Wicked fans spot hidden tribute to Wizard of Oz at beginning of film that you probably missed

Eagle-eyed Wicked viewers have noticed a hidden tribute to the original 1939 Wizard of Oz movie - but it happened so quickly you might have missed it.

If you've watched the new Wicked movie - which is an adaptation from the Broadway musical - you might have noticed a number of nods to the original movie, which was released decades ago.

The latest film - which stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo - tells the story of Glinda and Elphaba's unlikely friendship after they meet at Shiz University, and ultimately reveals how Elphaba became 'wicked'.

ICYMI, there are heaps of references to the 1939 film, which one TikToker - Becca, aka @thefilmtripper - listed in a recent video.

One huge nod comes from the musical cues used in the movie, with Becca explaining: "There is a shot where the camera is moving through Oz and we literally go over the rainbow, which is a reference to the iconic song."

Meanwhile, 'Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead' is also heard at one point.

"When the munchkin kids are running through the fields you can hear the song, 'Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead' played in the orchestra music," says Becca.

"They actually snuck in a bunch of musical cues that they weren't able to do in the stage play."

Other references include the use of wheat fields - as a nod to Kansas - the iconic ruby slippers from the 1939 movie, which Glinda gives to Elphaba during Popular, and the use of bicycles (remember Miss Gulch carrying Toto in his little basket?)

But as one Redditor pointed out, the aesthetics within the opening credits are reminiscent of the movie, too.

Sharing a video from the very beginning of the film, the Wicked fan explained that the Universal logo used to introduce the movie is actually the one that was used at the time of the 1939 film.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked (Universal)

"Just when we thought the version from the trailers would be used, this surprise variant shows up to pay homage to the 1936-1947 version of the logo from the time The Wizard of Oz was released," they said.

"And it actually turns from B&W to colour. Was not expecting to see this in the theatre. Will be interesting to see if they use this again in Part 2 or change it up a bit for the sequel."

Other fans were delighted with the tribute, with another adding: "I loved this so much."

While a second said: "It gave me the chills, it was sooo exciting!!!"