Thanks to a special Amazon Prime preview, I was able to see “Wicked: For Good” as an early pre-release. When the first film was released, I wrote about how “Wicked” has lived in people’s imaginations for years, in the book, on Broadway, and in the hearts of fans who grew up singing its songs. Now, with “Wicked: For Good”, Jon M Chu brings the second act of this beloved story to the screen, leaning into its darker tone and emotional complexity with a sincerity that makes the film both devastating and uplifting. It is, without question, the ending this story deserved.
A darker Oz – and one that feels painfully real
Picking up immediately where “Wicked” left off, Elphaba (Cyinthia Arivo) becomes a fugitive on the run, while Glinda (Ariana Grande) steps into her role as the polished symbol of hope for an Oz built on lies. The shift from the sparkling illusion of Act I to the political brutality of Act II is one of the things I’ve always loved about this story. Oz is no longer the dream we believed it was as Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) tightens her grip on Oz, and the truth reveals itself, cages, propaganda, segregation and the harsh targeting of Animals simply for existing. The film doesn’t shy away from showing that reality, and that weight grounds the story in ways that only cinema can.
Some fans have questioned whether Act II is strong enough to justify a second film, especially since its songs are less upbeat. But this is exactly why it needed one. The contrast between the dazzling fantasy of the first film and the darker truth beneath it, is what makes “Wicked” meaningful. Without this half, the story would feel incomplete, and combining both acts into one film would have made the emotional arc feel rushed and unfinished.
Performances that define the film
Cynthia and Ariana carry this movie with a staggering emotional depth. Cynthia’s “No Good Deed” is explosive, though part of me still wishes for an even more unrestrained emotional break in the middle of the number. Even so, it brought the entire theater to applause and tears. Ariana gives her most vulnerable performance yet, peeling back Glinda’s layers in “Girl in the Bubble” before delivering a devastating and breathtaking “For Good”. I cried. Everyone around me cried. It was that good.
Jonathan Bailey’s “As Long as You’re Mine” delivered exactly the emotional and vocal intensity I hoped for. Ethan Slater also surprised me, yes it was momentarily impossible not to picture SpongeBob, but he performs with such sincerity that the emotional weight comes through clearly. Jeff Goldblum is surprisingly funnier, sharper and more memorable as the Wizard this time around. And Nessarose, played by Marissa Bode, remains just as frustrating as in the musical, though Bode’s performance gives her motivation more clarity.
I also happened to watch this film in 4DX by accident, meaning my seat lifted, tilted, and threw me through half the Emerald City. During the flying sequences, it genuinely felt like soaring. Chaotic, yes, but also unforgettable.
A world built with detail, care, and visual magic
The sets in this film deserve their own recognition. The castle where Elphaba performs “No Good Deed” looks absolutely incredible, a perfect blend of cinematic scale and gothic fantasy. I’ve imagined that scene for years since reading Gregory Maguires novel and watching the musical, and the film more than does it justice.
Elphaba’s forest hideaway is also beautifully realized, and fans may be excited to know that it’s real. Built in Thousand Oaks, California, the cabin recently appeared as part of a limited Wicked Airbnb experience where Cyinthia greeted fans herself. Knowing that made its on screen appearance feel even more grounded.
The costumes, especially Glinda’s, are nothing short of stunning. Each dress sparkles with detail, movement, and personality. Even the characters that fans have been waiting for (the Lion, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow) look fantastic without feeling gimmicky.
While I still think the color palette should have been more vibrant, the production design overall is breathtaking.
A finale worthy of the journey
“Wicked: For Good” doesn’t try to distract with constant glitter or endless spectacle. Instead, it leans into emotion, friendship, consequence, and the price of standing up against a broken world. It finishes the story in a way that feels honest and deeply earned, proving why the take needed two films to begin with.
Whether you’ve loved “Wicked” for twenty years or are new to the world of Oz, this finale is everything it needs to be. I don’t know if “Wicked: For Good” changed me for the better, but I do know that it left me changed for good. And yes, I’ll absolutely be seeing it at least ten more times before the year is over.