Wickedis undoubtedly one of the biggest movies of the year, but two new musical movies now streaming on Netflix,Emilia PérezandMaria, have joined the running for best musical of 2024.Wickedwas a long-awaited release, and audiences clearly came out in droves, as the movie made an astonishing$333 million at the box office. However,Wickedhas already shockingly had some competition, withEmilia Pérez receiving more Golden Globe nominations.
It seems 2024 was a major year for musical movies, asWickedandEmilia Pérezare also joined byMaria, a biographical drama about opera singer Maria Callas, in this battle of the musicals. With how much attention and positive reception all three movies have received, it seems awards season will be anybody’s game. The question remains: can these two musicals win out over the smash hitWicked, or will the iconic Broadway show sweep the season?
Wicked, Emilia Pérez, & Maria Are All 2024 Musicals With Possible Oscar Nominations
All 3 Musical Movies Have Been Major Hits With Plenty Of Recognition
Oscar nominations for 2025 won’t be released until mid-January, but there’s already plenty of discourse around which actors, directors, movies, and shows (in addition to many other categories) will receive nominations and ultimately take home the win.Wicked,Emilia Pérez, andMariahave certainly been a part of those conversations. While nominations can be somewhat unpredictable—and Oscar ‘snubs’ are particularly notorious for their unpredictability—the Golden Globe nominations for each movie offer some hints.
Emilia Pérezhas a truly impressive ten 2025 Golden Globe nominations, among them Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for Karla Sofía Gascón and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture for Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña.Wickedhas four 2025 Golden Globe nominations. This lower number is in part influenced by the fact thatWickedcannot be nominated for Best Original Song or Best Original Score, as the movie solely used songs from the original Broadway show.
Wicked Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play
As a Broadway musical adaptation, Wicked: Part 1’s soundtrack, featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, is integral to the film’s success.
ForWicked, nominations include Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for Cynthia Erivo and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture for Ariana Grande.Mariahas just one Golden Globe nomination in 2025, Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for Angelina Jolie. While the Oscar nominations and Golden Globe nominations won’t necessarily align, they could suggest what is to come.
While the Oscar nominations and Golden Globe nominations won’t necessarily align, they could suggest what is to come.
What Makes Wicked The Best Musical Of 2024
Cynthia Erivo And Ariana Grande Brought The Iconic Broadway Musical To The Big Screen Perfectly
Wickedhas a very solid chance of taking home some major awards in 2025. In fact, the movie is currently the only non-sequel among the top 10 films of 2024 in terms of its performance at the box office. There are many aspects that go into making a movie a hit, and that is clear inWicked’sother Golden Globe nominations, including Cinematic and Box Office Achievement and Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. With that being said, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are a major part of what made this movie such a success.
Many agree that Erivo and Grande are something truly special.
Elphaba and Glinda/Galinda have been played by many actresses in the Broadway show’s 21 years, and each actress has brought something unique to the role. Many agree that Erivo and Grande are something truly special, though, both with Erivo’s stunning performance of “Defying Gravity” and with Grande’s full embodiment of Galinda as a character, in addition to countless other examples of their acting chops and singing talent.Based on their performances,Wickedcould very easily be seen as the best musical of 2024.
What Makes Emilia Peréz The Best Musical Of 2024
Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, And Karla Sofía Gascón All Bring True Star Power
Emilia Pérezis not based on a true story, but the movie covers a number of heavy real-life themes. The musical stars Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Karla Sofía Gascón, all of whom sing various songs ontheEmilia Pérezsoundtrack. The story primarily focuses on the titular lead, Emilia Pérez, a trans woman who fakes her death to begin living as her true self. In addition to that arc,Emilia Pérezexplores aspects of drug cartels, friendships between women, parenthood, and very complex romantic relationships, to say the least.
Emilia Pérez Cast & Character Guide
The award-winning cast of Netflix’s Emilia Pérez is led by the outstanding performances of potential Oscar nominees Karla Sofía Gascón & Zoe Saldaña.
Emilia Pérezdid face backlashfor some of the movie’s choices, including the decision to have Pérez’s transition begin with a ‘death,’ which many argued was a negative stereotype of the trans community. The movie has still clearly gained plenty of notoriety based on its Golden Globe nominations, though, which suggests it could earn many more nominations, including the Oscars. Particularly given the stellar performances of the movie’s three main actresses,Emilia Pérezhas a fair shot at being considered the best musical of 2024.
What Makes Maria The Best Musical Of 2024
Angelina Jolie’s Performance Is Truly Profound
Actress Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas in Pablo Larrain’s biopic, Maria.
UnlikeEmilia Pérez,Mariais based on a true story.The movie specifically recounts the final days of world-renowned opera singer Maria Callas, who died at age 53 under tragic circumstances. Angelina Jolie is the clear star of the movie, perfectly capturing the unique mannerisms of Callas and even bringing her operatic voice to life. Notably,Jolie isn’t always really singing inMaria. The songs in the movie are a blend of Jolie singing and recordings of the real Maria Callas.
Jolie’s performance is nevertheless impressive, and the movie carries an emotional weight that makes it a true standout.WickedandEmilia Pérezof course also have complex, deep, and even challenging themes, althoughMariahas an almost poignant tone, making it feel unique among the three. This distinction is also clear inMaria’s2025 Golden Globe nomination, which categorizes the movie as a drama, whereas bothWickedandEmilia Pérezfall under the comedy or musical category.
The jury is still very much out regarding which musical can be considered the best of 2024.
Even so, all three movies are quite evenly matched, with their own unique strengths. The jury is still very much out regarding which musical can be considered the best of 2024, and the awards season will no doubt hold many surprises and reveal just how neck-and-neck all three movies are with these various nominations. Of course,Emilia Pérez,Maria, andWickedalso don’t have to be pitted against one another—each musical movie should be celebrated for its achievements, and all 3 are deserving of the recognition and nominations they are currently receiving.
Wicked
Cast
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Emilia Perez
Emilia Perez is a drama film that follows the life of Emilia Perez, a determined and ambitious individual striving to make a name for herself in a competitive environment. The story explores her journey as she navigates the challenges and obstacles that come her way, all while uncovering the complexities of her own identity.
Maria
Maria(2024) is a biographical drama about opera singer Maria Callas, directed by Pablo Larraín, starring Angelina Jolie. It concludes Larraín’s trilogy on iconic women.
