All the Wizard of Oz references you may have missed while watching Wicked

If you've watched the new Wicked movie, there's a good chance you're already planning a second trip to the cinema.

The film adaptation of the Broadway musical stars Ariana Grande as Glinda the Good Witch and Cynthia Evrio as Elphaba, who later becomes the Wicked Witch of The West.

The musical is inspired by the 1995 book, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire.

Meanwhile, the original Wizard of Oz movie was released in 1939.

Fans of Wicked have been desperate to see the film, which has so far broken the record for the biggest opening weekend of a Broadway adaptation.

In case you didn't know, it follows the origin story between Glinda and Elphaba and how the pair end up forging an unlikely friendship.

Since watching the movie in cinemas, fans have noted a number of easter eggs hiding in the film that reference the 1939 movie.

In fact, one TikToker has made a huge list of everything you need to look out for.

"I think I've found every film reference to the 1939 Wizard of Oz," said Becca, aka @thefilmtripper.

If you're yet to watch - or you're planning on watching a second time - then keep your eyes peeled for these.

Musical cues

Becca explains that a chunk of the music in the movie references the 1939 film.

"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," she explains.

Meanwhile, 'Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead' is also heard at one point, but it's easy to miss.

"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."

Opening credits

Becca explains that the aesthetic within the title cards and opening credits is also a nod to the 1939 film.

"The title cards use a very similar font and give that old Hollywood aesthetic," she adds.

Poppies

Becca adds that poppies are much more of a focus in the 2024 movie in comparison to the theatre show.

In the 1939 film, Dorothy and her gang has to cross a large poppy field to reach Emerald City but falls victim to the Wicked Witch of the West's trap when the potent poppies cause her to collapse after falling asleep.

"There's actually a much bigger emphasis on poppies in the movie, in the play they're all enchanted to get up and dance," says Becca.

"In the movie they all fall asleep like Dorothy does, except for Fiyero - just like how the scarecrow doesn't."

Bicycles

Becca also believes that the use of bicycles in the movie is a nod to the 1939 film in which Miss Gulch can be seen travelling with Toto.

"When Fiyero and Elpheba are setting the lion cub free they get onto a little bike like Miss Gulch had with a basket, even referencing Toto's little head popping out," she says.

"In the stage play they just run off stage, there's no bicycles."

Ruby slippers

Becca points out a number of subtle references to the iconic ruby slippers, which are used in the 1939 movie.

Although the slippers are silver in both the book and the play, creators decided to make them red for the original movie, in a bid for them to stand out.

"During Popular, Glinda passes Elpheba a pair of red slippers and she even taps them before she hands them to her," says Becca.

"Obviously in the book and the stage play the ruby slippers are actually silver. They're only made into ruby slippers because in the 1939 version it was filmed in technicolour so they wanted these shoes to really pop out and they thought that red would be better than silver.

"You also get a reference to the ruby slippers when you see Nessarose unbox them."

Wheat fields

In a nod to Kansas (in which the Wizard of Oz is set), Elphaba can be seen running through wheat fields while singing 'The Wizard and I'.

"When Elpheba is singing 'The wizard and I' she runs through a giant wheat field which is very reminiscent of Kansas," says Becca.

Meanwhile in the comments, one follower added another easter egg, explaining: "In the Wizard and I, when Elphaba makes the big leap in the wheat field, a bunch of bluebirds fly up from the wheat."

You can catch the new Wicked movie in cinemas now.