Wicked: For Good Review – Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Deliver a Spellbinding Finale

It was October 30, 2003, and a groundbreaking new musical opened on Broadway to critical acclaim, redefining traditional storytelling in that genre. On that night, stars of the stage, television, and film came to celebrate and witness, for the first time, the vibrant and visually stunning production that would come to be known as the prequel to the beloved story of the Wizard of Oz. 

In the nearly two-and-a-half decades since, the musical we have come to know as Wicked has captivated audiences worldwide, shattering initial expectations and leaving a lasting impact on theater. 

Fast-forward, and this epic story has now moved to solidify its place in artistic and cultural history, when it was brought to the big screen one year ago, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. 

In doing so, the franchise introduced a new generation of fans to the unexpected friendship of Glinda Upland and Elphaba Thropp, later to be known as the infamous Wicked Witch of the West. In the end, we have all been changed for the better.

With countless product placements and TikTok music montages, you would have to be living under a rock if you did not know that the follow-up film was back in theaters this November to finish what was started more than 20 years ago.

Glinda (Grande) and Elphaba (Erivo) return for the epic conclusion of the wildly popular box office smash hit. The highly anticipated wrap-up, entitled “Wicked: For Good,” opened in U.S. theaters on Friday, Nov. 21, just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

In what has become a worldwide phenomenon that is Wicked, this final chapter of one of the most treasured stories of all-time does not disappoint. And, if you let yourself get lost in the pageantry that comes with it, you will be changed for good.

Picking up where the first film left off, For Good, better known as Act 2 of Wicked, the story continues to unfold with the backdrop of the escalating tensions in the land of Oz. Elphaba is grappling with her new identity and her growing disillusionment with the Wizard, played by the enigmatic Jeff Goldblum, and his right-hand woman, Madame Morrible, played by Michelle Yeoh. Determined to expose the truth about the corrupt government and animal oppression, Elphaba leans in to her role as a rebel, solidifying herself as Public Enemy No. 1.

Meanwhile, Glinda, who has become the popular Good Witch, is embracing her newfound fame, but not without her own challenges as she navigates the complex friend dynamic with Elphaba. 

Despite their previous efforts to understand each other, their path to friendship diverges further, with pressures from society and personal ambitions leading both of them to make rather difficult choices. But, as we know, we would not be here if it did not “come with a sort of cost,” setting the stage for a final resolution of their intertwined fates. 

While we do not move through this film with the same giddiness as its predecessor —gone are the big dance numbers and witty repartee of boarding school kids — Wicked: For Good is still a refreshing change from the dark dramas and biopics that have dominated the silver screen in recent years. The film, for all its hype, does give as satisfying enough of a conclusion as you could get, that is, if you must say goodbye to what feels like an old friend.

Directed by Jon M. Chu, the sequel to a prequeI remains a fan favorite for all the music, the majesty, and the messaging that comes wrapped in a stylish production that instantly reminds you of the grand old days of Hollywood — where you could get lost in the movie magic of it all, and the hope and possibility of what the fantastical world can bring. 

Even with the lavish set designs and elaborate costuming from newly crowned Oscar-winner Paul Tazewell, the cinematic fanfare works in tandem with the underlying message to embrace that which is different.

However, unlike the 2024 opening, this final film does not tightly follow the yellow brick path of the stage production. Chu and company took greater artistic license this go-round, adding scenes and songs to draw out the second act of the original musical to fill 138 minutes. In turn, the familiar themes of friendship, betrayal, and the struggle for justice are heightened, culminating in the emotional confrontations and widening chasm between Elphaba and Glinda. 

With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, For Good introduces three new songs, to include “No Place Like Home,” in which Erivo’s powerhouse voice softens to serenade runaway animals beneath a canopy of willowy trees, as she implores them to stay and fight with her to save their way of life. With lyrics such as “more than a place, but an idea,” it seems there is a similar parallel to a modern-day sentiment underlying our own country’s state-of-affairs, as much as it a callback to the beloved story that follows this prequel.

Nevertheless, through lines and lyrics, it is the onscreen performances of Erivo and Grande that remain the standouts for the film, with their voices and character chemistry forged by a friendship that has been carried off-screen. Equal parts endearing and unconventional, and at times, even quirky, Erivo and Grande have taken the emotional connection of their cinematic alter-egos out into the real world and made it that much more appealing. 

Both actresses received Academy Award nomination nods this past year for their performances in the debut film. Despite neither walking away with their respective gold statuettes, the pair brought down the house with their reprisal of the first film’s iconic “Defying Gravity,” to open the 2025 ceremony. 

The performance, widely praised for its emotional power and striking presentation, reminded us of the magic of live performance and our shared humanity within the arts. It is one of those moments where you remember where you were and how your heard the power and resolve in Erivo’s voice for the first time, finding yourself among the cadre of fans in the greater world community who said to themselves they knew she was talented but not like that. But, what such a performance truly highlights is that what makes us different is not so far removed from all the big things that make us quite the same.

In this final iteration of the story of “two.best .friends.,” we get to experience that moment all over again, when we hear the film’s namesake song in climatic fashion. With moving intensity and compelling emotion, the two leads’ command our attention and take us home for the last time, underscored with their brilliant harmonies and quiet tears that visually reinforce the dynamic between the two characters. Without a doubt, you will be changed…

Out now in wide release, Wicked: For Good, also stars Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, and Colman Domingo, with a cameo voiceover of the Cowardly Lion.

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