Physical home releases of films, need they have a point? WICKED is ready to defy gravity and soar right into homes and we had the chance to pour over the new home release like it was the storied pages of a magical Grimmerie. The thrillifying release of the physical copy of the film brings a host of goodies that make this a simply Ozmopolitan piece you cannot pass up.

The film is available on Digital but also on a bundled 4K UHD, Blu-ray™ and DVD release that includes multiple ways to watch the film including commentary and Sing-Along version plus a 40-minute Making Of piece, deleted & extended scenes, and more.

With a hosted review copy of the film, we took at look at the exclusive bonus content including deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes featurettes. MouseInfo is an Amazon Affiliate so qualifying purchases made from this page are eligible for commission.

We’ve said it for quite some time now but with the ever-volatile world of digital streaming, the ability to access films from non-tangible means is as certain as a bubble — one moment it’s there, and without warning it’s disappeared from sight without warning. That’s why we still happily curate our library of films via physical means — so long as they come with the digital code option, as well!

Without much adieu, here’s a look at the meat and bones that make this a worthwhile release to add to the collection.

Bonus Materials

Although the heyday of home releases with beautiful custom designed and built interfaces with menus and content to discover are of a bygone era, we still get hours of material to dive deeper into the lore of the film. While we would have loved a more substantive piece that also looks into the origins of the story from its original book and Broadway roots, we do get a very intimate look into some of the behind-the-scenes magic. We can only expect — and hope — that the sequel home release will take a broader overall holistic approach with even more robust look at everything.

At any rate, a prerequisite for any home release worth its salt is a making-of documentary and we’ve got that here with Making Wicked which is a return to Oz with an expansive look at the casting, production design, technology, characters, choreography, and more that helped craft the fan-favorite world. Great interviews are included along with a bunch of peeks behind the camera. If you’re a big fan of the movie, this is nearly an hour of great content you won’t want to miss.

There’s also a few additional featurettes taking a behind-the-curtain look which could have easily been slotted into the documentary but stand on their own behind distinct themes.

• Welcome to Shiz takes a look at the creative journey to bringing the second most famous magical educational institution to life including couture fashion and spectacular production. Chu and others appear to discuss how inspiration came from everything from details in L. Frank Baum’s original books to concepts from the Gregory Maguire book and in the stage musical itself to craft a full-bodied work that stands distinct on its own and yet fully familiar, as well.
• A Wicked Legacy is 100% for the fans of the musical with a delightful look at the inclusion of Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth into the film in arguably one of the most iconic cameos in any film ever. We get a very very brief history of the origins of the Broadway show and also some very brief moments with Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman who were instrumental in bringing the stage musical to life as composer/lyricist and book writer, respectively.
• The Wonderful Wizard takes a look not just at the enigmatic Jeff Goldblum in the iconic role but also into the stunning work by senior special effects technician Christopher Clarke who was responsible for bringing the fully practical massive robotic head to fully-functioning life.

There’s four different ways you can watch WICKED. The original Theatrical release is the default version of the film that will play when you pop in the disc but you have the option to watch the Sing-Along version which is the full movie but with words on screen to encourage those war cry screlts from the safety of your own home — and NOT in the theater. The other two versions of the film are Audio Commentaries — one with Ariana and Cynthia (which has had clips going viral on social media for obvious reasons… it’s an absolute must-watch) and another with Jon M. Chu which, as of press time, we haven’t had the chance to watch yet but are very excited to enjoy soon.

Similar to Disney, Universal has done us a solid with a nice roundup of Deleted and Extended Scenes that didn’t make it into the final cut of the film. Several of these clips have also gone viral on social media offering interesting looks at motivations and interactions with the rich tapestry of characters. Below is the official list of what’s included, courtesy of Universal.

• Pfannee & ShenShen Meet Glinda – Reunited at Shiz University, Glinda, Pfannee, and ShenShen recall their past by performing a twirling routine together.

• Shiz Gazette Introduces Fiyero – Excitement spreads across Shiz as word gets out that Prince Fiyero is on his way.
• Toss Toss – Glinda teaches Elphaba the art of Toss Toss, with mixed results.
• Elphaba & Fiyero in the Forest – The relationship between Elphaba and Fiyero takes a turn as they come to care for a lost lion cub.
• Elphaba’s Promise – Elphaba makes a pledge to Glinda that they both hope will strengthen their friendship.
• Train Platform Farewell – Glinda, Madame Morrible, and Governor Thropp gather to send Elphaba off to Emerald City.
• Boq & Elphaba Talk – Elphaba challenges Boq to face the truth about his feelings for Nessa Rose, but she has difficulty doing the same when it comes to Fiyero.
• Train Ride to Emerald City – Glinda and Elphaba expand their world by taking a luxurious train ride to Emerald City.
• In the Emerald City – The bustling streets of Emerald City take Glinda and Elphaba one step closer to finally meeting the Wizard.
• Palace Monkeys Chase – Elphaba and Glinda race through a maddening maze of winged monkeys determined to take them down.

Final Thoughts

Of course, there’s so much more that we want to see and know more about in this film but this is enough to hold us over until later this year for the release of WICKED: FOR GOOD concludes this epic untold story of the witches of Oz. Ariana and Cynthia mused in the Audio Commentary that they want a Blooper/Gag reel and this is absolutely a MUST for the final instalment. Either way, we’re ready to voyage back to Oz!

See it for Yourself

WICKED is available now on Digital and on 4K UHD, Blu-ray™ and DVD.