Wicked For Good – Epic Conclusion Featurette – Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Cinematic Review
From the shimmering gondolas of Emerald City to the uprooted roots of the forest hide-out, Wicked: For Good propels us into a land where friendship becomes perilous, magic becomes resistance and the yellow-brick road leads to reckoning. Directed by Jon M. Chu with grand ambition, this second chapter of the stage-to-screen saga crosses the threshold from spectacle to soul-searching, asking: what happens after good and evil are named?
“With their singular friendship now the fulcrum of their futures, they will need to truly see each other, with honesty and empathy, if they are to change themselves, and all of Oz, for good.”
When the first instalment launched, the world rejoiced in the colour, the voices and the mythic spin on an old tale. Here, the tone shifts: no longer just a dazzling origin story of the green-skinned Elphaba and the effervescent Glinda, Wicked: For Good dives into exile, moral ambiguity and the cost of fame—while still delivering momentum, musical magic and major set-pieces.
Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba has embraced the label “Wicked Witch of the West,” working from a woodland sanctuary to expose the cruelty festering within Oz. Meanwhile, Ariana Grande’s Glinda sparkles from her palace perch, plaster-smiling for a regime she barely understands. The shift is clever: the world of Oz has moved from idealism to bureaucracy, from glitz to guilt. Moments when Elphaba frees caged winged monkeys, or when Glinda puts on a smile for the cameras while war rages under the surface, contain more resonance than any giant musical number.
Visually and aurally the film is rich. The 137-minute runtime (confirmed) allows for epic sequences: sweeping landscapes, a true Yellow Brick Road built of real mud (yes, really), and Oscar-worthy production design. The film’s premium format availability (IMAX, RealD 3D, 4DX, ScreenX, Dolby Cinema) underscores the studio’s intent for spectacle.
Still: the heart of the story lies in the tether between two women who once vowed “to see beyond” and now struggle to see each other. That emotional centre keeps the film from floating off into glitzy nothingness. Thematically, questions of identity, power and legacy resonate: what does it mean when you become the image of what you once fought against? The film doesn’t always deliver equal weight to every subplot (the sheer scale sometimes dilutes intimacy) but the payoff is worth the ride.
Performances
- Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba: commanding, raw, heart-on-her-sleeve.
- Ariana Grande as Glinda: charismatic, conflicted, far more than the bubble-gum goddess of the first film.
- Supporting cast (including Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard and Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero) hold their own in the large canvas.
Wicked For Good – Emotional Journey Featurette – Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Direction & Technical
Chu leans into ambition here. The staging, the camera moves, the wide-angle spectacle—all say “cinema event.” But it’s when the camera draws in for quiet conversations or two-handed glances that the film achieves its richest moments. Alice Brooks’s cinematography and Myron Kerstein’s editing (both credited) deserve praise for balancing scale and subtlety.
Score & Sound
The music, adapted from the original musical by Stephen Schwartz with new underscore by John Powell, swells and whispers in turn. The soundtrack is set for release alongside the film. Expect fans of the stage show to hear familiar rhythms, but with cinematic upgrades—bigger orchestra, broader scope.
Cinematography & Design
From Emerald City’s green-glass towers to the dark forest refuges and the Munchkinland under-belly, this Oz feels lived-in, not just sugar-coated. That realism grounds the fantasy, giving the big themes something solid to cling to.
Verdict Summary Box
| Category | Score (out of 10) |
| Performances | 8.5 |
| Direction | 8.0 |
| Score | 7.5 |
| Cinematography | 8.0 |
| Overall | 8.0 |
Final Thoughts
Arriving November 21, 2025, in the US (and similarly in the UK) via Universal Pictures, Wicked: For Good is more than the spectacle-ending of a fairy-tale—it is a cautionary fable for our times. It may not be flawless, but when it hits its notes—both musical and emotional—it soars. Fans of the original stage show and newcomers alike will find something to marvel at. Just be sure to stay for the final bows: this one leaves with sparks.
