The musical, fantasy film “Wicked: For Good” rated PG-13 is absolutely outstanding! I was truly captivated by its powerful messages of acceptance, the importance of following your heart, and showing empathy towards others. Another significant element of this film is that the screen time has been widened for all characters. The talented Jonathan Bailey, Fiyero steals both witches’ hearts, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande), shines in his role, as does Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz. There is more passion and emotional heartbreak as Elphaba transforms into darker and more wicked ways in order to help everyone recognize that Glinda is indeed good.
The film radiates an abundance of passion and delves into darker themes, surpassing its predecessor in both depth and intensity. One of the stand out features are the dazzling set designs as they are over-the-top breath-takingly gorgeous! The talented Academy Award nominee director Jon M. Chu of “Crazy Rich Asians,” and “In the Heights” the film showcases his vision for both sets and the heartfelt storylines. However, his pacing does appear off with his numerous cut-aways to Elphaba. In particular, the Wicked Witch’s scenes tend to drag on as she broods excessively. Nevertheless, this flaw is overshadowed by the strong bond between the two main characters. Parents should be aware that this film may not be suitable for children, as the flying monkeys are much scarier than in the 1939 film.
For those who have not read the book, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire or have seen the stage musical Wicked by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, here are some essential details as the movie is based on both. Maguire’s novel is a modernizing, adult-oriented perspective on the characters and universe from L. Frank Baum’s classic 1900 children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
It’s inspiring to see the chemistry between Arianna Grande as the Good Witch and Cynthia Erivo as the Wicked Witch, highlighting their talent and passion for their roles. Both are talented singers and actors; here, they appear to truly love what they are performing. Together, they devise a plan to free the animals from OZ that are being held in cages and silenced. Fiyero goes along with this plan, with some reservations. Unbeknownst to Glinda, Fiyero developed an attraction to Elphaba when he, Elphaba, and Glinda (then known as Galinda) were all students at Shiz University. In the first “Wicked” movie, the school’s corrupt dean of sorcery studies, Madame Morrible (played by Michelle Yeoh), served as a mentor to Elphaba and chose Elphaba over Galinda/Glinda; they were given special training in sorcery. Madame Morrible, who is an ally of the Wizard of Oz, had an agenda to use Elphaba’s magical powers to increase the oppression of animals and any supporters of their cause.
Elphaba boldly and emphatically resisted this agenda, so the Wizard and Madame Morrible lied about her, calling her evil and harmful. The Wizard and Madame Morrible also gave Elphaba the nickname “the Wicked Witch of the West” and declared her an “enemy” of Oz. This smear campaign made the citizens of Oz turn against Elphaba, and there is literally a witch hunt for her.
Most of the supporting characters with significant speaking roles from the first “Wicked” movie return, including Glinda’s sycophantic sidekicks, Pfannee (played by Bowen Yang) and Shenshen (Bronwyn James). These comic-relief characters have less screen time in “Wicked: For Good,” but their return keeps familiar faces in focus. New characters like the Cowardly Lion (voiced by Colman Domingo) and Dorothy (Bethany Weaver) appear, with Dorothy in a non-speaking role, adding fresh elements to the story.
The first “Wicked” movie earned 10 Oscar nominations and won two, including Outstanding Costume Design and Outstanding Production Design. “Wicked: For Good” is poised to earn nominations in similar categories, with visual effects and cinematography surpassing those of the original. Highlighting these achievements helps build excitement and anticipation for the film’s quality. Yes, I can highly recommend you see “Wicked: For Good” in a theater near you.
Sarah Knight Adamson© November 21, 2025