"Wicked" fans were eager to curl up on the couch and watch the movie and the three hours of bonus content -- including a sing-along version -- when the Golden-Globe-nominated production launched on major streaming services Tuesday.
But for some of them, watching the extras turned into a frustrating disappointment. Not because the features weren't amazing, but because after paying $30 to buy the video, fans couldn't see them.
"This was so misleading and a major flop," a Reddit user named Silver_Building8933 posted in the r/Wicked subreddit, where many fans complained about the problem. "They should not have said all streaming services would have the bonus content if virtually none of them do. That is a scam!"
"Wicked: Part 1," starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande and based on the long-running Broadway play (which was based on the book by Gregory Maguire) launched Tuesday on major streaming services. For most of those services, the extras were there under a Bonus Content tab or button, but only in the mobile apps, not on a bigger screen as of Tuesday evening.
Amazon Prime Video users were not given the option to see deleted scenes or hear commentaries in the Prime Video app for smart TVs, but they could watch them on their phones, iPads or select Fire TV devices. Fans in the subreddit and in a Wicked Movie Facebook group said the same thing happened in Apple TV+ and Microsoft Movies on Xbox. The version available on YouTube does not appear to include the extras at all.
An Amazon customer service representative said Tuesday evening that they were aware of the problem and the technical team was working on it, but did not give an estimated time for the problem to be resolved. Several fans reported getting refunds, others said they were able to access some or all of the features.
While the problem will likely be fixed as soon as the streaming services can manage it -- it's never a good business move to annoy fans of one of the biggest movies of the year -- workarounds have been found for now.
Fans have reported that buying "Wicked: Part 1" on Fandango at Home (formerly Vudu) gets you all the extras without hassle.
If you have already bought "Wicked: Part 1" on another service, you can watch the bonus features on the service's mobile app. Make sure you turn the device to landscape mode (horizontally) so the menu options or the Bonus Features tab will show up. Depending on the streaming service, you may be able to cast the bonus features to your smart TV.
Or you can download the free Movies Anywhere app (iOS | Google Play), create an account, and link your movie streaming services to that. Movies Anywhere, which is owned by Disney, allows you to connect to different streaming services and gather together every digital movie you've bought so you have them all in one place. Once you've connected the service where you bought the movie and it syncs to Movies Anywhere, you'll be able to watch the bonus features.
The movie will be released on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
The debut of "Wicked" for home viewers comes with three hours of bonus content, including:
Based on Gregory Maguire's acclaimed 1995 novel, "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West," it seeks to re-imagine the Land of Oz. It serves as a prequel to the 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz."
According to the New York Theatre Guide, the show is about two young witches: Elphaba, whose skin is green, and Glinda, who is blonde and beautiful.
"They dislike each other at first but soon form an unlikely bond. The musical follows them from their girlhood friendship and explains how Elphaba became the Wicked Witch and Glinda became the Good Witch," the guide explains.
The musical adaptation premiered on Broadway in October 2003 with Idina Menzel as "Elphaba" and Kristin Chenoweth as "Glinda."