The Sequel Stumbles (But does not Falter)

Jon M. Chu's conclusion to his ambitious two-part adaptation of the Broadway phenomenon arrives with considerable fanfare but delivers decidedly mixed results. Released on November 21, 2025, "Wicked: For Good" runs 2 hours and 17 minutes and picks up immediately where its predecessor left off, following Elphaba's exile and Glinda's ascension to Ozian celebrity. While the film has proven commercially successful—opening to $150 million domestically and setting a record for Broadway adaptations—the critical consensus suggests a marked decline from the original's magic.

The Second Act Problem Persists

With a Metacritic score of 58 and a 71% on Rotten Tomatoes, "For Good" reveals what many theater aficionados already knew: the musical's second act has always been its weaker half. The film lacks the infectious energy and memorable showstoppers that made Part One such a phenomenon. Where the first film boasted "Defying Gravity" as its climactic centerpiece, this sequel struggles to match that emotional and musical peak. The songs, while competently performed, fail to achieve the same cultural penetration or repeat-listening appeal.

The film embraces a darker, more somber tone as it explores the consequences of Elphaba and Glinda's diverging paths. While this thematic maturation has merit, the execution feels uneven. The pacing struggles to hold attention like the first film, with some viewers noting the set pieces appear less detailed and the CGI more obvious. The shift from spectacle-driven musical numbers to more intimate, character-focused moments represents an artistic choice that won't resonate with all audiences expecting the visual bombast of the original.

Performances That Elevate the Material

The film's saving grace remains its central performances. Ariana Grande gains new stature as Glinda assumes greater responsibility and experiences romantic disappointment that deflates her vanity, with her quiet moments of introspection showing tender depths. Cynthia Erivo delivers what some consider an Oscar-worthy performance, particularly in the powerhouse number "No Good Deed." The chemistry between the two leads remains the emotional anchor, even as the script struggles to give them adequate time together.

Political Resonance and Contemporary Relevance

The film sharpens its political themes, with scenes depicting Munchkins blocked from moving freely and animals caged in basements that bear eerie resemblance to current immigration enforcement images. This heightened political messaging, while timely, occasionally overwhelms the fantasy storytelling. The film's critique of authoritarian manipulation and propaganda feels less subtle than necessary, prioritizing message over narrative cohesion.

The Split Decision

Perhaps the most significant criticism involves Chu's choice to split the adaptation at all. Running the two films together totals nearly five hours of content—a decision that allows for comprehensive adaptation but tests audience patience. Some critics argue that compressing the story into a single 3.5 or even 4-hour film would have created a more epic, cohesive experience rather than two discrete installments where one will always be stronger than the other. The year-long gap between releases dilutes the narrative momentum and makes "For Good" feel like an obligatory conclusion rather than an essential continuation. But, and this is a really big but, if Chu hadn't decided to cut the production into two seporate entities of itself we would have a completely different story on our hands and the magic of the musical may have been lost to the movie altogether.

Final Verdict

"Wicked: For Good" succeeds as a competent finale for devoted fans but fails to justify the two-film approach to skeptics. It's a film that completes the story adequately without achieving transcendence. The performances remain stellar, the production design impressive, and the emotional beats largely land—but the magic that made the first film feel revolutionary has dissipated. This is franchise filmmaking at its most calculated: commercially viable, artistically safe, and ultimately less than the sum of its considerable parts.