Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M. Chu
Writer: Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox
Based on: Holzman’s and Stephen Schwartz‘s musical which is based on Gregory Maguire’s novel which is based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum respectively the movie The Wizard of Oz
Sequel to: Wicked: Part I
Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Colman Domingo, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Aaron Teoh Guan Ti, Keala Settle
Seen on: 30.11.2025

Plot:
Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) has fully embraced her public image as the Wicked Witch as she fights for the liberation of the Animals. Meanwhile Glinda (Ariana Grande) tries to surreptitiously support Elphaba from within the Emerald City. As the public face of the Wizard’s (Jeff Goldblum) empire and the pivotal figure in Madame Morrible’s (Michelle Yeoh) PR strategy, it is unclear, though, how much good she is actually doing. As things start to heat up, everybody has some tough decisions to make.

I enjoyed Wicked: For Good for the most part, though I still don’t know why this adaptation was blown up to be two parts (I mean, I know financially, but artistically, there is no reason for it). There were a couple of moments where things almost fall apart, but in the end, it worked more than it didn’t.

Dividing the musical into two parts leaves the second half in a weaker position. While it still has “For Good” and “As Long As Your Mine”, both the plot and the music are stronger in the first half. But I knew that going in, and it’s also not like the second half has nothing to offer, so I was looking forward to seeing it in any case.

It was definitely good that the two movies were made back to back by and with the same creative team. It really feels very seamless, though I really couldn’t imagine watching both movies in one sitting. Maybe I am getting old (although my last Lord of the Rings Extended Version marathon wasn’t all that long ago), but 6 hours ultimately is a little much and really not warranted.

Despite this, Chu keeps the film together. Well, mostly. There were a couple of moments were I was violently catapulted out of the story. One being “As Long As Your Mine” and the entire way they tried to be sexy but not too sexy with it, leading to some of the hottest lyrics softened by physical distance and the world’s most awkwardly timed snuggle blanket/cardigan (thanks to social media, I was forewarned about that, but I still almost died laughing). Another was creepily de-aged Jeff Goldblum, simply horrible. There were a couple more missteps I could name (and, not to bodyshame, but the dresses that Grande wears that make her look completely emaciated or emphasize how emaciated she is, making it actually worrying rather than joyful to watch), but there really isn’t that much fun in that.

There is definitely more fun in the film than missteps. I liked that they decided that they wouldn’t show Dorothy’s face (and thank goodness, they didn’t subject us to some CGI horror fest there). There are more than enough visuals to make the big screen worth it. The music is still great. Above all, though, they get that this is a story about Elphaba and Glinda, and that Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) is just a footnote in their relationship (maybe at one point we will actually get a queer reading of this). So, overall, I’d say this is a win.

Summarizing: entertaining, but should have been one film, not two.