The movie people have been waiting for all year is finally here. Though many have already seen it, there is still plenty to discuss surrounding the highly anticipated film.
Wicked: For Good follows the events of the first Wicked movie after Elphaba leaves to rebel against the Wizard and his mistreatment of the animals of Oz. The story also centers on Glinda, who accepts the Wizard’s offer to work alongside him despite her conflicted feelings about Elphaba and their complicated friendship. The film primarily explores the two women as they grapple with friendship, goodness and wickedness.
The movie concludes with Elphaba and Glinda performing the iconic, emotional song “For Good.” Elphaba is presumed dead after her plan succeeds, and the audience later sees Glinda navigating the aftermath as she assumes leadership of Oz.
The film was highly anticipated by theater and movie fans alike and quickly made an impact at the box office, earning more than $400 million worldwide in its first few weeks. The release broke the record for the largest Broadway adaptation debut in history.
Many critics have wrote about the film, praising it.
“‘For Good’ ties together loose ends in a story with many moving parts and a complex provenance,” The New York Times wrote.
NPR echoed similar opinions, stating, “But within the landscape of movie musicals, especially more recent examples, both Wicked movies serve as a triumph and tribute to creative fortitude. Whatever your feelings about it, this is clearly a spectacle that’s been made with love, and that’s all for the better.”
While most viewers responded positively — with fan ratings averaging 93% approval and a 68% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes — not all audiences believe the movie lives up to expectations.
Some fans have voiced disappointment with the adaptation, arguing it lacks the magic of the first film. Critics have pointed out uneven pacing and underdeveloped character arcs, which they say contribute to an overly dark tonal shift.
Others have raised concerns beyond storytelling, questioning how the film’s over the top practical sets and large-scale real-world production may have affected the environment.
These critiques were captured in a remark from The New Yorker, which wrote, “The cynicism, although hardly misplaced, feels thoroughly unearned. The ‘Wicked’ movies never convince us — in the way that ‘The Wizard of Oz’ or Walter Murch’s darkly thrilling ‘Return to Oz’ (1985) convinced us — of the fantastical reality of Oz as an actual place.”
Despite mixed reviews, audiences continue to embrace the film as Wicked: For Good climbs at the box office. Regardless of criticism surrounding creative decisions, fans have celebrated the performances of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, praising their chemistry and performances as the beloved characters as they hope to see more from the talented women.
