costume changes that make it fit to qualify for New York Fashion Week, Cruella is for the viewers who want fashion, drama, and a villain origin story, all neatly wrapped in one package. Emma Stone dominates the screen, and she embodies Cruella’s edge, intensity, and spite with ease. Even if you know nothing about the 101 Dalmatians and Cruella de Vil lore, this movie can be watched as a standalone.
Cruella’s monologue from the film has to be the best scene for me (I genuinely shed a tear); the way Cruella accepts that try as she might, she’ll never be “sweet Estella” was so real (and the fact that this entire scene was done in one take impresses me even more; Emma Stone is such a star.) Looking at Maleficent—another “villain who maybe isn’t actually a villain”—who’s a brooding, moodier version, while Cruella is the punk-rock cousin who arrives late and just doesn’t care. If you like stylish anti-heroes, like Birds of Prey, then Cruella needs to be next on your list. It has the same neon-soaked chaotic charisma, but with fewer dogs.
Stardust (2007)
Stardust is for romantics (or non-romantics, we don’t judge) who enjoy fantasy and adventure with a mischievous streak. The movie’s watchability comes from its cast; they’re clearly having a ball, especially Michelle Pfeiffer, who seems to thrive whenever she’s handed the villain role (remember her in Batman Returns as Catwoman?)
Stardust feels like a classic fairytale, but filtered through modern sensibility and emotional themes, similar to Wicked. I mean, pirates, witches, fallen stars, and Robert De Niro? It all pretty much works great. I personally think it’s the most underrated fantasy film of the 2000s, it genuinely deserves way more hype. The film feels like a whimsical, more charming relative of The Hobbit, but with fewer songs about misty mountains. A fairytale romp that has the audacity to be funny and magical? We love it.
Ella Enchanted (2004)
All Anne Hathaway fans assemble! Soon after she discovered she was the Princess of Genovia, Anne was taking on curses and going on quests in Ella Enchanted. Another satirical take on the fairytale genre, just like Enchanted, Ella Enchanted is the breeziest title on this list. The movie is heartfelt but goofy, and is for everyone who enjoys bright, lighthearted fairytale capers, sprinkled with musical moments. Anne gives her all to her performance with impeccable comedic timing.
The ending of the movie is predictable (as expected), but sometimes, something simple and straightforward is exactly what we want. For better or for worse, the humor does feel a bit early-2000s (I’m not sure how else to describe it), but Ella Enchanted knows it’s cute and playful, and leans into it without trying to reinvent the genre. If you want to watch another quirky, sweet, curse-breaking story post-Ella Enchanted, then check out Penelope, which is a lovely companion piece.
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
This one’s a bit of a throwback, but would I do justice to this list if I didn’t add the original movie from which Wicked and Wicked: For Good were adapted? The Wizard of Oz is one of those movies that’s for literally everyone—fans who enjoyed all subsequent adaptations, but also new people who enjoyed both the Wicked movies and now want to revisit the entire emotional lore. Judy Garland is a gem as Dorothy, giving a sweet and grounding performance in a movie that otherwise involves Ruby-colored footwear and flying monkeys.
If you’re a fan of classic vintage magic movies like Mary Poppins, then The Wizard of Oz shares the same sense of wonder. Some people may find the effects slightly outdated (I mean, they did what they could in the era they were in), but I think the movie is a tornado of Technicolor, making it a fan-favorite even eight decades later. While Wicked humanizes Elpheba, I’m more of a fan of the cackling Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz, there’s just something about that pointy hat and broom that screams iconic.
