"Wicked: For Good" Concludes Cinematic Journey to Oz with Emotional Finale and Box Office Success

The highly anticipated conclusion to Universal Pictures’ two-part adaptation of the Broadway phenomenon has arrived with the release of Wicked: For Good. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film completes the cinematic retelling of the witches of Oz, officially opening in U.S. theaters on November 21, 2025, following a festive world premiere in São Paulo earlier in the month. Reuniting the powerhouse leading duo of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the sequel adapts the darker, more politically charged second act of the stage musical, expanding the narrative scope while maintaining the emotional core of its predecessors.

Picking up immediately where the 2024 predecessor left off, Wicked: For Good finds Elphaba Thropp fully branded as the "Wicked Witch of the West." Living in exile, she wages a solitary war against the Wizard’s regime, fighting for the rights of the suppressed Animals of Oz. In the Emerald City, Glinda Upland has ascended to the status of a national icon and public figurehead, engaged to Fiyero Tigelaar but privately struggling with the moral compromises required by her new position. The narrative weaves through the tragic transformations of key figures, including Elphaba's sister Nessarose, who becomes the tyrannical governor of Munchkinland, and the lovesick Boq, whose fate is irrevocably altered. As the propaganda machine orchestrated by Madame Morrible tightens its grip, the arrival of a Kansas farm girl named Dorothy Gale sets the final sequence of events in motion, forcing the two witches toward a heart-wrenching confrontation that will determine their legacies.

The film sees the return of the expansive ensemble cast that anchored the first installment. Cynthia Erivo reprises her role as Elphaba, bringing a steely intensity to the character’s isolation, while Ariana Grande returns as Glinda, navigating a more somber and nuanced arc as the "Good" witch. They are joined again by Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, and Michelle Yeoh as the formidable Madame Morrible. The supporting cast features Ethan Slater as Boq and Marissa Bode as Nessarose, with voice performances from Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond and Colman Domingo as the Cowardly Lion. The creative team includes screenwriters Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox, alongside legendary composer Stephen Schwartz, who penned two new original songs for the film: "No Place Like Home," an anthem for Elphaba, and "The Girl in the Bubble," a reflective ballad for Glinda.

If the first film belonged to Cynthia Erivo’s misunderstood, green-skinned Elphaba, For Good offers a satisfying symmetry by foregrounding her erstwhile nemesis turned friend, Glinda. Portrayed by Ariana Grande, the character evolves from a "conceited blonde bubblehead" into a figure of statesmanlike responsibility. Critics noted that while Glinda’s sorcery may be manufactured, Grande’s performance is genuine, revealing tender depths, anxiety, and a "plucky strength" that matches Elphaba’s backbone. The film charts her crushing romantic disappointment and her moral awakening, proving that casting Grande alongside Erivo was a masterstroke.

Erivo remains a powerhouse in the sequel, possessing "pipes that shake the heavens" and an unforced emotional intensity. Her portrayal of Elphaba highlights the paradox of the character: her inherent kindness and opposition to authoritarian rule become the very things that lead to her vilification.

A common criticism of the original Broadway production is that its second act feels rushed and plot-heavy compared to the first. Wicked: For Good addresses this by adding more than an hour of material to Winnie Holzman’s book. The result is a more robust tale that gives the lead pair more scenes together, fleshing out their "mutually nourishing sisterhood."

The sequel leans heavily into the story's political undercurrents. The demonization of "otherness" reaches its apotheosis as Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) turns all of Oz against Elphaba via a propaganda machine likened by critics to the work of Joseph Goebbels. Yeoh effortlessly sinks her teeth into the "manipulative shadow villainy," emerging as the true despot over the "empty-vessel" Wizard. Jeff Goldblum plays the Wizard as a wise old carnie and a charming charlatan, utilizing a huckster-in-chief persona to obscure the lines between fact and fiction.

The film depicts a dark reality for the Animals of Oz, who are scapegoated, stripped of respect, and rounded up by green-clad soldiers in scenes evoking historical atrocities. Elphaba’s storyline sees her swooping in to liberate these beasts of burden, including the Cowardly Lion (voiced by Colman Domingo).

New Music and Visuals Composer Stephen Schwartz penned two new songs for the film to support the expanded runtime. "No Place Like Home," sung by Erivo, is described as an inspirational, if somewhat generic, anthem about pushing toward an inclusive future. Glinda’s new number, "The Girl in the Bubble," provides intimate access to her personal crisis; while perhaps not "top-tier Schwartz," critics agree that Grande floods the song with enough feeling to humanize and enrich the character.

Ultimately, Wicked: For Good succeeds on the strength of its emotions. The film cleverly weaves in origin stories for the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, and features the peripheral but meddlesome presence of Dorothy Gale, whose antics elicit humorous reactions from Glinda.

When Erivo and Grande ease into the stirring title song, "For Good," the emotional payoff is undeniable, eliciting audible sobs from audiences. While the film does not entirely erase doubts about the two-part structure—and some supporting elements like Nessarose’s (Marissa Bode) arc still feel rushed—the investment in character and design compensates for the length. It is a production that earns its tears with sincerity rather than schmaltz, leaving fans with a sense of satisfaction that the filmmakers treated the beloved material with care.

As the industry looks toward the upcoming awards season, Wicked: For Good is positioned as a formidable contender in several categories. The film is expected to feature heavily in conversations regarding Best Costume Design and Best Production Design, reflecting the grand scale of Chu’s vision. Additionally, the new musical additions place the film in contention for Best Original Song, while the lead performances continue to generate buzz for acting nominations. Ultimately, the film stands as a commercially robust and visually spectacular finale to one of the most ambitious musical adaptations in recent Hollywood history.