Ben Shapiro slammed Hollywood’s latest attempt to push progressive politics through the Wicked: For Good trailer, calling it a tired lecture on identity politics. The conservative commentator acknowledged the film’s visual appeal but ripped its heavy-handed focus on race and victimhood, arguing it undermines the original story’s charm.
Shapiro blasted the movie’s rewrite of Elphaba’s character, reducing her struggle to “being green” instead of personal choices. He mocked the script’s obsession with portraying every character as oppressed—from Nessa’s wheelchair to talking animals—calling it a checklist of woke talking points. The film’s message, he said, feels less like entertainment and more like a classroom scolding.
While praising director Jon M. Chu’s flair for vibrant scenes, Shapiro dismissed the musical numbers as “moralizing pep rallies.” He singled out Cynthia Erivo’s performance as technically strong but emotionally hollow, trapped in a story that values messaging over storytelling. The movie’s expansion of Oz’s lore, he argued, exists only to lecture audiences about systemic bias.
Shapiro contrasted Wicked with classic Hollywood tales where heroes earn redemption through grit, not grievances. He warned that inserting modern identity politics into timeless stories alienates everyday viewers tired of being preached to. For conservatives, he said, the film symbolizes Hollywood’s refusal to respect audience intelligence.
The trailer’s emphasis on Elphaba’s “otherness” drew sharp criticism from Shapiro, who called it a shallow substitute for character depth. He accused filmmakers of using green skin as a cheap metaphor instead of exploring complex motivations. True storytelling, he argued, doesn’t need gimmicks to make villains relatable.
Shapiro noted the film’s corporate partnerships, like the ExpressVPN promo, as proof Hollywood prioritizes profits over principles. He mocked the dissonance of studios preaching social justice while chasing cash grabs, calling it a betrayal of artistic integrity. For conservatives, he said, it’s another reason to distrust elite institutions.
The commentator urged families to skip the film unless they want “a two-hour therapy session on oppression.” He advised viewers to support stories celebrating merit and resilience instead of victimhood. Shapiro’s upcoming book Lions and Scavengers positions itself as an antidote to such narratives, promoting traditional values over progressive dogma.
In closing, Shapiro framed Wicked as a microcosm of Hollywood’s cultural decay—flashy visuals masking hollow messaging. He challenged conservatives to reject divisive identity politics and demand entertainment that unites rather than divides. The real “wickedness,” he concluded, lies in sacrificing art for activism.
