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The November 22, 2024, release of the Wicked movie is accompanied by a wicked huge amount of merch, from Glinda dolls to Emerald City Lego sets. What is worth snatching up faster than you can click your red heels together? Read on to learn all about the best of Wicked 2024 collectibles, as well as that unfortunate misprint on Mattel’s Wicked doll boxes.
The Story of Elphaba and Glinda
What is it about Wicked that is launching into the blockbuster movie stratosphere? Like other recent movies such as Barbie, Wicked combines new and old stories, histories, and, dare I say, “herstories.”
Set in Oz, the magical fantasyland created by L. Frank Baum in his seminal 1900 book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked is the story of the early years of Elphaba, later the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, later the Good Witch of the North. Elphaba is the bearer of an unfortunate green skin tone. However, both the musical and movie assign her a rather attractive Kermit shade of green, perhaps to compliment the brilliant hues of the Emerald City. Glinda, of course, is set up as the classic princess trope, complete with blonde tresses and a babydoll pink ball gown.
The story of Wicked unites these two strong women in an unlikely friendship. The climax of the tale results in their transformation into evil and good witches ready to greet Dorothy Gale and her home as they arrive with a bang into Munchkin County thanks to that pesky Kansas tornado. And yes, Oz really is comprised of four different countries along with Munchkin Country: Quadling Country, Gillikin Country, and, of course, Winkie Country.
Beware the Misprinted Wicked Link
So, what Wicked 2024 movie merch is most collectible? Ironically, some of the most popular items are the Mattel Wicked dolls tucked into boxes with an unfortunate printing error. That’s right, Mattel’s first run of these lovely dolls did not have a link to the correct Wicked movie website (www.wickedmovie.com) but instead printed a link to the website that omitted the word “movie” from the URL. That website happens to be owned by an adult film company called Wicked Pictures, where famous adult film star Jenna Jameson got her start.
Oops! Mattel quickly pulled these dolls with the package misprint from the shelves, reminiscent of the days of 1993’s Earring Magic Ken when he was pulled from the shelves due to his misconstrued necklace. In regards to the Wicked doll boxes, Mattel released a statement saying,
“Mattel was made aware of a misprint on the packaging of the Mattel Wicked collection dolls, primarily sold in the U.S., which intended to direct consumers to the official WickedMovie.com landing page. We deeply regret this unfortunate error and are taking immediate action to remedy this. Parents are advised that the misprinted, incorrect website is not appropriate for children. Consumers who already have the product are advised to discard the product packaging or obscure the link and may contact Mattel Customer Service for further information.”
Looking at the WorthPoint Price Guide, it is evident that the misprint on the boxes has led to high prices on the secondary market. A Glinda doll in the box with the misprint sold recently on eBay for $114.99. An Elphaba in the box with the misprint sold recently for $89.99. A dual set of Glinda and Elphaba sold recently for $169.95. That’s quite a return on the original purchase price.
If you go to the Mattel website and search for Elphaba, it says the doll is “out of stock” and “coming soon.” The same thing happens when you search for Glinda. No doubt Matell is being extra cautious about another release.
Milder Wicked Merch
To be sure, there is plenty of other fine Wicked merchandise on the market for collectors and resellers. Starbucks has come out with many different Wicked Starbucks cups, including some that are only available at certain regional theme parks like Universal Studios. These examples are great for resellers looking to make a profit on items not available in other parts of the country.
Limited-edition movie release and convention merchandise, such as theatre posters, popcorn buckets, and single-day souvenirs like ticket event lanyards and name badges, are also hot.
Vanity Fair says, “If Barbie pink was the color of summer 2023 and slime green the shade of 2024’s Brat Summer, then it only makes sense that Wicked Green usher in fall 2024.” Vanity Fair contends that there is “some really good Wicked merch that will likely stand the test of time.” Listed as their favorites are Wicked playing cards, Stanley Cups, Emerald City LEGO sets, an Elphaba Funko Pop, and even a Wicked Monopoly game. Only time will tell, but now is the time to start your Wicked collection—but don’t drag your feet because prices are already climbing.
In addition to 2024 Wicked merch, old-time Wizard of Oz goods remain as popular as ever since the movie and story have an enduring appeal for collectors of vintage film history and the quirky stories of L. Frank Baum.
Whatever you choose to collect from this year’s hot Wicked movie release is likely to be a wicked good investment for the long run—just be careful not to navigate to that XXX link on the misprinted Mattel doll boxes!
Pamela Siegel is a freelance writer and author who has been educating collectors for more than two decades. In addition to three books on topics relating to antiques and collectibles, she frequently shares her expertise through online writing and articles for print-based publications. Pamela is also the co-founder of Costume Jewelry Collectors Int’l (CJCI) and the proprietor of Chic Antiques by Pamela.
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