Today, Wicked is a household name. It’s been translated into over a dozen languages, from Japanese to German (imagine a frown-y witch shouting “Ich trotze der Schwerkraft!”). A movie adaptation is finally coming in 2026, directed by Jon M. Chu, and starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. Yes, that Ariana Grande. The internet is already in chaos.
So, when did Wicked come out? October 30, 2003—a date that marked the birth of a phenomenon. But more importantly, it’s the day a green girl taught us that “no good deed goes unpunished” is just the first line of a very long, very catchy song. Now go listen to the soundtrack. You know you want to.
