Wicked for Good channels The Dark Knight in one major way

by

The new movie, Wicked, follows a familiar superhero story pattern, and one scene specifically echoes a memorable moment from the Batman film, The Dark Knight.

The new movie Wicked is now playing in theaters and is expected to be a huge success worldwide. Strong audience interest in the story of Elphaba and Glinda, combined with positive reviews, should keep it at the top of the box office for a while – until the release of Avatar: Fire and Ash next month.

We gave the movie a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, and in our review for TopMob’s Wicked for Good, we said the film is a success in many ways. It seamlessly blends music, dance, action, romance, and drama, and provides exciting superhero action.

The movie has some exciting moments, but one key plot point is very similar to a scene from Christopher Nolan’s best Batman film. Be warned: spoilers follow…

How Elphaba becomes Wicked for Good’s Batman

We’re predicting Wicked for Good will be the top superhero film of 2025, as its main character, Elphaba, is a powerful hero battling evil forces.

The film immediately establishes her as a powerful figure, almost like a superhero. She dramatically appears from above, rescues animals held captive, and then ascends back into the sky with a similar flair to the Silver Surfer. This comparison to superheroes isn’t just a one-time thing; it’s a recurring theme.

At the beginning of the film, Elphaba is treated like an outsider. A deliberate campaign, led by the government’s press secretary Madam Morrible, spreads false stories and paints her as the infamous Wicked Witch of the West.

Even though Elphaba is working to reveal the Wizard’s dishonesty and save the animals he’s harming, the people of Oz still believe the stories they hear about her.

Batman often faces a frustrating situation in Gotham City: despite trying to help, people often see Bruce Wayne’s crime-fighting as villainous instead of heroic.

This conflict is powerfully shown in the 2008 film The Dark Knight. In it, the well-intentioned District Attorney Harvey Dent is tragically driven to insanity by injury and loss, leading him to commit crimes before ultimately dying.

The hero we deserve, but not the one we need right now

Knowing that revealing the truth about Harvey Dent would cause more problems than it would solve, Commissioner Gordon convinces Batman to take the fall for Dent’s crimes. This act of sacrifice led to the iconic line about Batman: “He’s the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now.”

Wicked tells a story very similar to this one. It follows Elphaba and Glinda, who begin as rivals, then become friends, but are ultimately separated due to the influence of Morrible and the Wizard.

At the movie’s conclusion, the two characters reunite and have a chance to reveal that Elphaba was unfairly treated. However, similar to the situation with Batman, Elphaba realizes she can better serve Oz by remaining a symbol of wickedness. She explains to Glinda, “Someone needs to be seen as wicked so that you can be seen as good.”

Elphaba takes a dramatic step, staging her own death by Dorothy’s hand. This is all part of a plan to bring the people of Oz together against a shared threat, cleverly timed with the celebratory song, ‘Ding-Dong the witch is dead.’

Both The Dark Knight and Wicked for Good conclude with their flawed heroes becoming fugitives. Batman is pursued by the Gotham City police, while Elphaba vanishes from Oz, escaping to a land beyond its borders where she remains undetected.

Batman makes a powerful comeback in The Dark Knight Rises, solidifying his place as the hero Gotham City needs. As for Wicked 3, its future is uncertain, but with the Wizard and Madam Morrible still around, it’s likely the Wicked Witch of the West will eventually return – both to defend her people and finally receive the recognition she’s earned.

The new movie, Wicked for Good, is now playing in theaters and is already a contender for one of the best films of 2025. You can find interviews with the movie’s stars about a potential third film here.

Read More

2025-11-21 11:19