Wicked: For Good (2025)

​“Wicked: For Good” stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum.  Releasing on November 21, 2025, the film has Elphaba and Glinda embracing their new identities.

The film is directed by Jon M. Chu, who also directed films such as “Step Up 2: The Streets”, “G.I. Joe: Retaliation”, “Crazy Rich Asians”, and “In the Heights”.  It is the sequel to Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”, adapting the second act of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s stage musical.  The timeless tale of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” has long portrayed the Wicked Witch of the West as the most nefarious villain in the land of Oz.  At least, that’s what it wants us to believe.  The 2003 stage musical painted a strikingly different picture of this green-skinned sorceress, revealing her as a compassionate individual striving to do what is right.  Yet, given the circumstances, that’s easier said than done when she is thrust into a role dictated by those who may not be as benevolent as they appear.  Even in the magical realm of Oz, there’s no escaping the wrath of racial discrimination.

Since its debut last year, Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of “Wicked” has captivated both devoted fans and newcomers worldwide, thanks to its fidelity to the source material, stunning production designs, memorable songs, and stellar lead performances.  However, as an attempt to truly honor the Broadway musical's storytelling and character development, the film was split into two parts.  The first part delved into the unexpected bond between the good witch and the wicked witch as they share a dormitory, culminating in a shocking revelation that leads them to inhabit the roles we recognize.  After a year-long intermission, we are now at the eagerly anticipated second part of the story, which covers the musical’s second act and ultimately connects to “The Wizard of Oz”.  Does this sequel provide enough emotional heft in its characters to change me for good, or does it deserve to be melted away by a bucket of water?  Let’s journey back to Oz and find out.

The story is set five years after the events of “Wicked”.  After the revelation of the Wizard’s (Goldblum) true nature, former dormitory roommates Elphaba Thropp (Erivo) and Glinda Upland (Grande) find themselves on separate paths as they navigate their new identities.  Elphaba is now branded as the “Wicked Witch of the West”, as she continues to fight for the freedom of Oz’s animal inhabitants.  Glinda has emerged as a public figure known as “Glinda the Good”, under the watchful eye of the Wizard and Madame Morrible (Yeoh).  However, their evolving identities begin to strain their friendship as they pursue their deepest aspirations.  The tension escalates with the unexpected arrival of a girl from Kansas, prompting the Wizard to use this visitor to foil Elphaba’s rebellion.  This scenario thrusts the two witches into a series of challenges that will change Oz and themselves forever.

For those who may not know, the film adaptation of “Wicked” marked my very first experience with the Broadway musical in any form.  While I had been aware of the musical’s existence, I never found the time or money to witness the stage production firsthand.  With the release of the “Wicked” movie, I resorted to my passion for film to resolve this predicament.  In the end, the wait actually paid off, as I found myself loving “Wicked” just as much as everyone else.  It delivered a brilliant, thought-provoking exploration of the friendship between Elphaba and Glinda, complemented by exceptional production design and stellar performances from Erivo and Grande that honored the source material.  It’s undoubtedly long, but I never got bored thanks to the captivating leads and catchy musical numbers.  My deep appreciation for “Wicked” left me eager to see how Jon M. Chu would handle the musical’s second half, which seems more tragic than the first act, with the arrival of our Kansas heroine.  Of course, since I’m new to the whole “Wicked” phenomenon, I chose to avoid reading the complete synopsis of the show’s second half beforehand.  That way, I would be able to immerse myself in this emotional conclusion, as if I were experiencing the Broadway show for the very first time. 

From my observations, the second act of the “Wicked” Broadway musical wasn’t as well-received as the first act, particularly concerning the storyline.  Fortunately, this did not diminish the audience’s overall love for the stage production, celebrated for its story and emotional depth.  However, it still presents Jon M. Chu with the challenging task of addressing the second act’s shortcomings while preserving the elements that made the cinematic adaptation of the first act a triumph, including its compelling songs and character development.  After witnessing its whimsical and epic conclusion, I can confidently say that the director has accomplished this daunting objective.  While the film has some minor issues that popped its bubble, these imperfections do not detract from the magical spell it cast on me.  “Wicked: For Good” emerges as a tenderhearted and vibrantly dazzling finale that enriches the witchy friendship with layers of depth, sorrow, and hope.

Similar to the first film, “For Good” is at its highest when the main characters take center stage, as they embrace the roles they’re given, though they’re no walks in the park.  Elphaba strives to liberate Oz’s animals from cruelty and unveil the Wizard’s deceit to the public.  On the other hand, Glinda grapples with the realization that popularity may not be as fulfilling as she once believed.  The writers behind “Wicked”, Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, excelled in humanizing the supposedly wicked witch as a misunderstood outcast striving for justice against the land’s discrimination against animals.  This depiction showed that wickedness is not just an external trait but also a deceit rooted in people’s lies.  “For Good” has the writers further expand on this theme through its reflections on rebellion and animal cruelty, resulting in a compelling, even thought-provoking fantasy that somewhat mirrors modern-day life.  While some scenes felt a bit rushed due to its shorter length compared to its predecessor, the story retains the usual magic and emotional weight that make the world of Oz worth revisiting.

However, the primary focus of “For Good” is Glinda, who is given the chance to pursue her dream as a public figure, making her one of the film's main highlights.  “Wicked” portrayed Glinda as a quirky yet self-centered young woman whose desire to “help people” often serves her own quest for popularity.  In “For Good”, she faces the challenge of genuinely aiding others while navigating the deceptive guidance of Madame Morrible.  Throughout the film, we see Glinda undergo an internal struggle that leads her to discover the true meaning of helping those in need, all while discreetly protecting Elphaba.  This is honestly one of the better representations of humanity's goodness, brought to life not only by the writing but also by Ariana Grande’s portrayal.  

“Wicked” showcased that Grande can absolutely sing her heart out, but she can also act, having started as a Nickelodeon star on “Victorious” and “Sam & Cat”.  While I did enjoy Grande in her Nickelodeon outings, her music and sublime performance in “Wicked” changed me into a Grande supporter for good.  Her bubbly charisma and high-pitched singing voice reinvigorated the seemingly joyful Good Witch, revealing her as a human being who isn’t as magical as she believed she was.  “For Good” has Ariana Grande deepening that humanity into Glinda’s personal struggle, and I have to say, I find it better than what she delivered in its predecessor.  Grande retained the chirpy essence that made Glinda a rewarding adaptation of the character, but what really made her performance shine was her conveyance of Glinda’s emotional state, both inside and outside.  Given the circumstances she's in, you can say that Glinda feels trapped in a complex bubble that's hard to pop.  Grande brings the right amount of passion and gentle flair to capture that feeling through her facial expressions and magical authenticity.  Because of that, I became one of the many people who believe this is Grande’s best performance in her acting career, and that she deserves every praise she gets.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I can neglect Cynthia Erivo’s equally remarkable performance as Elphaba.  Erivo continues to infuse the Wicked Witch with humanity and depth through her acting, but she also brings the house down with her exceptional singing.  No pun intended.  Her rendition of “No Good Deed” is a genuine showstopper that highlights Erivo’s performance and even Elphaba’s acceptance of her new identity.  I couldn’t compare the two versions of the song because, again, I haven’t watched the stage production, but I can see why people love it among many others.  The rest of the cast were also excellent in portraying their characters, including Jonathan Bailey, who blended charm and drama as Fiyero, and Jeff Goldblum as the so-called “Wizard of Oz”.  Despite the Wizard’s true identity, there’s no denying that Goldblum can make a lying con man look convincing.  I would also commend Michelle Yeoh for making me hate Madame Morrible even more through her performance.  Morrible further highlights the true wickedness inside the former Dean-turned-Wizard’s helper, which was enough to make me want to throw a bucket of water on her instead.  Yeoh certainly knows how to portray meaningful characters, but her role as Morrible proves that she also has the talent to play those who aren’t as bubbly as Glinda the Good.

“Wicked: For Good” also benefited profoundly from its technical achievements, much as the first film did, particularly in the land of Oz.  Through its production design, vibrant artistry, and inventive costumes, the film continues to evoke the fantasy realm that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.  While it draws inspiration from the novel and the 1939 adaptation, it also delivers plenty of innovative aspects that enhance the freshness and awe of its world-building.  Of course, I would also point out that the visual effects behind the land of Oz and even the animal inhabitants are just as outstanding as the ones in its predecessor.  These visuals integrate seamlessly into the film, especially in the portrayal of the Emerald City, making it a surefire awards contender for Best Visual Effects. 

Finally, we have the musical numbers, which were left untouched, as in the first “Wicked” film.  However, it also included a couple of new songs written exclusively for the movie: “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble”.  These additions were included to further develop Elphaba and Glinda’s narratives and to secure more award nominations in the music category.  “No Place Like Home” by Elphaba was a pleasant way of enriching Elphaba’s perspective on the home she lives in.  However, I liked “The Girl in the Bubble” by Glinda a bit more because of the poignancy of Glinda’s predicament.  As for the Broadway songs, they integrate magic and heart into the lyrics, enhanced by the choreography and Jon M. Chu’s infectious direction.  Chu’s experience with “In the Heights” has really given him the confidence to make a cinematic musical that’s as lively and dazzling as its source material, and it shows in “For Good”.  Of course, it’s also his ability to blend whimsy with gentle emotion that further identifies Chu as a fitting choice to bring a Broadway production like “Wicked” to the big screen.  However, most of the songs in this film don’t quite hit as hard as my personal favorites, “No Good Deed”, “For Good”, and “A Wicked Good Finale”, with the latter two making me tear up more than once.  Fortunately, they retain the spellbinding allure that made me love the songs in the first installment. 

Overall, “Wicked: For Good” casts a cinematic spell that brings its two-part adaptation to an emotionally fulfilling and visually gorgeous conclusion.  Director Jon M. Chu once again changes the movie musical genre for the better through his faithfulness to the source material, presenting a script that delivers a rewardingly heartfelt tale of female friendship and rebellion that warrants the witches’ humanity.  It falls slightly short of its predecessor regarding its pacing and hit-and-miss songs, which may have contributed to the mixed reception of the play’s second act.  Nonetheless, its magical charm shines bright enough to emphasize its sentimental resonance and the lead actresses’ captivating presences.  You could probably say that I have been changed for good because of those elements.  Regarding Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s fantastic performances, Chu’s direction, a faithful screenplay, musical numbers, and stunning visuals, the second half of the “Wicked” saga is another wonderful treat that exemplifies how movie musicals can possess the same magic as their stage counterparts.

A-