Film Review: Wicked - For Good
You Will Be Changed
INTRODUCTION
This is a quick review of the newly released film Wicked: For Good. Please note that this is just one of the many movies I will have watched each year, and my initial grade for this film may change over time, for better or worse. To stay up to date on my thoughts about other movies and any potential changes in my opinion on this one, follow me on Letterboxd.
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PLOT
Via Letterboxd: As an angry mob rises against the Wicked Witch, Glinda and Elphaba will need to come together one final time. With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good.
REVIEW
Let’s get the massive elephant in the room out of the way. Unless you haven’t glanced at my social media, or unless you somehow missed my review or Letterboxd logs for last year’s Wicked, it’s pretty well known just how “Wicked-pilled” I am. The stage musical that’s lit up Broadway and toured the country remains one of the best live theatre experiences I’ve ever had. And last year’s film adaptation of the first act was, to me, an S-tier musical masterpiece and my favorite film of the year. I’ve even admittedly ended up with dozens of Ariana Grande stan accounts following me on X (formerly Twitter) simply because of how vocal I was about my love for that movie and my belief that she should’ve won the Oscar, despite the funny fact that I don’t really listen to her music (nothing personal Ari, I listen to rock and metal when I’m not listening to musical soundtracks).
It’s also well known that I’ve been a huge champion of Jon M. Chu since Crazy Rich Asians (though admittedly not as much his pre-CRA work). I genuinely believe his ability to turn adaptations that could’ve been forgettable studio products into home-run cinematic experiences deserves far more praise than the scorn I often see directed at him from certain corners. I’m also a big film-musicals nerd in general; In the Heights was my favorite film of 2021 and The Color Purple landed in my top five of 2023. So the idea of watching a two-part musical adaptation of arguably the most famous modern Broadway hit is, admittedly, a very exciting experience for me.
So yes, you are reading the review of someone who, full disclosure, had Wicked: For Good as their single most anticipated film of 2025. Even more so than One Battle After Another, the latest film from my favorite living director (and a film I ultimately gave an S-tier review to). But considering the messy discourse on social media right now, with some critics getting dragged for whether they came into the movie with any bias, I don’t mind being upfront about my love for the material. I walked into Wicked: For Good extremely excited and absolutely expecting it to be a contender for my favorite film of the year.
Which brings me to last night, when I returned to Oz via a late showing of the early Prime Access screening. And I found myself wondering, would I walk out with my sky-high expectations met? Or would I end up a bit underwhelmed? After all, I loved 2017’s It but found It: Chapter Two a fun yet significant step down. On the other hand, I love both Avatar and Dune films just as equally. So, which path would this one follow?
When it comes to returning to Oz, even just four years later, it should come as no surprise that Nathan Crowley’s production design once again hits a home run and brings this world vividly to life. It should also come as no surprise that Paul Tazewell once again outfits the Ozians in stunning, character-rich costumes. And it certainly shouldn’t be surprising that Jon M. Chu’s decision to shoot both films together pays off as the cohesiveness of this Oz never falters. Even though this story takes place years after the previous film, the environment feels seamless and consistent. The craftsmanship and Jon’s meticulous attention to detail in building Oz haven’t gone anywhere.
As for the performances, it’s equally unsurprising that the ensemble once again delivers; every actor nails their role, even as they each get something new to play. Jeff Goldblum gets more time to shine as the Wizard; Michelle Yeoh leans further into the darker edges of Madame Morrible; Ethan Slater reveals more layers to Boq’s complicated inner turmoil that honestly made him my surprise of the film; and Marissa Bode gets to show new and darker facets of Nessa. Jonathan Bailey arguably gives an even better performance this time, offering more nuance and self-realization in Prince Fiyero than we saw in most of the first film.
And, of course, there’s the dynamic duo of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. There’s a reason that even the coolest reactions to the film still feel compelled to give both women their due praise.
Much of the social media attention has understandably centered on Grande, given her pop-star status and the way she blew audiences away in the previous film. You will not be shocked to hear that she is phenomenal again, this time bringing even more dramatic flair. Next to perhaps Amy Madigan’s incredible villainous turn in Weapons, Grande may be my personal winner in her acting category for the second year in a row. If the Academy doesn’t take advantage of this moment and award her the Oscar, it will be a major missed opportunity. She fully embodies Glinda and shows us layers we didn’t even get in the last film. There are shots in this movie where Grande really gets to show she isn’t just a comedy act.
But it’s a shame that so much attention has at times overshadowed Cynthia Erivo. She continues to prove what a powerhouse she is, elevating scenes that might have felt forgettable with a lesser actress performing opposite CGI. She lets Elphaba come fully into her own; no longer naive, now completely certain of what she stands for. Her performance of “No Good Deed” will electrify audiences for generations to come. I still haven’t seen Jessie Buckley in Hamnet, but as of now Erivo is my personal winner in her category, after having been my runner-up behind Demi Moore last year.
Basically, everything most people loved about the first film is back. In a way, that consistency can dampen the “wow” factor. There’s no surprise this time, no “can they actually pull this off?” energy, but it also means the strengths carry over confidently from one film to the next.
Unfortunately, that also means my biggest gripe from the previous film returns - the faded lighting. While there are moments where I genuinely think it looks better than last year’s film, the choice to rely heavily on natural lighting and washed-out grays continues to hinder the movie’s visual flavor. No disrespect to cinematographer Alice Brooks as her camera movement is often excellent, but her lighting choices remain a point of frustration for me. The CGI, too, is solid enough but nothing that blew me away either in a year where we have a new Avatar coming down the pipe.
And then there’s the big elephant in the room (aside from my own excitement) that Act two of Wicked is generally considered the weaker half of the stage show. I agree; though I’ve never loathed it to the degree some do. With this being a two-hour film devoted entirely to Act two, the story finally gets room to breathe instead of being the hurried back half of the stage production. There’s also space to add new material to the adapted songs, even if the additions aren’t as strong overall as Act one’s music, they’re still solid. And that’s where the biggest divide may come for critics and perhaps audiences; a faithful Act two was always going to be more polarizing.
And this is where the film will truly spark debate. The decision to flesh certain elements out works at times, but it also introduces pacing choices that may not land for everyone. It didn’t bother me much, this was no The Secret Agent, but it does contribute to the sense that the second act doesn’t have the flash, flair, or pop of the first. This is a darker, more dramatic chapter, and that shift may feel jarring for audiences who were hoping for more of the fun from the first film. But that doesn’t bother me; the second act SHOULD be darker and more dramatic. Some will argue that this all still could’ve been one film; I’m not so sure personally. Given what we received, I was perfectly fine with the execution overall.
My guess is if you loved Wicked, you’re going to love Wicked: For Good. If you “just liked” the former, you’ll “just like” the latter. If you felt middling on the first, you’ll feel middling here. And if the first film wasn’t for you, this one won’t suddenly win you over.
And that brings me to my own grade, to my final score and judgment for this film. I’ve tried my best to lay out everything I love about this movie and the ways it complements the first. I’ve also tried to clearly present the fair criticisms and my own thoughts on them. I’ve spent long hours drafting this in a way that ensures my own fandom doesn’t get in the way of critiquing this film the same way I would any other.
My overall perception of this film is that, much like the stage show, the second act is weaker than the first. But taken together, this is a cinematic achievement I can see myself revisiting for decades to come. That puts me in a bit of a quandary - do I grade it while considering both films as one, respecting the accomplishment the same way many did with Return Of The King, or do I assess this installment entirely on its own?
The answer is that I genuinely loved this movie, but I’m not going to pretend it maintains the same consistent momentum the previous film had. It didn’t have me as euphoric though by the time the credits rolled I had a big smile on my face. So I’m going to go ahead and give it a very strong A+ to fully capture just how much I enjoyed it, with the caveat that my feelings may evolve after a few more showings in the coming week.
At the end of the day, regardless of my personal opinion on this film, regardless of whatever Metacritic ends up revealing when the embargo lifts as this very piece publishes, and regardless of this film’s ultimate fate at the box office or on the awards circuit, one thing is undeniable. One thing the biggest skeptics and dismissers of these films will never be able to stop is the fact that this duology is destined to become a modern-day classic. These movies will live on for decades as definitive entries in cinema’s musical canon.
They’ll sit comfortably alongside The Wizard of Oz (1939), The Wiz (1978), and Return to Oz (1984) as films parents will share with their children whenever they want to return to Oz. In particular, these two chapters of Wicked are going to mean the world to many young girls growing up; they’ll discover their love of musicals through these movies, just as generations before discovered theirs through the classics. These films will be welcomed into homes long after I’m no longer on this planet.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Jon M. Chu and his team, along with the incredible ensemble and everyone behind these productions, have created something that will stand the test of time. Whatever my or others’ personal grades may be for either film, Wicked and Wicked: For Good have already secured their place in cinematic history. These things have a life of their own. And I for one believe that is for good.
“TL;DR”
Pros: Almost everything you loved about the first Wicked film returns including the lavish crafts and musical centerpieces; Grande and Erivo are both a tour de force once again; Comes to a bittersweet conclusion that will leave some audiences breathless and in tears
Cons: The previous film’s mediocre cinematography and visuals return; Some (not all) of the pacing issues that plague the second act are still there; A darker and more dramatic tone to the first act that might jar some new-time viewers of this part of the story
GRADING
