Wicked was an undeniable phenomenon in 2024. Even for audiences without a strong connection to the stage musical or the original novel, the first film proved surprisingly engaging and emotionally resonant. Wicked: For Good, however, sheds much of what made its predecessor successful, amplifying the earlier film’s minor flaws and introducing new ones with an even greater magnitude.
The most glaring issue of Wicked: For Good is the lack of structural planning around its runtime. With so many principal and supporting characters introduced in Part I, the sequel is tasked with resolving numerous narrative threads. Instead of weaving these arcs together, the film jumps abruptly from character to character, leaving many developments feeling unearned or incomplete – especially jarring with the character of Nessa. This is disappointing because the second half of the stage musical is the more character-driven portion, yet the film can’t seem to reach that potential depth.
The most significant casualty of this rushed approach are the musical numbers. Whereas the first film benefited from full-length performances that allowed crescendos to land, For Good truncates nearly every song. This is an absolute baffling decision given the strength and narrative importance of these moments; Elphaba’s “No Good Deed,” is reduced to crumbs and is the best example of this perplexing choice. And the worse part? It did not have to be this way. Wicked: For Good is twenty-three minutes shorter than the first film and audiences would’ve benefitted from having every single one of those minutes back.
Since the characters arcs are marred by screenplay whiplash, it creates little room for the actors to have nuanced performances. Ariana Grande steps into a more central role (despite reportedly campaigning in Supporting Actress for the Academy Award), and while her emotional shifts generally register, they often feel abrupt. Cynthia Erivo, an extraordinary vocal and dramatic talent, is given surprisingly limited space to showcase her abilities, resulting in a performance that feels underutilized. Michelle Yeoh also remains severely miscast. While her steely presence was a highlight in Crazy Rich Asians, the qualities that defined that performance do not translate here, and the role’s vocal demands exceed her range.
The CGI, already a point of contention in the first film, is even more pronounced in Wicked: For Good. Whether due to an increased number of talking animals or the introduction of new landscapes, the visual effects dominate the aesthetic. This is, again, frustrating because the production design and costuming teams clearly invested in beautiful practical craftsmanship – particularly true for one of the hallmark characters from The Wizard of Oz. Yet these strong tactile elements are frequently overwhelmed by digital environments, creating a constant tension between the practical and the artificial.
Despite its flawed pacing and structural missteps, Wicked: For Good still stands as an admirable cinematic endeavor. It solidifies Ariana Grande as a bona fide screen actor, capable of emotional range beyond her pop persona and it thrust Cynthia Erivo – already an Oscar nominee for 2019’s Harriet – deservingly into the center of the cultural conversation. Her talent was never a revelation, but the films reaffirm just how rare and commanding her presence truly is. Throughout both installments, Jon M. Chu’s reverence for the source material is unmistakable. His commitment to honoring the world of Oz – through musicality, production design, and emotional sincerity – is what supports its resonance with audience around the world.
More broadly, Wicked has helped re-energize the movie musical landscape at a time when the genre has struggled to find consistent success. The early 2000s were defined by star-studded musical spectacles like Chicago, Moulin Rouge!, and Mamma Mia!, but the past decade has produced less cohesive results (looking at you, Cats). The Wicked saga has uplifted the genre’s potential being executed with ambition, talent, and genuine affection for its origins.
Ultimately, Wicked: For Good is a disappointing follow-up to a strong first installment. Despite the runway to deliver a powerful and emotionally rich conclusion, the film double-downed on its worse tendencies and obliterated its best. The overall saga will undoubtedly be etched in film history, but as a standalone work, Wicked: For Good doesn’t soar like it should have.
