The whimsical and joyful Land of Oz is back with the release of part two, Wicked: for Good, which was released on November 21, 2025. The movie continues the story from the first Wicked movie with its very visually appealing and emotionally strong performances.
The movie is based on the Broadway musical Wicked, which first opened in 2003 and quickly became one of the most successful Broadway musicals in modern theater. The book series, written by Gregory Maguire, explores the original story of the Wicked Witch of the West. The darker and complex perspective from the book series inspired the lighter and friendship-focused broadway musical, and later formed the basis of the new Wicked movies. The musical and movie are split into two acts that center on the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda and their strong dynamic as friends.
Wicked: For Good continues the story of the musical with Act 2, and picks up where the first movie left off, when the Land of Oz begins turning against Elphaba. Elphaba becomes a wanted figure in the Land of Oz, while Glinda faces public pressure to maintain her perfect image and make the “right” decisions for the Land of Oz, as well as keeping Elphaba at a distance. Despite their differences, Elphaba and Glinda continue to challenge and strengthen their dynamic as they attempt to navigate the difficulties with characters such as Fiyero, Nessarose, and, of course, the Wizard. Overall, the story explores themes of friendship being tested and under pressure, showing how coming from different worlds makes it difficult. It displays how misunderstandings can even challenge the strongest bonds like Elphaba and Glinda’s.
One of the strongest aspects of the movie was its visuals. The movie has such vibrant sets and costumes that allows people to really see through the Land of Oz and brings it to life. Characters like Nessarose or Madame Morrible are able to stand out visually with their costumes and presentation that truly reflect their personality and roles in the film. Whether it was darker sets or lighter ones, viewers can separate and differentiate the certain emotions that were felt in the different relationships. The visual choices all brought the film to be captivating and help the audience connect with it on a deeper level.
The actors’ singing and strong vocals is another highlight. Especially with the song “No Good Deed”, Cynthia Erivo has such strong vocals and was able to impact the audience with her voice that brought true emotion to what Elphaba felt after experiencing heartbreak, frustration, and loss. The strong duet “For Good” was also able to capture the depth of Elphaba and Glinda’s friendship with the tension and affection between each other.
Despite these strengths, I think there wasn’t a need for a second film, where it could’ve all been told in one movie. Some scenes felt a bit rushed and confusing as the pacing felt uneven, such as the relationship of Fiyero and Elphaba. At the same time, I understand the depth of the second movie and its focus on other dynamics and what occurs to certain characters. The first movie has the better soundtrack, I believe, as it includes a lot of well known songs like “Popular” and “Defying Gravity.”
Ultimately, I would recommend Wicked: For Good for its depth of the story and the impact behind all the characters and their stories. It accomplishes everything Act 2 needed but the emotional aspect of the first movie still stands stronger. Overall, the film gives a heartfelt and visually rich aspect that fans of the musical would love and appreciate.
