After a year of anticipation, the second part of Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of Wicked has a release date: November 21, 2025. Titled Wicked: For Good, this movie covers the second act of the Broadway show, and Chu describes it as revealing “the most compelling side of the story.” The first film was a huge success, earning over $700 million globally, so the question now is whether Chu can deliver another hit with this follow-up.
Reviewers are praising the pairing of Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as the Wicked Witch in the new film, Wicked: For Good. According to a review from TopMob, viewers can look forward to impressive visuals, strong acting, and beautiful songs. Our reviewer, Riley Utley, gave the movie 4 out of 5 stars, noting that while the second half is darker, it doesn’t overshadow the first act, and wrote:
I had a somewhat uneven experience with the story of Elphaba and her fight against the Wizard. Some storylines and characters felt incomplete, which made it hard to fully connect with the plot, especially considering my existing thoughts about the first act. However, despite these issues, Wicked: For Good remains truly lovely. It’s a moving story, exceptionally well-produced, and offers a satisfying ending to this grand tale of Oz.
Pete Hammond from Deadline believes the new movie, Wicked: For Good, is even better than the original, which is high praise given how well-made the first film was. He notes:
Both Erivo and Grande give outstanding performances, but Grande truly stands out whenever she’s on screen. Erivo’s portrayal of Elphaba is particularly compelling, and the movie format allows for a nuanced depiction of the character. Bailey continues to impress, and Goldblum’s Wizard is now fully realized and captivating. Marissa Bode also shines as Nessarose, and her inspiring performance makes the casting choice particularly meaningful.
David Gordon from TheaterMania also believes the lead actresses deliver outstanding performances, especially Cynthia Erivo, whose captivating presence shines through in exhilarating musical numbers. He notes that expanding the original hour-long stage production into a full-length film allows the story to develop more fully, adding depth and intensity to certain plotlines.
Compared to the first part of Wicked, For Good is a more intense, passionate, and dramatic story. It addresses criticisms of the original musical’s second half with added songs and a more developed plot, offering a richer and more expansive experience.
While one critic was captivated by Cynthia Erivo’s performance, David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter believes Ariana Grande truly shines as Glinda. Traditionally, Wicked has focused more on Elphaba’s challenging story, but this new production gives Glinda’s character equal weight without altering the core plot. Rooney predicts fans will be thrilled with this change.
Erivo continues to be a remarkably powerful performer, possessing a stunning voice and a seemingly endless capacity for genuine emotion. Meanwhile, Grande’s character, Glinda, grows significantly, taking on a serious role in Oz as she tries to do good. Through heartbreak and disappointment, Glinda learns humility and sheds her superficiality.
As a film buff, I was really intrigued to read Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri’s take on Wicked: For Good. He says it’s actually a lot darker than the first movie, and honestly, he thinks that’s a good thing. What really stood out to him – and sounds amazing – is how much more focused and human the story is. Apparently, it all builds to a surprisingly satisfying ending that had people in the audience crying! He really seems to think they stuck the landing with this one.
Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: For Good succeeds despite being a bit shorter and less visually extravagant than the original. It actually improves on the first film by being surprisingly nuanced and emotionally resonant – the audience was openly crying by the end!
Even though Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo gave incredibly strong performances, some critics felt the delay in releasing this final part ultimately hurt the overall experience.
In a review for IndieWire, Kate Erbland gave the movie a B-, noting that it had been too long since seeing the first film to fully recall the plot and character details. However, she praised the performances of the two lead actors, highlighting both their portrayal of the characters and their vocal talents. The review continues with…
Similar to the original Wicked, the movie Wicked: For Good builds to a powerful duet between the two main characters – a deeply moving song called ‘For Good’ that often brings audiences to tears. This moment is a definite highlight, but it feels isolated. While it’s incredibly strong, you have to wonder if the whole film could have captured that same emotional impact.
Fans who loved the first Wicked movie can expect an exciting and heartfelt ending to the story. The wait has been long, but it’s finally over – Wicked: For Good arrives in theaters on Friday, November 21st. If you need a quick reminder of what happened before, you can stream Wicked: Part I with an Amazon Prime Video subscription.
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2025-11-19 16:10