'Wicked: For Good' Receives Positive Audience Score as Critics Praise New Songs and Performances
Elphaba and Glinda’s journeys take center stage once again as reviews arrive for Wicked: For Good, the second installment of the two-part film adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical. The sequel lands in theaters Friday, continuing the story of the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, and Glinda, portrayed by Ariana Grande. The first film, released in November 2024, captured the pair’s early years at Shiz University and closed on the dramatic split seen in the musical’s act one finale, “Defying Gravity.” The original film earned more than $758 million globally and won Academy Awards for best costume design and production design.
Critics react to Wicked: For Good as Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo earn major praise in a sequel described as emotional, intimate, and powerfully performed.
Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
The new film has launched with strong audience reactions, debuting with a 97 percent Rotten Tomatoes audience score and a 71 percent critics score. Some viewers have already described it as surpassing the first chapter. The cast’s performances are receiving particular attention, with Grande’s portrayal sparking significant industry discussion. The story continues with Glinda stepping into her role as “Glinda the Good” under the influence of the Wizard, played by Jeff Goldblum, as Elphaba becomes a fugitive navigating her identity as the “Wicked Witch of the West.”
At the New York City premiere, director Jon M. Chu explained the decision to introduce two new songs to the sequel. Chu told The Hollywood Reporter that the second film allowed for deeper character exploration, noting that the disrupted fairy-tale structure created space to examine the consequences and emotional weight of the characters’ choices. The creative team considered whether those moments were better expressed through dialogue or music, ultimately opting for songs that enhance character depth.
Critics have begun sharing detailed reactions to Wicked: For Good. The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney highlighted Grande’s performance as one of the film’s standout elements. Rooney pointed to her introspective moments and described how the sequel elevates Glinda’s narrative complexity through Stephen Schwartz’s new song “The Girl in the Bubble.” Rooney also described the emotional response generated by the film’s closing duet between Erivo and Grande, noting the impact it had on audience members during a press screening.
Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri observed that the sequel’s approach differs from the first film, with director Chu embracing a more intimate, classic style of musical storytelling. Ebiri wrote that the scaled-back spectacle allows the dramatic elements to take shape in a focused and human way, offering a contrast that sets Wicked: For Good apart from its predecessor and provides a full narrative conclusion.
BBC critic Caryn James described the film as especially engaging for audiences familiar with the musical’s tone and style. James wrote that the sequel delivers a more captivating experience for viewers who appreciate the franchise’s colorful and sentimental presentation.
The Associated Press delivered a contrasting viewpoint. The review noted that the film contains more of the elements fans expect, including expanded roles for Erivo and Grande, but argued that the production feels heavily orchestrated. The critic wrote that the film’s structure often resembles a staged experience rather than a fully immersive cinematic world, though the performances were acknowledged for their strength.
USA Today critic Brian Truitt shared a wide-ranging breakdown, pointing to the return of flying monkeys, the Wizard’s eccentric portrayal by Goldblum, a light romantic subplot, and other story components. Truitt wrote that despite a complex ending and a few character-driven critiques, the film provides a fitting close to the two-part adaptation.
