Wicked: For Good
⭐ 4.5 / 5 –A visually glittering, emotionally resonant finale to a two-part saga—with career-best performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.
If the first film soared, this one stays grounded long enough to break your heart.
After last year’s luminous and high-flying reimagining of Oz, Jon M. Chu returns with Wicked: For Good—a sequel that dares to go darker, deeper, and more emotionally charged than its predecessor. Where the first film sparkled with buoyant musicality, Part Two tightens its grip on character, consequence, and the cost of choices that define destiny.
🎭 Performances
If Wicked (Part One) was a showcase of world-building, this sequel is a showcase of performance powerhouses:
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Cynthia Erivo delivers an Elphaba who is no longer fighting gravity—she’s fighting the world, and the result is a raw, aching portrayal of loneliness and defiance.
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Ariana Grande, stepping fully into Glinda’s crystallizing arc, gives the most emotionally mature performance of her career. Grande’s interpretation feels restrained, almost haunted, yet blooming with warmth in key moments.
Their chemistry—now strained, fractured, and more complex—becomes the emotional core of the film. When the film reaches its final duet, it becomes clear: this story needed two films, not for scale but for soul.
🎬 Direction & Aesthetic
Chu’s signature visual maximalism returns: shimmering sets, meticulously crafted makeup, and costume design that feels pulled from a dream (or perhaps a spectacular fever). Critics were divided on the execution—some see passion radiating from every scene; others feel the narrative becomes rushed.
But what cannot be denied is that this is Chu’s most emotionally ambitious film to date.
🎶 Music
Without the juggernaut numbers of Part One (“Defying Gravity,” “Popular”), the sequel turns toward:
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Somber, character-driven songs
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Quiet emotional transitions
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A finale that carries a weight that fans of the stage show will instantly recognize
While not every new song lands with equal power, the emotional peak is breathtaking.
🎟️ Overall Impression
Wicked: For Good is a grand, glittering, and occasionally uneven spectacle—but one that honors the beating heart of the original. Its greatest strength isn’t its scale, but its sincerity. And yes—based on critical reactions—Ariana Grande’s awards buzz is real.
📊 Critical Reception Summary
| Source / Critic | Review Summary | Tone |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Neglia (Next Best Picture) | Praises passion-filled direction, dazzling design; calls Grande and Erivo’s performances their strongest yet. | ⭐ Positive |
| Courtney Howard | Commends the actors’ deep emotional vulnerability. | ⭐ Positive |
| Chris Murphy (Vanity Fair) | Says both leads “take it to the next level”; believes the film sticks its landing. | ⭐ Positive |
| Peter Gray (The Au Review) | Calls the film “thrillifying” and says two films were necessary; praises emotional depth. | ⭐ Positive |
| Eric Marchen | Says the film “melts” under Chu’s range; criticizes second half and acting choices. | ❗ Mixed/Negative |
| Paul Klein (Filmhounds) | Says it suffers from a second-half slump; emotional but frantic; calls it “simply good.” | ❗ Mixed |
| ChatGPT (Your Movie Critic) | Emotional, visually rich sequel with powerhouse lead performances; not flawless but deeply moving. | ⭐ Positive |
🌟 Lesser-Known / Interesting Facts About Wicked: For Good
🟩 1. Ariana Grande recorded several vocals live on set
Though the film uses studio-recorded vocals, Grande insisted certain emotional sequences needed raw, unfiltered singing. Some of these takes remain in the final cut.
🧹 2. The production built Oz’s Emerald Throne Room at full scale
Unlike Part One, which leaned more heavily on CGI, the sequel features several practical megasets—including a 72-foot shimmering emerald hall entirely hand-constructed.
🐐 3. Cynthia Erivo performed most scenes in Elphaba’s heavy prosthetics without a stunt double
The weight of the prosthetics added a physical strain that Erivo said helped her “feel Elphaba’s burden.”
💚 4. The team developed a new VFX technique called ‘Shadowweave’
This proprietary method was used to animate the spell effects during Elphaba’s transformation sequences—making magic appear like hand-painted shadows moving through air.
🎤 5. For Good was shot in one continuous emotional session
The final duet between Elphaba and Glinda—central to the entire franchise—was filmed in a single, uninterrupted day, with both actors requesting minimal crew and lights dimmed on set.
✨ 6. An alternate ending was shot
It reportedly explored a more bittersweet reunion theme, but test screenings overwhelmingly preferred the theatrical ending.
