Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Wicked: For Good movie costumes on display...

Continuing with the theme of the season of the witch, yesterday I ventured to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to see their latest exhibition, The Horror Show, which is perfectly timed for this Halloween month and whilst I was there in another gallery room I chanced up this witchy duo of costumes from 2025's Wicked: For Good. In the continuation and culmination of director John M. Chu's blockbuster big screen adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical fantasy hit, Wicked, Cynthia Erivo's 'Elphaba' embraces her role as the green-skinned 'Wicked Witch of the West' exiled in the Ozian forest, fighting for the truth, whilst her popular friend 'Glinda' (Ariana Grande) reigns as a symbol of goodness in the Emerald City. In this spellbinding conclusion, the two magical women must reunite to change themselves and Oz for good.

Elphaba movie costume worn by Cynthia Erivo

and Glinda movie costume worn by Ariana Grande

in Wicked: For Good

Photographed at the Academy Museum on October 4, 20226, this duo of screen-worn costumes clearly embody the opposing ideas of darkness and light, with propaganda demonizing Elphaba as a symbol of wickedness and Glinda as the representation of good.

Paul Tazewell was again the Costume Designer on this movie sequel, having won the Oscar for Costume Design for 2024's Wicked.

Elphaba's dark look, which the designer describes as her "power look" evokes tree bark and twisting vines, reinforcing her connection with nature, constructed with silk velvet, pleated linen, pleated lace and chiffon, stretch nylon and leather, presented here with her screen-used broom prop.

Meanwhile Glinda's storybook silhouette pays homage to the iconic gown worn by actress Billy Burke as the original 'Good Witch of the North' in 1939's classic musical film, The Wizard of Oz. Ariana Grande's gown is made from synthetic satin and tulle, and layered organza embroidered with beads and sequins.

You can see more of his work with these Oscar-nominated West Side Story movie costumes from the 2021 remake, these Harriet movie costumes and these Emmy-nominated costumes from Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert on display.

For more witchy goings on, be sure to check out this veritable coven of screen-worn witch costumes from the big and small screen I've encountered on my travels in the past.

Wicked: For Good movie billboard

Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron movie costumes from An American in Paris on display...

In 1951's Technicolor musical, Gene Kelly plays 'Jerry Mulligan', a World War II veteran who chooses a newly-liberated Paris as the place to make his name as a painter. Jerry's life becomes more complicated when he meets a young Parisian shop girl named 'Lise Bouvier' (played by Leslie Caron) and realizes he is not her only suitor. The musical romantic comedy directed by Vincente Minnelli is inspired by composer and pianist George Gershwin's 1928 jazz-influenced symphonic poem of the same name.

Jerry Mulligan costume worn by Gene Kelly

and Lise Bouvier costume worn by Leslie Caron

in An American in Paris

These screen-worn costumes were photographed on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 13, 2025.

Three renowned designers - Orry-Kelly, Walter Plunkett and Irene Sharaff - won the Academy Award for Costume Design at the 1952 Oscars.

Irene Sharaff designed the looks and helped develop the narrative, choreography and set design for the film's 17-minute ballet finale. Jerry's monochrome costume (made of wool, rayon and cotton) stands out as he pursues Lise across a colorful Paris. The lovers eventually uniting in a highly charged dance by the Place de la Concorde fountain, where Lise wears this exquisite peacock ensemble (made of silk velvet, silk chiffon, peacock feathers and glass rhinestones).

I loved seeing these iconic costumes from the movie on display as I have fond memories of seeing the musical on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in 2015.

Musicals fans may also enjoy these other screen-used costumes on display at exhibitions over the years.

An American in Paris movie poster

Barbra Streisand's Fanny Brice movie costume from Funny Lady on display...

1968's Funny Girl movie is loosely based on the life and career of comedienne and singer Fanny Brice set in the early 1900s and Barbra Streisand won her first Oscar for Best Actress for this, her debut feature film, reprising her role from the Broadway hit musical. In 1975's musical comedy-drama, Barbra Streisand returned to the role for the romantic sequel, Funny Lady. Hitting difficult times during the 1930s, with her marriage to 'Nicky Arnstein' (Omar Sharif) ending in divorce, Fanny continues to pursue fame with the help of brash nightclub owner, song lyricist and showman, 'Billy Rose' (James Chan). And even though they slowly start to feel something for each other, during their stormy relationship, Fanny knows that her feelings for her ex haven't completely gone away.

Fanny Brice movie gown worn by Barbra Streisand

in Funny Lady

Hello, gorgeous. This screen-worn gown was photographed on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 13, 2025.

Ray Aghayan and Bob Mackie were Costume Designers on the movie sequel directed by Herbert Ross and this was one of Fanny Brice's colorful stage costumes made from satin, chiffon, velvet, sequins and jet gemstones (the beret and shoes featured are non-originals).

For another Bob Mackie creation, be sure to check out this Alice Through the Looking Glass costume from the 1966 TV movie.

Funny Lady movie poster

Carmen Miranda's movie costume from Week-End in Havana on display...

In 1941's Technicolor musical romantic-comedy, Week-End in Havana, Portuguese-born Brazilian actress, singer and dancer Carmen Miranda plays 'Rosita Rivas', the star attraction at a Cuban nightclub. The actress, nicknamed the "Brazilian Bombshell", became known for her signature fruit headdresses she wore in her American films like this one on display.

Rosita Rivas costume worn by Carmen Miranda

in Week-End in Havana

This screen-worn costume was photographed on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 13, 2025.

Gwen Wakeling was the Head Costume Designer at 20th Century Fox responsible for this colorful ensemble made of silk, rayon and plastic (although the jewelry pictured is not part of the original costume).

Week-End in Havana movie poster

Oscar-nominated Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street movie costumes on display...

In 2007 Tim Burton adapted Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's stage musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, for the big screen. Johnny Depp played the titular 'Sweeney Todd', a barber falsely convicted and exiled to Australia by the corrupt 'Judge Turpin' (Alan Rickman), who coveted his wife 'Lucy', returns to London to exact his revenge. Reinstated in his old Fleet Street barber shop he is helped by the failing pie shop owner below him, 'Mrs. Nellie Lovett' (Helena Bonham Carter), who has an unrequited love for the barber. Sweeney Todd murders his customers and she processes the corpses into meat pies, causing her business to prosper. Their bloody good fortune ultimately ends in a grisly fate for the killer duo.

Sweeney Todd costume worn by Johnny Depp,

Mrs. Lovett costume worn by Helena Bonham Carter

and Judge Turpin costume worn by Alan Rickman

in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

This trio of costumes designed by Colleen Atwood for this Gothic musical slasher movie were photographed on display at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 13, 2025.

Sweeney Todd's coat is made from a modern laser-but leather and then aged, with a sheen to give an insect-like quality to convey how he'd been hardened by his past experiences.

Meanwhile for Mrs. Lovett's final dress the designer found a piece of original period fabric to reflect the character's rich taste and how her costumes evolved with her wealth as her pie business flourishes.

Despite his wealth, Judge Turpin's unkempt look was designed to covey his loose morals and decadent character, and his vest features embroidered monkeys to help convey his transgressive appetites for pleasure. 

These costume designs earned the regular Tim Burton and Johnny Depp collaborator an Academy Award nomination for the film, and you can see more of her work with these Alice in Wonderland movie costumes, these Alice Through the Looking Glass film costumes, these Dumbo movie costumes and these Into the Woods movie costumes to name a few.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street movie poster