Universal Studios
As someone who never saw the original stage production of Wicked, I wasn’t won over by the first live-action movie when I watched it.
I didn’t understand the hype, and found Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s over-the-top friendship throughout the film’s press tour a little… cringe?
However, after watching Wicked: For Good, I can safely say it has changed my perspective on the fantastical franchise. For good.
Sequels are always a tough one to nail. Does anybody remember Speed 2? Often so much of the story is squeezed out into the first movie, and writers can end up grasping at uninspired storylines and stray away from the very elements that fans loved in the first place.
But Wicked was designed differently from the start. Even before cameras rolled, the film was already mapped out as a two-part adaptation – a built-in advantage thanks to the sheer size and length of the original stage musical. Songs like ‘Popular’ and ‘Defying Gravity’ are already sacred in theatre kids’ hearts.
With Part One laying the groundwork, this new film simply had one job: finish the story fans already adore. And they most definitely nailed this one.
What happened in the first film?
If – for some reason – you know nothing about the storyline, Wicked follows the story of how Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the Wicked Witch of the West, was unfairly villainised by citizens of the land of Oz. It serves as a prequel to the iconic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and the L. Frank Braum novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Part one of Wicked saw Elphaba and Glinda meet at university, move from sworn enemies to unlikely friends, and uncover the Wizard’s (Jeff Goldblum) corruption.
As Elphaba refuses to stay silent, she’s branded the “Wicked Witch,” while Glinda embraces her own rising popularity – setting the stage for their dramatic split.
What happens in Wicked: For Good?
Wicked: For Good picks up where the first film left off, following Elphaba and Glinda as their stories split in two. As Oz grows increasingly divided, Elphaba fights to expose the Wizard’s corruption while Glinda rises in political influence, torn between loyalty and power.
Their once-unshakeable friendship reaches its most heartbreaking crossroads as both women are forced to decide who they want to be – and what they’re willing to sacrifice for the greater good.
What is Wicked: For Good like?
I’m going to be brutally honest, after my mediocre reaction from the first film, I wasn’t overly excited when I first got in the theatre, but I’ll take any excuse to lay back and eat a bucket of popcorn in the dark.
While I don’t want to give too much away about the plot, what I can say is that I walked out of the theatre with mascara dripping down my face.
This film definitely strays a touch away from the goofiness of the first, and into much more deep, impactful storytelling that says a lot about the power of female friendship, as well as sticking true to your own morals.
It truly is a rollercoaster of a movie that will have you crying tears of laughter at its absurdity, before it hits you in the gut and you find yourself sobbing.
Not to mention, the vocals alone from Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are enough to have you in tears.
For fans that are familiar with the soundtrack, there are also two brand new songs that feature in this film: ‘No Place Like Home’ sung by Elphaba, and ‘The Girl in the Bubble’ sung by Glinda.
Jeff Goldblum is also clearly the perfect choice for playing the Wizard, bringing a quirkiness to the character that almost makes him lovable before you remember his much more sinister intentions.
There’s also a ton of easter eggs from the original 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, that any cinephile can appreciate as you see elements from the original film interwoven perfectly.
Overall, I would 100% see this film again. However, I do think to get the full effect, you HAVE to see it in cinemas.
The feeling of the theatre grumbling while Cynthia or Ariana belt out their vocals made it all the more special, and it’s safe to say: I’m obsessified!
(Watch Wicked: For Good in cinemas from Thu., Nov. 20, 2025.)
Watch the Wicked: For Good trailer
