Wicked: For Good – Film Review

Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: For Good, the grand continuation of 2024’s Wicked, is more than just a sequel—it’s a breathtaking crescendo of music, emotion, and storytelling that fully embraces the operatic scale of its source material. Where the first film felt competent but somewhat uneven, this second installment is astonishingly assured, sweeping, and deeply affecting. As someone who found the first Wicked film just okay and nothing special, I was not prepared for how thoroughly For Good would exceed expectations. Chu delivers a cinematic spectacle with heart, a narrative driven not only by political turmoil and moral complexity but by an intimate, powerful portrait of friendship tested by fate.

What immediately stands out about Wicked: For Good is how confidently Chu renders the darker, more politically fraught tone of the musical’s second act. The Land of Oz feels larger, more lived-in, and more dangerous than before, with sweeping landscapes and decadently designed interiors that reflect both the opulence of the Emerald City and the growing unrest beneath its surface. Cinematographer Alice Brooks returns with a richer palette, bathing Oz in bold contrasts—lush greens of power, smoky reds of dissent, and misty grays of moral ambiguity.

This time, the worldbuilding feels harmonious with the storytelling rather than ornamental. Every location, from Elphaba’s secluded forest refuge to the Emerald City’s crystalline halls, contributes to the emotional and political tension that defines the characters’ journeys. The movie understands the weight of this act of the musical, and it treats the stakes with appropriate gravity while never losing its sense of fantasy wonder.

What elevates the film from strong to extraordinary is the dual lead performances. Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba is transcendent, delivering a performance with thunderous emotional force. Her transformation into the so-called Wicked Witch is rendered with nuance, vulnerability, and righteous determination. She channels the pain, hope, and anger of a woman increasingly misunderstood by a world she longs to protect.

Ariana Grande, meanwhile, delivers an even deeper, more layered Glinda than in the previous film. Where her earlier portrayal leaned into bubbly charm and comedic flair, here she explores Glinda’s heartbreak, ambition, and dawning realization of complicity in a corrupt system. The film gives her ample opportunity to reveal the emotional intelligence she brings to the role, and her chemistry with Erivo becomes the beating heart of the narrative.

Together, the two actresses redefine what a musical duo can be on screen. Their shared scenes—especially those centered on conflict, remorse, and reconciliation—are some of the film’s most powerful. The musical numbers they perform either together or in emotional proximity stand among the best cinematic song sequences of recent memory, capturing both spectacle and sorrow.

Jonathan Bailey returns as Fiyero with greater resonance and emotional depth. His romantic arc, his internal conflicts, and his shifting loyalties are portrayed with impressive subtlety. Bailey brings warmth and charisma to a character caught between two worlds—and two women—while never losing sight of his personal evolution.

Michelle Yeoh’s Madame Morrible becomes even more menacing and calculating, her scenes underscoring the political brutality simmering beneath Oz’s glittering façade. Jeff Goldblum once again embodies the Wizard with an intoxicating blend of charm, insecurity, and insidious manipulation, grounding the film’s allegorical critique of power.

Marissa Bode’s return as Nessarose is especially moving. Though her screen time is limited, her presence provides crucial emotional stakes that ripple through the story. Her portrayal remains empathetic yet sharp, giving Nessa a notable poignancy that amplifies Elphaba’s motivations.

The musical sequences in Wicked: For Good feel larger, more ambitious, and more emotionally pointed than those of the first film. Jon M. Chu uses the camera like a dance partner, weaving through choreography, shifting perspectives, and capturing the grandeur of the songs without overwhelming their emotional core.

Cynthia Erivo’s major solos soar with raw power that reverberates through the theater; Grande’s numbers shimmer with crystalline vocals and aching sincerity. But the real magic lies in the ensemble pieces and duet-driven moments, which blend narrative propulsion and musical storytelling with elegance.

Unlike the first film, whose songs sometimes felt constrained by literalism, this sequel trusts the musical form more fully. Each number feels like an emotional eruption rather than a plot interruption, allowing the audience to feel the characters’ conflicts rather than simply observe them.

While keeping the review spoiler-free, it’s safe to say that Wicked: For Good leans heavily into themes of truth versus propaganda, the ethics of resistance, and the stories people tell about good and evil. The film explores how legends are shaped—not only by actions but by fear, politics, and the need for simple narratives in a complicated world.

It’s a film that honors the shades of gray in its characters’ choices, refusing to flatten heroes or villains. Glinda’s arc is treated with respect and melancholy, Elphaba’s with tragedy and triumph. Their evolving relationship becomes the emotional axis through which the film interrogates the entire mythology of Oz.

Chu’s direction is at its most assured here. He manages to balance large-scale action, musical choreography, and intimate drama without allowing one element to overwhelm the others. The pacing is tight, the transitions between narrative threads are fluid, and the emotional beats land with clarity and impact.

The final act, in particular, is handled with a level of tenderness and mythic weight that far surpasses the first film. Without revealing details, the final scenes bring a blend of catharsis and heartbreak that feels both faithful to the musical and cinematically bold.

Wicked: For Good is everything one might hope for in a second act—and more. It’s richer, deeper, and more emotionally potent than the first film, taking what came before and elevating it into something magical and resonant. It honors the legacy of the stage musical while embracing the unique power of cinema to expand scale, character, and theme.

For viewers who found Wicked (2024) just fine but unremarkable, this sequel is a revelation. It fulfills the promise of its story with grace, grandeur, and a maturity that leaves a lasting impression.