GREENSBORO, N.C. — Following the dramatic act one finale of the popular musical, Wicked: For Good follows an exiled Elphaba, now known as the Wicked Witch of the West, as she fights the Wizard’s lies. Meanwhile, Glinda enjoys the comforts and acclaim of the Emerald City as Oz’s Good Witch. When the land is threatened with chaos, Elphaba and Glinda must face their fractured past and decide whether they can unite once more to shape Oz’s fate for good.
As someone who loved the first film, a musical I genuinely felt was perfect, it pains me to say that Wicked: For Good is one of 2025’s biggest disappointments. The movie twists itself into the classic Wizard of Oz narrative so aggressively that it seems to forget who its own characters are. Their motivations dim and their emotional beats sputter as the film bends over backwards to align with the familiar lore. Dorothy and other movie Oz elements wander in and out almost comically — peekaboo cameos that distract more than they enrich. Compared to the first film’s unforgettable lineup, these songs drift by without impact, rarely lifting off the ground.
Still, there are glimmers of magic. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande give powerhouse performances, especially in “For Good”, pouring as much heart into the film as they can. Grande, in particular, benefits from deeper emotional material this time around, as shown in the new song “The Girl in the Bubble”. And Jeff Goldblum, even with a thinly written Wizard, is always undeniably fun. Costumes and production design remain strong, but the uninspired cinematography and messy editing drain scenes of energy…