In the wake of last year’s record-setting Broadway adaptation, Wicked: For Good brings the story to its sweeping, emotionally charged finale.

When I saw Wicked last year, it was my first-ever experience with the musical, whether on screen or on stage. Suffice it to say, I went into the second half not wanting to know anything about what would happen in Wicked: For Good—or at least doing my best not to find out. I might or might not have checked the stage musical’s Wiki page after the November 2024 press screening, if only to see whether there were any differences between stage and screen.

Wicked: For Good picks up with Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) living separate lives and dealing with the fallout of choices that have reshaped Oz. Branded the Wicked Witch, Elphaba hides deep in the forest, still fighting for Oz’s oppressed Animals and determined to expose the truth about the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum).

Glinda, now the sparkling public face of Goodness, resides in the Emerald City palace, basking in celebrity while carrying out Madame Morrible’s (Michelle Yeoh) orders to soothe the public and bolster the Wizard’s rule.

As Glinda’s fame grows and she plans a lavish wedding to Prince Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), she can’t shake the guilt of her fractured bond with Elphaba. Her attempt to mend the rift only backfires, setting in motion events that will forever alter the paths of Boq (Ethan Slater), Fiyero, and Nessarose (Marissa Bode)—just as an unexpected visitor from Kansas crashes into Oz.

With an enraged mob closing in and the stakes higher than ever, Glinda and Elphaba are pushed toward one last reckoning. Their friendship becomes the hinge on which their futures—and the future of Oz—turn, forcing them to confront each other with compassion if they hope to change anything for good.

Wicked: For Good arrives in a very different world than the one its predecessor entered. Thematically, it also feels like a timely reminder of the importance of courage. Take Elphaba, for example: she’s willing to sacrifice her own dreams to stand against the oppression facing the Animals of Oz. They may not be able to fight alongside her, but she refuses to give up until they are free. And when Glinda and Elphaba finally join forces, their combined strength has the potential to reshape Oz for the better. They leave a profound imprint on one another.

Expanding the musical into two films ultimately serves the story well. It also makes room for new songs—Elphaba’s “No Place Like Home” and Glinda’s “The Girl in the Bubble.” “No Place Like Home” is an anthem of resistance and a declaration of her belonging in Oz. As for “The Girl in the Bubble,” Glinda found herself having everything she ever wanted at the start of Wicked: For Good. The song gives audiences a chance to see just exactly who she is beneath the façade. The two songs differ in tone and scope, but each plays an essential role in their characters’ arcs.

Myron Kerstein’s editing keeps the film racing ahead at a brisk pace, while understanding that this film has a different tone. The fact that I saw a 9:15 PM screening, never once checked my watch, and didn’t need to dash out for a restroom break speaks for itself. That’s on top of Nathan Crowley’s production design and Paul Tazewell’s costumes, all beautifully captured by cinematographer Alice Brooks. Saying the film fires on all cylinders isn’t an exaggeration. Director Jon M. Chu has assembled a top-tier creative team, and even with a SAG-AFTRA strike interrupting production, they’ve delivered a film that goes above and beyond in bringing Wicked: For Good to the screen.

Much like last year, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande deliver standout performances. Both are Oscar-worthy, in my opinion, though we’ll have to see what the Academy decides. At this point, I fully expect Nathan Crowley and Paul Tazewell to earn nominations and possibly add to their trophy shelves.

It has been ages since my last viewing of The Wizard of Oz. Where the first film serves primarily as a prequel, Wicked: For Good functions both as a prequel and as a story running parallel to the 1939 classic—and then some. Even though Wicked is ultimately a reimagining, it’s fascinating to see how this chapter intersects and harmonizes with the original film.

In the end, Wicked: For Good succeeds because it leans into what makes this story resonate: friendship, conviction, and the willingness to challenge the forces that shape a society. You don’t need to know the stage version to feel the impact of this chapter. The film stands confidently on its own, offering a finale that is both emotionally honest and visually striking, and one that reinforces the idea that change begins with those who are brave enough to pursue it.

DIRECTOR: Jon M. Chu
SCREENWRITERS: Winnie Holzman and Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox
CAST: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, with Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum

Universal Pictures will release Wicked: For Good in theaters on November 21, 2025. Grade: 4.5/5

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