The PopCulteer
November 22, 2024

Our big themed PopCulteer entry this week in The 2024 PopCult Gift Guide is devoted to what looks to be the big pop culture event of the season, a movie that opens today, it’s Wicked, the popular musical which comes to theaters (well, halfway, they’ve split it into two movies, with part two coming next year) today.

Now, I have to confess…I haven’t seen the musical. I’ve heard some of the music and it’s quite catchy, but I was never really a big Oz fan, and the premise of the book that the musical is based on is the type of “what really happened” reboot that’s old hat to fans of comic books and speculative fiction. But I can’t deny that millions of people love the musical, and it’s likely going to be the biggest movie of the year, and there’s plenty of merchandise tied into it, not all of it controversial.

Speaking of the controversy…it seems that scalpers have descended like locusts and snapped up all of the fashion dolls because of the snafu with the website pointing buyers to a porn company. As I write this, some of the dolls, particularly Elphaba, are nearly impossible to find online. However, they seem to be well-stocked in brick-and-mortar stores, so if you have a Wicked fan who’s into Barbie, you can probably find some out there in the real world.

If you have a rabid fan of Wicked on your holiday shopping list, these are the gift ideas for you…

Wicked: The Soundtrack

If they love the movie and show, chances are they’ll love the music. Available everywhere music is sold on vinyl or CD, Wicked: The Soundtrack features performances by the stars of Universal Pictures’ new cinematic event with music and lyrics by legendary composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz.

The album includes songs performed by Emmy, Grammy and Tony-winner Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Grammy-winning, multiplatinum superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda. Also featuring Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh as the regal headmistress Madame Morrible; Olivier Award-winner Jonathan Bailey as the roguish prince Fiyero, and Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz.

Based on one of the most beloved and enduring musicals of the past 20 years, the spectacular, generation-defining film adaptation is destined to be the most talked-about films of the holiday season. Featuring iconic Wicked songs “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” “Dancing Through Life” and more. Consider this a no-brainer for fans of the musical.

Wicked Collector’s Edition: The Inspiration for the Major Motion Picture in a Deluxe Edition with Green Sprayed Edges

This is a collector’s edition of the book that the musical is based on. You can also find it much cheaper in softcover form. Let’s go to the publisher’s blurb:

The beloved multimillion-copy-bestselling novel and basis of the Tony Award–winning musical and movie, in a deluxe hardback edition with green stained edges, a ribbon marker, and an elegant foil-stamped cover.

With millions of copies in print around the world, Gregory Maguire’s Wicked is established not only as a commentary on our time but as a novel to revisit for years to come. Wicked relishes the inspired inventions of L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, while playing sleight of hand with our collective memories of the 1939 MGM film starring Margaret Hamilton (and Judy Garland). In this fast-paced, fantastically real, and supremely entertaining novel, Maguire has populated the largely unknown world of Oz with the power of his own imagination.

Years before Dorothy and her dog crash-land, another little girl makes her presence known in Oz. This girl, Elphaba, is born with emerald-green skin—no easy burden in a land as mean and poor as Oz, where superstition and magic are not strong enough to explain or overcome the natural disasters of flood and famine. Still, Elphaba is smart, and by the time she enters Shiz University, she becomes a member of a charmed circle of Oz’s most promising young citizens.

But Elphaba’s Oz is no utopia. The Wizard’s secret police are everywhere. Animals—those creatures with voices, souls, and minds—are threatened with exile. Young Elphaba, green and wild and misunderstood, is determined to protect the Animals—even if it means combating the mysterious Wizard, even if it means risking her single chance at romance. Ever wiser in guilt and sorrow, she can find herself grateful when the world declares her a witch. And she can even make herself glad for that young girl from Kansas.

Recognized as an iconoclastic tour de force on its initial publication, the novel has inspired the blockbuster musical of the same name—one of the longest-running plays in Broadway history. Popular, indeed. But while the novel’s distant cousins hail from the traditions of magical realism, mythopoeic fantasy, and sprawling nineteenth-century sagas of moral urgency, Maguire’s Wicked is as unique as its green-skinned witch.

Any bookseller should have this in stock, or you can just resort to Amazon.

Dragon Glassware x Wicked Ozpresso Cups

This is another Amazon entry. These cups have an enchanting design, inspired by the whimsical world of Wicked. These Wicked cups feature a spellbinding finish, making every sip feel like a magical moment.

The perfect Size for Any Brew, At 8 oz, these Wicked coffee mugs are ideal for espresso lovers and fit comfortably under most brewing machines, reminiscent of the cozy settings in Oz
These Wicked mugs come beautifully packaged, making it a perfect gift for fans of the musical or coffee enthusiasts who appreciate a touch of enchantment in their daily routine.

They are sustainable and reusable. We’re talking about a lead-free, high quality, crystal clear coffee mug set that is microwave, refrigerator and freezer safe; suitable for daily use and easily cleaned. These espresso glasses come with lifetime limited manufacturer’s warranty.

You can find them HERE.

Monopoly Wicked Edition Board Game | Inspired by The Motion Picture

Pay no attention to the banker stuffing his pockets. This specialized version of Monopoly is based on Wicked. I’m going to quote from the description because I don’t want anything to think I actually use words like this:

Explore the amazafying land of Oz! The Monopoly Wicked Edition game combines classic Monopoly gameplay with art, storylines, and characters from the Wicked film

6 THEMED GOLDEN TOKENS: Includes 6 golden zinc Monopoly tokens: Elphaba’s hat, Elphaba’s Broom, Elphaba’s Bottle, Glinda’s Crown, Glinda’s Trunks, and The Grimmerie

AMAZAFYING LOCATIONS FROM THE MOVIE: The board features properties from the land of Oz—from Shiz University to Emerald City! The more a player owns, the more Ozian coins they can collect. The last player with coins when all other have gone bankrupt wins

MUNCHKIN HOMES AND EMERALD CASTLES: In this Monopoly game, Munchkin Homes and Emerald Castles replace houses and hotels. Players who own them can collect more Ozian coins

DEFY GRAVITY AND TOTALLY OZMOPOLITAN CARDS: “Rejoicify! Madame Morrible gives you a training wand. Collect 20 Ozian coins.” These cards, featuring moments from the film, can bring good—or something bad

THRILLIFY FAMILY GAME NIGHT: Add some magic to game nights, vacations, and more! This indoor game for kids and adults is a fun family board game for ages 8 and up

FANTABULOUS GIFT FOR WICKED FANS: Stunningly designed with fan-favorite details, this Wicked-themed Monopoly board game is an ideal gift for kids and adults who love the Wicked movie and the Monopoly games

Yeah, they lay it on pretty thick there, but the game looks pretty cool. My only beef is that they didn’t make ruby slippers one of the tokens. It’s around $25-$30 wherever board games are sold.

Wicked The Game

If you like boardgames, but not Monopoly, there’s also this original game based on the movie. Again, I’m quoting here again because the wordplay is embarrassing:

Players team up across Oz in a race against the Wizard in this family game based on the new movie, Wicked!

Work with your friends to unlock the chapters of your story & make Thrillifying Magic before the Wizard Track can reach 13.

If you can Defy Gravity by reaching the Emerald City first, you win! If the Wizard Track beats you to the end, His Royal Ozness becomes too strong & convinces Oz of your wickedness.

Play as your favorite characters – Elphaba & Glinda – to collect card sets to create magic & advance the chapters. It’s up to you to save Oz!

Fans of musicals, Wizard of Oz & the Wicked movie will love the Emerald City 3D centerpiece & reliving the magic of the timeless story at home.

Includes Gameboard, 1 First Player Marker, 4 Character Boards, 170 Story Cards, 12 Chapter Cards, 15 Wizard Cards, 1 Wizard Track Mover, 1 Emerald City Holder, 20 Thrillifying Magic Tokens, Instructions.

This sounds like it’be perfect for the game-playing Wicked fan on your shopping list. Look for it anywhere games are sold for around $25.

LEGO Wicked Welcome to Emerald City Building Toy

LEGO has several sets inspired by Wicked, but this set, that retails for around a hundred dollars, is the most impressive. Let’s go to the description:

WICKED COLLECTIBLE TOY – Kids can go on a LEGO building adventure as they relive an iconic scene from the Wicked movie with this 3-story Welcome to the Emerald City tower set

5 LEGO WICKED MINIDOLLS – Includes Glinda and Elphaba, The Wizard, Madame Morrible and Fiyero, as well as an Emerald City scene

This 945 piece Welcome to Emerald City playset measures over 15.5 in. (39 cm) high, 14.5 in. (37 cm) wide and 5 in. (13 cm) deep

Take kids ages 9 and up on a magical LEGO adventure to the land of Oz with the Welcome to Emerald City collectible toy. Young builders can recreate scenes from the Wicked movie as they build this detailed 3-story tower toy and explore the model’s many features. With 5 minidolls included, this fantasy toy lets kids play out Wicked friendship moments between the Fiyero, Glinda and Elphaba minidoll figures as they browse the cosmetics store, buy cakes or grab a drink from the bicycle coffee vendor.

For more play inspiration, kids can scan the set’s hidden QR code to access unique online LEGO Wicked content. This enchanting dollhouse playset LEGO toy makes a special gift for any fan of the Wicked movie.

You ought to be able to find this anywhere you find LEGO.

This just scratches the surface of available Wicked merchandise. It’s all over the place, and if you have a Wicked fan on your shopping list, your job just got really easy. There are cosmetics, Fisher-Price Little People, shoes, t-shirts, costumes, Vera Bradley bags, drinkware and more. So…knock yourself out.

And that is today’s first entry in The 2024 PopCult Gift Guide and this week’s PopCulteer. Next week the PopCulteer will present the Master List for the Gift Guide. Meanwhile, remember that we’re taking weekends off this year. There will be a second entry later today, then we’ll be back Monday with more gift ideas.

But PopCult will have fresh content every day, and all of our regular features, too.