On Nov. 21, 2024, Wicked: For Good was released to theaters, just one year later from the release of its prequel, Wicked: Part One. Popstar Ariana Grande returns to her role as Glinda, now as a rising political figure in Oz. In contrast, Cynthia Erivo returns as Elphaba, the once-foreseen “Wicked Witch” whose rumored survival remains uncertain.
Serving as a direct continuation of the 2024 Wicked: Part One, the film picks up in the uneasy aftermath of Elphaba’s dramatic escape and Glinda’s unexpected rise to power. With animals once again losing their voices and citizens questioning the Wizards’ long legacy of deception, both witches are forced to turn against one another.
While Wicked: Part One focused on the personal journey and overall “tragedy” of Elphaba, For Good expands on the emotional and political stakes of Oz. The film continues the world-building introduced in 2024- Shiz University, the Emerald City, and the lingering effects of Morribles’ manipulation- but pushes them into darker, more mature territory, making it a well-thought-out metaphor for a collapsing society, implying hints of political propaganda and corruption.
The supporting cast once again does much of the heavy lifting. Jonothan Bailey gives a ground-breaking performance once again as Fiyero, and Michelle Yeoh, stepping in as the chilling successor to Madame Morrible, delivers a demanding performance that elevated every scene she was in. Their presence gives the film much-needed dramticness, especially when the plot thickens.
Ariana Grande’s evolution from a pop star to an actress shows even more in her performance as Glinda the Good Witch. She brings emotional lightness to a dark moment in the movie and adds layers of newfound guilt and insecurity in the new setting, helping redefine the character of Glina. Her role shows the most character development seen in the film.
Cynthia Erivo, meanwhile, delivers a performance that also redefines her character on film. Her Elphaba is wounded and angry, and her acting skills really popped off on screen as her character continued to develop from the first film. Vocally, she was breathtaking- every significant number is a reminder of why she was cast as Elphaba. She communicates years of pain and resilience of her characters just through a simple song. Her emotional expression is what made the movie, the movie.
The film itself had a steady pace throughout; however, it seemed to have a rushed ending. The climax, where Nessa dies, and Dorothy makes it to Oz, was passed over quite quickly, and because the Wicked movies are a prequel and setup for the Wizard of Oz, there should have been more emphasis on the murder of Nessa. However, the movie makes up for it when Elphaba tragically “dies,” and viewers get to see the aftermath of her fake death and how Glinda was affected. That moment emphasized the movie’s real meaning: the power of Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship.
Character-wise, the film strays away from the normal depiction of the Wicked Witch of the West we see in the classical movies. In the Wizard of Oz, the Wicked Witch of the West is depicted as an evil character, but in the new Wicked movies in shows the backstory of Elphaba and how she actually wanted justice for the lies the the Wizard and the animals.
The film’s cultural impact shouldn’t be underestimated. Across social media, people rave about the political implications and the revival of the Broadway show that the Wicked movies offer. Wicked: For Good succeeds in reminding audiences of the show’s true meaning: the power of friendship despite conflict. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s friendship off-screen also supports that meaning.
