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How to watch Wicked at home: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are coming to streaming

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UPDATE: Mar. 14, 2025, 12:00 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with the official streaming details for "Wicked," as well as the latest deals and pricing.

The best streaming deals to watch 'Wicked' at a glance:

BEST NON-STREAMING OPTION

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BEST FOR MOST PEOPLE

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BEST FOR STUDENTS

Peacock Premium for Students

$2.99/month for 12 months
(save $5/month)

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BEST FOR FIRST RESPONDERS/MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

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BEST FOR MILITARY

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BEST FOR TEACHERS

Peacock Premium for Teachers

$3.99/month for 12 months
(save $4/month)

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BEST FOR INSTACART USERS

Peacock Premium annual subscription

Free for Instacart+ subscribers
(save $79.99/year)

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BEST FOR JETBLUE TRUEBLUE MEMBERS

Peacock Premium

Free for one year for Mosaic status members
(save $79.99/year)

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It's been over a year since the Wicked press (and subsequent memes) began, but only a few months since it finally made its theatrical debut. As a late Christmas present, the highly acclaimed film made its at-home launch on digital and now it's finally set to make its anticipated streaming debut.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star as the green-skinned, magically gifted Elphaba and her pink-loving polar opposite bestie Glinda. The stage show's lyricist, Stephen Schwartz, and playwright Winnie Holzman joined forces on the screenplay, while Jon M. Chu directed (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights). It also stars Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once), and the Jeff Goldblum. There are also some very noteworthy cameos.

The film adaptation of the classic 2003 Broadway musical starring Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth has already proven popular among audiences — bringing in $727 million worldwide and over $472 million domestically. We can only expect Wicked to soar even further with its small-screen streaming debut.

Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Wicked at home this season.

What is Wicked: Part 1 about?

Wicked is an adaptation of the Tony award-winning Broadway musical of the same name, which opened in 2003. The play itself is also an adaptation of Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, which is basically a prequel to L. Frank Baum's original novel The Wizard of Oz (as well as the iconic film from 1939). It tells the backstory of the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, as well as the popular and privileged Glinda the Good. The two witches meet as students at Shiz University in the Land of Oz and embark on a journey from loathing to an unexpectedly deep friendship. Part one of the two-part Wicked saga ultimately questions, "Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?"

Check out the full trailer for a more in-depth sneak peek:

Is Wicked worth watching?

Wicked: Part 1 set a new record for the biggest opening for a movie based on a Broadway show ever, grossing $472 million domestically to date. It's not perfect, but it's been largely well received by audiences and critics alike, currently sitting at an 88 percent critic rating and 95 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It's earned four Golden Globes nominations (one win), five SAG award nominations, seven BAFTA nominations (two wins), and 10 Oscar nods.

Mashable's film editor Kristy Puchko called it "wonky, but at times wonderful," noting that some of the cinematic choices by director Jon M. Chu drag it down. "Chu's decision to turn Act 1 into a teen musical is marred by his dingy color palette, the crowded cinematography of Shiz (thankfully, things open up in the Emerald City), and directing his leading lady to play the titular witch as chiefly woeful. A show heralded for its high-energy song numbers, stage spectacle, and smirking sense of humor, Wicked is malformed by these choices. Yet, some sections are sure to have audiences cheering," she writes.

Check out our full review of Wicked: Part 1.

How to watch Wicked at home

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in "Wicked"


Credit: Universal Pictures

Wicked made its at-home debut on major digital platforms (Prime Video, Apple TV+, etc.) on Dec. 31, 2024. The film is available to buy for $19.99 and comes with loads of bonus content to enjoy alongside the film itself — including a singalong version, deleted and extended scenes, feature commentary, and a 40-minute journey through Oz.

It will also be available to rent as of March 4, most likely for $14.99 or less. Keep in mind that with rentals, you'll only get 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish it once you start it. If you'd rather wait and stream Wicked instead, keep on scrolling for more information.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase Wicked as of Dec. 31:

  • Prime Video — buy for $19.99

  • Apple TV+ — buy for $19.99

  • Fandango at Home — buy for $19.99

  • Microsoft — buy for $19.99

  • YouTube — buy for $19.99

When and where will Wicked be streaming?

As a Universal Pictures film, we knew that Wicked would make its streaming debut on Peacock, the streaming service owned by NBCUniversal. The only question was when. Well, we're thrilled to announce that the critically acclaimed musical movie is officially set to make its streaming debut on March 21, 2025.

We previously made an educated guess (based on past Universal Pictures releases Twisters and The Fall Guy) that the film would be available on or around March 31. So, we're actually getting to stream it a little earlier than anticipated. Hooray!

The sing-along version of Wicked will also stream exclusively on Peacock the same day, as well as a full collection of bonus content for mega fans. Don't have a Peacock subscription? You can sign up for $7.99 per month with ads or $13.99 per month without ads. But before you jump the gun, be sure to check out the best ways to save money on a subscription below.

The best Peacock streaming deals

Best long-term Peacock deal


peacock logo

Credit: Peacock


Peacock Premium annual subscription

$79.99 per year or $139.99 per year (save 17%)



If you commit to Peacock long-term and pay for a year upfront, it'll save you about 17% over a monthly subscription. An annual subscription goes for $79.99 per year with ads or $139.99 per year without, which is essentially 12 months of streaming for the price of 10. Comparatively, a monthly subscription will run you $7.99 per month ($95.88 per year) or $13.99 per month ($167.88 per year).

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers


peacock and xfinity logos side by side

Credit: Peacock / Xfinity


Peacock Premium

Free for select Xfinity customers



Select Xfinity customers can score a Peacock subscription for no extra cost. Here's a breakdown of who is eligible:

  • Xfinity Internet users on the Gigabit or Gigabit+ plans can get Peacock Premium (with ads) for two years (offer ends June 25, 2025) for free.

  • Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

  • NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

  • New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock deal for students


peacock logo

Credit: Peacock


Peacock Premium for Students

$2.99 per month for one year



College students with a verifiable student email can snag a Peacock Premium subscription for just $2.99 per month for an entire year. Just prove your student status through SheerID and you'll receive a unique promo code to secure the discount. The discount code can only be used once, so don't go sharing it with all of your friends!

Best Peacock deal for first responders


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Credit: Peacock

First responders and medical professionals can also score Peacock Premium for just $3.99 per month, so long as they can verify their first responder status via SheerID. Sign up using the unique promo code you receive and the price will drop down to $3.99 per month. First responders and medical professionals who continue to meet verification qualifications can renew the deal annually. You'll just have to go through the process each time to receive a new promo code and secure the discount year after year. Learn more about eligibility terms and requirements.

Best for active military and veterans


peacock logo

Credit: Peacock

Active duty U.S. military service members, Reservists, National Guard members, veterans, or U.S. military retirees can sign up for Peacock Premium for $3.99 per month instead of the usual $7.99 per month. As with the previous deals, you'll have to prove your military status using SheerID and retrieve a promotional code to activate the offer. Eligible military personnel who continue to meet requirements are able to redeem the deal annually.

Best for teachers


peacock logo

Credit: Peacock

Teachers get a bite of Peacock Premium savings as well. Just verify your educator status with SheerID. Once verified, you'll receive a unique promo code that may only be used once for a Premium subscription for just $3.99 per month for one year. Once the promotional period ends, you'll be charged full price, so be sure to cancel before the year is up.

Best for Instacart users


Instacart+ and Peacock logos side by side with green background

Credit: Instacart / Peacock


Peacock Premium annual subscription

Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $79.99/year)



Peacock and Instacart partnered up last year to offer paid Instacart+ members a free Peacock Premium subscription. That's a $79.99 per year value for zero dollars. An Instacart+ account costs you $99.99 per year and includes free grocery delivery on orders over $35, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders, among other perks. Plus, the best part is that you get a two-week free trial to test things out. Definitely grab this freebie if you haven't yet. Better yet, wait until Wicked's official streaming date in March and time your trial so you can watch for free.

Best for JetBlue members


peacock and jetblue logos side by side

Credit: Peacock / JetBlue


Peacock Premium

Free for one year for Mosaic status members



Through July 2025, JetBlue TrueBlue members can earn 1,000 free TrueBlue points when they sign up for Peacock. If you have Mosaic status, you can get your first year of Peacock Premium for free (a $79.99 value). Read more about eligibility and terms over on Peacock's special offer page.

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Hurdle hints and answers for September 24, 2025

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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

To creep around.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

SNEAK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A long-legged bird.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

STORK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To throw.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

CHUCK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

More accurate.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

TRUER

Final Hurdle hint

They show when one smiles.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

TEETH

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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Five burning questions we have for Alien: Earth Season 2

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This summer, FX's Alien: Earth latched onto my brain like a Facehugger latches onto a new host.

Now, with the release of the show's Season 1 finale, you'd think that Facehugger would drop off and leave me be. You'd be wrong! Instead, the Season 1 finale leaves viewers with some major questions we'll be puzzling over until the show's potential return.

Here are the five biggest questions we have for Alien: Earth Season 2.

What does a Neverland run by hybrids look like?

Season 1 of Alien: Earth ends with the group of hybrids known as the Lost Boys in total control over the Neverland research facility. They've imprisoned Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin), Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant), Morrow (Babou Ceesay), Dame Sylvia (Essie Davis), and Atom Eins (Adrian Edmondson). Now, with the adults out of the way, Wendy (Sydney Chandler) declares it's time for the hybrids to "rule."

But what will their rule entail? Will they stay on Neverland, or will they try to extend their authority to the rest of the world? Will they remain fast allies, or will they turn against one another and go full Lord of the Flies on their new island kingdom?

How will Weyland-Yutani and Alien: Earth's other corporations react to Boy Kavalier's plight?

Sandra Yi Sencindiver in "Alien: Earth."

Sandra Yi Sencindiver in "Alien: Earth."
Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

By the end of Alien: Earth Season 1, Weyland-Yutani is closing in on Neverland in order to take back the specimens Boy Kavalier stole. But will Yutani (Sandra Yi Sencindiver) change tack when she realizes her rival is being held captive? Will she leave the island alone or try to stage a hostile takeover? Perhaps her priorities will change entirely, shifting from trying to capture the alien specimens to trying to perfect Boy Kavalier's revolutionary hybrid tech. Either way, her looming presence does not bode well for the newly independent hybrids.

Weyland-Yutani isn't the only other major corporation on the board in Alien: Earth, though. There are three other corporations we haven't truly met yet: Dynamic, Lynch, and Threshold. Could they be joining the party in Alien: Earth's future?

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

What's next for the loose orchid and eyeball aliens?

While the Xenomorph may be under Wendy's control, there are still several alien threats running wild on the island. In the Season 1 finale, the orchid alien (aka D. Plumbicare) revealed that it could turn into a floating, octopus-like creature and got loose in Neverland. I would not want to be walking around the island with that out there, that's for sure.

But that's not all: Alien: Earth's breakout star, the eyeball alien T. Ocellus, found a new host in the corpse of Arthur Sylvia (David Rysdahl). We've seen T. Ocellus take over a cat corpse and a human body, but now we get to see it go full zombie mode in what might be Alien: Earth's coolest development yet. But what's T. Ocellus's plan while in Arthur's body? Will it try to find a new, stronger host in, say, a hybrid? (And what would that look like?) Will it finally have a conversation with its biggest fan, Boy Kavalier? And how in the world will Dame react when she sees her beloved husband with a massive new eyeball and a burst-open chest? Bring on the zombie shenanigans!

Will the Xenomorph continue serving Wendy, or will it rebel?

Sydney Chandler in "Alien: Earth."

Sydney Chandler in "Alien: Earth."
Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

For now, Wendy and her Xenomorph seem pretty tight. But what happens if the Xenomorph goes through a rebellious teenage phase and decides it doesn't want to serve its human mother figure anymore? Could the hybrids lose their grip on Neverland if the apex predator at their disposal decides to turn on them?

Wendy's Xenomorph also isn't the only Xenomorph on the island. There's also the specimen that burst out of Arthur's chest. As it grows, will it become territorial with Wendy's Xenomorph, or will it join the hybrid-Xeno family and view Wendy as its queen? If so, what are the odds Wendy tries to build a whole Xenomorph army?

How will Alien: Earth tie back to Alien?

The question hanging over any prequel is "how will this tie back to the original?" and with Alien: Earth, that question is especially pressing, given that it takes place two years before the events of Alien. By that point, there are no mentions of hybrid technology, nor are there any mentions of them in the sequels. So what will happen to the hybrids between then and now to render them obsolete? It's a daunting question, but it's one that Alien: Earth will certainly have to contend with as it closes in on the original films.

Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu.

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Alien: Earths game-changing ending, explained

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After eight episodes of terrifying new creatures, Alien homages, and existential questions about the future of humanity, Alien: Earth Season 1 has come to a close. And what a close it was.

The finale, titled "The Real Monsters," flips the power dynamic that's been in place for the entire season. By the end of the episode, the hybrid Lost Boys, led by Wendy (Sydney Chandler), have gained total control over their keepers, including Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin) and Dame Sylvia (Essie Davis). This power shift has been in the cards since Alien: Earth's first episode, but how do we get here? Let's break it down.

Alien: Earth's hybrids finally realize how strong they are.

Alex Lawther, Sydney Chandler, and Lily Newmark in "Alien: Earth."

Alex Lawther, Sydney Chandler, and Lily Newmark in "Alien: Earth."
Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

From the first moment Alien: Earth introduces Wendy in her super-strong, super-fast, super-durable hybrid body, it's clear that she and her fellow Lost Boys could absolutely wreck Prodigy's Neverland security team if they wanted to. That idea doesn't cross their minds, though. Instead, the Lost Boys are still children in consciousness, and they believe Neverland to be a safe paradise for them.

However, this idea erodes over the course of Alien: Earth's first season, as the Lost Boys lose confidence in the people they've been told to trust. They're endangered and experimented on. Nibs' (Lily Newmark) traumatic memories were manipulated. Isaac (Kit Young) died while tending to the alien specimens. Morrow (Babou Ceesay) threatened to kill Slightly's (Adarsh Gourav) family. Each horrifying incident wears away at the Lost Boys' childlike innocence, turning the idyllic Neverland into a hell on Earth.

Ironically, these incidents only increase the Lost Boys' feelings of powerlessness, even though they're the most powerful beings on Prodigy's remote island. But it's also in one of those scenes of powerlessness — when Prodigy forces corner Nibs, Wendy, and her brother Joe aka Hermit (Alex Lawther) on their escape boat in episode 7 — that the Lost Boys begin to realize their power. Nibs fully rips a soldier's jaw off, leaving Hermit to shoot (but not kill) her. Here, a horrified Wendy learns two things. First: Humans, including her brother, are terrified of the hybrids. Second: They have good reason to be. The hybrids are extremely dangerous. So why not embrace that?

That's the realization Wendy comes to in Alien: Earth's Season 1 finale. "All this time, we've been afraid of them," she tells the Lost Boys as they sit trapped in a Neverland cage. "But I think they should be afraid of us."

The Peter Pan allegories come to a head in the Alien: Earth Season 1 finale.

Sydney Chandler and Alex Lawther in "Alien: Earth."

Sydney Chandler and Alex Lawther in "Alien: Earth."
Credit: Patrick Brown/FX

Embracing the Neverland staffers' fear of them is the final stage in the Lost Boys' loss of their childish innocence. Or, in terms of Boy Kavalier's relentless Peter Pan references, this is them finally "growing up." However, that's exactly what the Prodigy founder and the rest of Neverland don't want to happen. As Wendy puts it, "We're all in this cell because we can't be kids anymore, but they won't let us be adults."

Nibs has another suggestion for what they are, one that's especially fitting after seeing the graves of their dead human bodies. "We're all ghosts," she says.

So what do these ghosts do? They turn Neverland into a haunted house, with Wendy using her in-built connection to the facility to manipulate video feeds, elevators, and doors to terrify every last soldier and scientist. Of course, having a Xenomorph at your beck and call helps too.

The entire episode serves as both a liberation for the Lost Boys and an identity crisis for Wendy, otherwise known by her human name, Marcy. She tells her brother, "I don't know what I am. I'm not a child. I'm not a grown-up. I'm not Marcy. I'm not Wendy. And I can't be what everyone wants me to be."

(Earlier in the season, Joe even questions whether Wendy truly holds his sister's consciousness, yet another blow to one of the pillars of Wendy's identity.)

Wendy's statement reflects the binaries in the world of Alien: Earth. Child and adult. Human and synthetic. Hybrids exist somewhere in between, blurring boundaries and creating a new kind of personhood. Wendy and the Lost Boys have spent the entire series having not just new names but entirely new identities imposed on them by exterior forces. Now, they get to make their own. Fellow hybrid Curly (Erana James) embraces her former name, Jane, as Wendy reminds each of the Lost Boys of theirs — a move the late Isaac, formerly Tootles, only enjoyed for an afternoon.

Wendy's identity crisis also explains her affinity for the Maginot aliens, whom she considers "honest." These creatures are wholly themselves, unlike liars such as Boy Kavalier. As Wendy points out, he considers himself Peter Pan, but he was never truly a boy. He was always a "mean, angry little man," just like his abusive father. Ouch. I'm not sure he'll be picking up a copy of Peter Pan any time soon after that.

"Now we rule."

Sydney Chandler in "Alien: Earth."

Sydney Chandler in "Alien: Earth."
Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

"The Real Monsters" ends with Wendy and the Lost Boys holding all of the authority figures in their lives hostage in the same cage they were formerly incarcerated in, prompting Wendy's declaration that, "now, we rule." Even Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant), their Prodigy synth senior, and Morrow, their cyborg antagonist, now answer to them.

The hybrids finally taking control is undoubtedly worthy of Alien: Earth's last hard-rocking needle drop. But it's certainly not the end of the Lost Boys' story. After all, the Weyland-Yutani forces are still encroaching on the island with numerous Prodigy forces still left, hinting at more conflict ahead. Plus, the alien orchid is loose, and T. Ocellus has found a new host in the chestburst corpse of Arthur Sylvia (David Rysdahl). That's a lot of threats for these still-young hybrids to deal with. How will they be able to fight off their enemies and learn how to rule their island?

That question of what it will look like for hybrids to "rule" hints at an intriguing new literary reference point for a possible Alien: Earth Season 2. If Season 1 was the Lost Boys growing up in the style of Peter Pan, then Season 2 might just see them learning to survive on an island in the vein of Lord of the Flies. With that in mind, who's Piggy, who's Ralph, and will the Xenomorph's head somehow wind up on the end of a pointy stick?

Alien: Earth is now streaming on Hulu.

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