Is Wicked: For Good actually any good?

Siena Scungio ’27

The recent release of Wicked: For Good, the sequel to Wicked: Part I, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, has fans from around the world flocking to the movie theatres. The films highlight the story of Elphaba Thropp, the Wicked Witch of the West, played by Erivo, and Glinda Upland, known as Glinda the Good, played by Grande. The two film franchise is an adaptation of a 2003 Broadway play. 

Wicked: Part I earned $46.47 million on its first day of screening in the United States and Canada. Additionally, the motion picture became the nineteenth highest-grossing film worldwide. While the first film set the sequel up for success, it also left fans with high expectations, expectations that, in my opinion, became almost impossible for the sequel to reach. Unsurprisingly, as of November 20th, Wicked: For Good has surpassed its predecessor and has grossed $270.4 million in the United States and Canada, becoming the second biggest opening of 2025, behind the Minecraft movie. Whether its success comes from genuine improvement or simply the momentum of the franchise is still up for debate, but its impact at the box office is undeniable.

Prior to its release, the film’s expectations were high as it won awards such as the “Most Anticipated Movie of 2025” and the “Next Big Thing.” Now the question everyone is asking is if the film has lived up to the expectation. Reviews of the film are mixed. Rotten Tomatoes has given the film a 68% on the tomatometer and 93% on the popcornmeter, highlighting how the general audience is receiving the film better than critics. PostTrak gave the movie a 92% overall positive rating and announced that they would recommend the movie to others. Although the film has earned Universal a substantial amount of money, its release has also earned a multitude of negative reviews. Justin Chang, a writer for The New Yorker, heavily criticized the film and noted how he believed it was clear that Universal was attempting to outdo the performances of the 1939 Wizard of Oz and the staged musical that earned the storyline its fame. 

The Harvard Crimson wrote an article titled “‘Wicked: For Good’ Review: Good Enough” with Anat Goldstein sharing his reviews on the film. He mentions that the movie was initially structured to be filmed all in one storyline, but director Jon M. Chu announced that the movie was to be split into two separate films making many fans skeptical. The decision was made to deepen the emotional points in the first film, building the relationship between the two main characters. The decision ultimately caused Wicked:For Good to fall short with Goldstein arguing, “In any two-part adaptation, one film will inevitably suffer due to the structure of the original narrative, whether from a weaker plot, diminished emotional stakes, or simply less compelling material to expand upon. And in this case, “Wicked: For Good” is certainly left holding the short end of the stick.” After watching the film, Scholium agrees with Goldstein, and I believe that it does not fully reach the same level as its predecessor, as it lacks some of the emotional pieces and captivating scenes that the first movie portrayed so successfully. Unlike the first film, I did not catch myself humming the melodies or singing the lyrics. 

Despite the arguably mediocre plot of the film, fans still continue to find excitement in making the trip to the theaters. Originating on TikTok, friends will go to the theatre to watch Wicked: For Good dressed up as Glinda and Elphaba. People walk in wearing pink dresses with fairy wands impersonating Glinda and others embody Elphaba, painting their bodies green and wearing black cloaks, keeping both the internet and theatre goers entertained. This trend keeps the movie alive and provides the views with an interactive experience. The national attention this trend has gained has caused people to wonder: will the movie chain ever really die? 

Even with mixed reviews, Wicked: For Good continues to find success with many children, teenagers, and adults running to get tickets. The Wicked movie chain will undoubtedly continue to grow as its plot and music find no limit to age, and is a movie for all to see.