Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) is in hiding after defying The Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) and escaping Madam Morrible’s (Michelle Yeoh) attempt to capture her. Determined to bring the Wizard down and expose him as a fraud, as well as battling for the rights of the speaking animals banished from Oz, Elphaba is tempted back to the Emerald City by Glinda (Ariana Grande). When she realises that the Wizard is still up to no good, in partnership with Madam Morrible, Elphaba resumes her quest putting her life and the lives of those she loves in grave danger.
‘Wicked’ was a box office sensation when it was released in 2024. Fans of the long-running Broadway and West End musical flocked to see it in cinemas, and it took a staggering $758.8 million at the global box office. Those familiar with the musical found lots to enjoy, with director Jon M. Chu staying mostly faithful to the iconic songs but fleshing out the ‘Wicked’ world to offer a broader and more in-depth look. Critics sharpened their knives, ultimately missing the point of the film adaptation so it’s no surprise the reviews were mixed when ‘Wicked: For Good’, the conclusion of the story arrived in cinemas last November.
Now ‘Wicked: For Good’ is available to buy and rent digitally, ahead of the physical release later this year, and it’s fair to say if you’re not a ‘Wicked’ fan and/or you didn’t like the first film, you aren’t going to like this one. ‘Wicked: For Good’ picks up after Elphaba’s show-stopping rendition of ‘Defying Gravity’ and it’s a darker film than the previous one. Some say that the second half of the ‘Wicked’ musical isn’t as strong as the first, but I’d argue that isn’t true. ‘Wicked: For Good’ strips away the sheen and pleasantries that dominate the first half of the story as Elphaba and Glinda go on transformative journeys. For Elphaba, she realises that she can’t sell her soul to The Wizard and go along with his deception, while Glinda has to come to terms with not having magic but acting as a smokescreen for Madame Morrible.
There are complexities within both of the women’s stories. Elphaba has become estranged from her sister Nessa Rose (Marissa Bode), who is essentially holding Boq (Ethan Slater) against his will hoping that he will love her. Glinda is preparing to marry Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) unaware that his heart belongs not to her, but to Elphaba. Both of these storylines offer plenty of soul-searching but it’s Glinda that goes on the biggest journey, realising that she can’t always get everything she wants and there’s more to the world than her needs. It’s a harsh lesson to learn and it’s perfectly captured in ‘The Girl in the Bubble’, one of the two new songs featured in the film.
Some criticism levelled at the film attack its pacing, but I think the film builds nicely. It feels like the world we know from the first film, but the darker tone gives way to a more urgent story that is punctuated by drama, surprises and plenty of emotion. By the time Elphaba and Glinda come together to sing ‘For Good’, I was a puddle to be honest. Those hoping to get a good look at Dorothy Gale may come away disappointed though; Dorothy is in the film (along with her companions) but her role is very much fleeting.
The songs are brought to life fantastically in ‘Wicked: For Good’. ‘As Long as You’re Mine’, sung by Elphaba and Fiyero, is one of my favourites and the scene in the film is powerful and emotional. My standout though is ‘No Good Deed’, which Cynthia Erivo performs as Elphaba with incredible gusto, showing herself to be a true powerhouse performer and an incredible actress. ‘No Place Like Home’ is the other new song in the film, sung by Elphaba, and it fits in well with the rest of the songs that fans will already know. The gem in the soundtrack for most people will be ‘For Good’ and Erivo and Grande make it a very emotional affair. The scene in the movie is beautiful, heartbreaking and cathartic.
Erivo and Grande continue to impress with their acting abilities. Erivo evokes a quiet power that builds over the course of the film, perfectly demonstrating Elphaba’s growth from shy and quiet, to a woman who knows how to use the power she’s been gifted. Grande leans into the comedy side of Glinda where she can, but she’s required to showcase a wider range of emotion across the film, and she does so impressively. Jonathan Bailey gets more to do in this film too, and he really is establishing himself as one of the best actors to come out of the UK in years.
‘Wicked: For Good’ is everything that fans want it to be and more. The songs are spectacular, the performances are excellent, and the visuals are stunning. Yes, the film is on the long side but it didn’t lose my attention for a minute. Now that ‘Wicked: For Good’ is available to buy, I can’t wait to watch both films in one sitting, and really immerse myself in the whole experience. This is the kind of film that cinema was made for, and it’s a triumphant adaptation of the beloved musical that lives up to all expectations.
Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode Director: Jon M. Chu Screenplay: Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox Certificate: 12 Duration: 137 mins Released by: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment Release date: 2nd January 2026 Buy ‘Wicked: For Good’ now
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