Wicked For Good Movie Review: Couldn’t Be Happier With It

Disclosure: I was invited to a film screening| Links may be affiliate links | Wicked: For Good Review

Wicked has taken the world by windstorm again and again. First in novel form in 1995 when Gregory Maguire’s original book imagined a backstory for our favorites from The Wizard of Oz. Then in 2003, the Gershwin Theatre was overcome with the immense talent of Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel as the musical opened. The lyrics and melodies, by composer Steven Schwartz, stunned audiences and opened a new chapter in Broadway history.

As a movie in 2024, Wicked swept a new generation of fans into the sky using what is arguably the most accessible storytelling art form. Moviegoers packed theaters, many wearing pink and green, to hear Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande belt and croon some of the most notable songs to exist. 

 

Art this grand is laid yellow brick by yellow brick.

 

Top creatives from different fields each did their part to make the Wicked films a gemstone in the crown of cinema. For the film adaptations, John Powell wrote the score and Paul Tazewell dazzled us with incredible costume design. This lineup, including director Jon M. Chu, returns to reveal the rest of the story. This time, there are new original songs to discover.

 

On November 21, 2025 Wicked: For Good is in theaters, inviting us all to Oz for the last half of the epic tale.

Photo: Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures | Ariana Grande is Glinda and Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba in WICKED FOR GOOD, directed by Jon M. Chu.

If you, too, are obsessulated, you’ve probably been enjoying the endless list of product collaborations Wicked: For Good has brought to shelves. These are some of my favorites.

Wicked Gain | Pink Swiffer | Wicked Puzzle | Glinda Makeup Bag | Glinda Wetbrush

Photo: Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures | Cynthia Erivo is Elphaba, Ariana Grande is Glinda, and Jeff Goldblum is The Wizard of Oz in WICKED FOR GOOD, directed by Jon M. Chu.

Wicked: For Good Review (Spoiler Free, Of Course)

Everything isn’t bubbles and rainbows in this duo of films. Wicked is wonderful but also heavy as it confronts social constructs. Tensions build in Wicked: For Good. At the end of the first Wicked film, Elphaba takes flight on the idea that she’d rather be alone in doing what’s right than conform to gain fellowship. 

This second film has some of the most beloved songs in the Broadway musical including “As Long As You’re Mine,” “No Good Deed,” and, of course, “For Good.” 

After seeing Wicked: For Good, I couldn’t be happier. There’s no doubt this is a cinematic event. I don’t want to say once in a lifetime because I truly hope we have more art this beautiful and moving before too long. Wicked: For Good is so well done and expands upon nuances of the story in the time added. It more than doubles the length of the musical’s second act. Turning this into two feature length films was wicked smart.

The first Wicked film left me comparing it to the stage show, each having their own strengths. Wicked: For Good far exceeds the second act of the musical for me. As plot lines from the first half of the story reach new heights and defy gravity, the film takes its time and clearly defines the characters, relationships and their stories.

Longings I have for Idina Menzel’s Elphaba fade as Cynthia Eriva tells the green witch’s tale. At the conclusion, their performances feel incomparable and stand alone as two individual phenomenons. 

Ariana Grande’s performance is wildly impressive. From Galinda to Glinda, Grande beautifully demonstrates the character’s range that rivals a rainbow. 

There aren’t many movies that put audiences under a spell like Wicked: For Good does. The story is so captivating. The cast is so enchanting. It’s more than worthy of the communal experience of sitting in the theater. I found myself delighting in the reveal of each song, each line at times. I so enjoyed the thrill of getting to experience it all for the first time again.

I didn’t know a movie could be, or sound, this pretty. I also didn’t know I could cry this much at a movie. The song “For Good” and the idea of being changed by the people we meet still has me deeply reflecting. I wept in that theater. 

Even with so many tears, Wicked: For Good is the theatrical joy and glorious commitment to storytelling we need right now.

More Wicked: For Good Magic and FAQs

How long is Wicked: For Good ?

The runtime is 2 hours and 17 minutes.

When does Wicked: For Good come out?

The second Wicked movie is in theaters November 21, 2025.

Is Wicked in a theme park in Orlando?

The Wicked franchise does not have a land in any of the Orlando, Florida theme parks. Yet! There is a small presence at Universal Orlando Resort. It is actually a Universal film. 

You can visit Wicked: The Experience at Universal Studios Florida. This is not a ride but a shopping offering with merchandise, photo ops and costumes from the film on display. It is made over for Wicked: For Good.