by Charles Kirkland, Jr.
The story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, and the Wizard of Oz finally reaches its show-stopping conclusion in Wicked: For Good.
Elphaba, now feared across Oz as the Wicked Witch, is being hunted by Fiyero, newly appointed by the Wizard as captain of the Ozian Guard. Both Fiyero and Glinda know the truth: Elphaba is nothing like the villain the Wizard has made her out to be. Yet they have no idea how to find her, much less help her stand up to the regime manipulating all of Oz. Meanwhile, the Wizard and Madame Morrible have already set their newest scheme in motion, determined to stop the “Wicked Witch” and protect their own secret agenda.
Wicked: For Good is written by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, based on Holzman and Stephen Schwartz’s stage musical, which was itself adapted from Gregory Maguire’s novel reimagining the classic characters created by L. Frank Baum. The film stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Colman Domingo, and Bowen Yang, and is directed by Jon M. Chu.
As the second installment in the Wicked film franchise, For Good adheres closely to the second act of the stage production. While some scenes are expanded and a few minor plot elements reshaped, the heart of the story remains intact. Typically, fidelity to the source material would be an asset, especially for continuity, but here it creates a significant challenge.
Most fans agree that “Defying Gravity” is the musical’s defining showstopper, closing the first act with unmatched power. The second act is more subdued, leaning into narrative and character development rather than bombastic musical spectacle. The film mirrors this structure. Although Grande’s Glinda and Erivo’s Elphaba deliver “For Good” with emotional weight, the number lacks the cinematic impact of “Defying Gravity.” In truth, none of the songs in the sequel manage to reach the musical heights of those in the first film.
This creates a real problem for a movie musical, especially for viewers unfamiliar with the stage version. Even longtime fans may enter with renewed optimism, encouraged by the film’s significantly extended runtime. For Good is shorter than the first film but still nearly twice as long as the second act of the stage production. Surely, one might think, the expanded format allows room for new material or a musical moment capable of standing beside the original film’s highlights. Unfortunately, that hope goes unfulfilled.
The saving grace of the film lies in the strength of its leading performances. For the first time, Ariana Grande fully embodies her own interpretation of Glinda rather than echoing Kristin Chenoweth’s iconic portrayal. Cynthia Erivo, as expected, dazzles, offering a rich and grounded performance of Elphaba that may even surpass Idina Menzel’s beloved work.
Rated PG-13 for action, violence, suggestive content, and thematic material, Wicked: For Good is a solidly entertaining film. Yet it suffers from pacing issues and unavoidable musical shortcomings. The result is a movie that is somehow both perfectly fine and deeply unsatisfying. It is a shame the film did not garner awards attention last year, because it is unlikely to change its fortunes this time around.
Wicked: For Good is in theaters starting November 21, 2025.
Grade: C
