The world of Oz has never looked more enchanting — or more emotional. Wicked: For Good, the much-anticipated sequel to Jon M. Chu’s 2024 hit Wicked, has premiered to an outpouring of praise from critics and industry insiders. Early reactions suggest that this second chapter doesn’t merely follow in the footsteps of its predecessor — it soars beyond expectations, delivering a finale that is grand, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying.
The Magic of a Well-Built Sequel
Few sequels carry the weight of expectations quite like Wicked: For Good. Following the success of Wicked: Part One, which reimagined the Broadway classic for a new generation, this installment brings the story full circle. Returning director Jon M. Chu expands the narrative canvas, transforming the world of Oz into something even more immersive — a visual and emotional crescendo that ties the threads of friendship, identity, and destiny.
What’s striking about Wicked: For Good is its confidence. There’s a palpable sense of maturity in how the story unfolds — balancing the emotional intensity between Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) while exploring the price of power and the courage to stand apart. The sequel doesn’t lean on spectacle alone; it uses its grandeur to heighten emotional truth.
A Stronger, Deeper Emotional Core
The relationship between Elphaba and Glinda has always been the soul of Wicked, and this film takes that bond to its most poignant heights. Where the first part celebrated discovery and friendship, For Good examines consequence and sacrifice. Chu’s storytelling ensures that the fantasy never overshadows the feeling — instead, it deepens it.
The emotional tension between Erivo and Grande anchors the film. Their performances are raw, complex, and deeply felt — creating a resonance that extends far beyond the musical numbers. This sequel feels less like a continuation and more like an evolution — of character, craft, and conviction.
Wicked: For Good- Visual Splendor and Technical Brilliance
If Wicked: Part One was about building the world, For Good perfects it. The production design dazzles — lush, ornate, and full of symbolic detail. The costumes by Paul Tazewell blend fantasy with thematic subtlety, reflecting each character’s transformation. Alice Brooks’ cinematography gives Oz a striking new texture — vibrant yet melancholy, filled with golden light and shadowy undertones that mirror the film’s shifting emotional tides.
Jon M. Chu’s direction is once again meticulous and musical. He understands rhythm not only in dance and song but in emotion — how scenes rise, swell, and fall like orchestral movements. His command of scale never loses sight of intimacy. Even in its biggest set pieces, the film feels human and grounded.
What Critics Are Saying
Social media has lit up with strong reactions from those who’ve seen early screenings. Deadline’s Destiny Jackson called it “an epic and heartbreakingly tender conclusion to one of the most dynamic friendships in pop culture history.” Variety’s Jazz Tangcay praised Chu’s direction, writing, “Jon M. Chu is a genius in the way he brings this to a close. Cynthia Erivo is magnificent, but get ready for Ariana Grande — she takes this performance to the next level and is a tour de force.”
Vanity Fair’s Chris Murphy added that the film “expands and deepens the original source material in generally exciting and innovative ways,” while Vanity Fair’s Rebecca Ford described it as “gorgeous, full of heart, and sticks the landing.” Across the board, early reactions point to a film that delivers emotional closure and cinematic spectacle in equal measure.
Several critics have also applauded the musical’s emotional impact. As ScreenRant’s Joseph Deckelmeier wrote on social media, “You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll remember why musicals can be cinematic magic when done right.”
Get ready because #WickedForGood exceeds all expectations. Jon M. Chu is a genius in the way he brings this to a close. Elphaba and Glinda’s stories are expanded, and leave you with an emotional gut punch at the end. Cynthia Erivo is magnificent, but get ready for Ariana Grande… pic.twitter.com/rozw66JyEo
— Jazz Tangcay (@jazzt) October 28, 2025
Saw wicked for good last month and believe me when i say that it expands and deepens the original source material in generally exciting and innovative ways. Cynthia and Ari take their performances to the next level with jaw dropping performances. The film fully sticks the landing
— Chris Murphy (@christress) October 28, 2025
The Awards Conversation Begins
With such strong first impressions, Wicked: For Good is already emerging as a major player in this year’s awards race. Erivo, who previously earned two Oscar nominations for Harriet (Best Actress and Original Song), is being touted as an early frontrunner in the musical or comedy category. Grande, too, has earned widespread praise for her transformation into Glinda, with many predicting her first serious awards campaign.
If both are nominated again for reprising their roles, they would join an elite club of performers recognized twice for playing the same character — a rare feat in Oscar history. Beyond acting, the film is also expected to contend in technical categories, including cinematography, costume design, and production design, where its opulent craft and world-building could make a strong impression.
Balancing Spectacle with Soul
Despite the glowing praise, a few early voices have noted moments of uneven pacing and narrative excess — but even those criticisms acknowledge the film’s ambition. Wicked: For Good aims high, and in doing so, occasionally stretches its wings too far. Yet, in a cinematic landscape crowded with sequels that play it safe, Chu’s film is being applauded for taking emotional and creative risks.
What seems to resonate most is its heart. The film doesn’t just revisit familiar beats; it reshapes them. Its message of friendship, forgiveness, and freedom — framed through the lens of two women who dared to defy destiny — hits harder in this chapter. It’s rare for a blockbuster musical to feel both operatic and personal, yet Wicked: For Good manages that balance with surprising grace.
For fans of the Broadway classic and the first film, Wicked: For Good appears to be the conclusion they’ve been waiting for — lush, emotional, and soaring with sincerity. It’s a film that remembers what made Wicked timeless: the courage to be different, the strength to love deeply, and the price of doing what’s right in a world that misunderstands you.
Jon M. Chu has crafted not just a sequel, but a statement — a cinematic celebration of empathy, friendship, and the enduring power of story. If early reactions are any indication, Oz’s magic isn’t just alive — it’s thriving.
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