Editor’s Note: This article contains spoilers for “Wicked” and “Wicked: For Good”
“Wicked: For Good” is the second part of the film adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked.” It was released on Nov. 21 and has generated massive attention for its compelling characters, new original songs and stunning costume design.
A sensation on both the screen and the Broadway stage, “Wicked” has become one of the most influential musicals of the 21st century. The first film adaptation was released last year and won two Academy Awards — one for Best Costume Design and one for Best Production Design. In its opening weekend, it grossed $112.5 million and while in theaters, it grossed approximately $758 million worldwide.
“Wicked: For Good” has made close to $400 million worldwide so far. It has had the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway musical to date, breaking a record held previously by the first “Wicked” film.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, “Wicked: For Good,” picks up a year after the end of “Wicked.” The last we saw of Oz was when Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) realized that everything she believed about the world of Oz was a lie.
Now hiding away in a forest, Elphaba continues to try and bring light to the evil doings of the Wizard of Oz by reaching a compromise with him. But when he is caught in another lie, she leaves once more, only this time with Fiyero Tigelaar (Jonathan Bailey). In one last attempt to bring down Elphaba, Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), an accomplice of The Wizard, casts a malice-filled spell that brings in a new character all the way from Kansas.
Dorothy’s story stays true to the original inspiration to the story of Wicked written by Gregory Maguire, even though she remains a faceless character. While her entire story isn’t shown, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow also make brief appearances. Old characters were repurposed into new roles within Dorothy’s classic adventure, which kept the audience engaged and surprised.
As the stories of “The Wizard of Oz” and “Wicked: For Good” overlap, they both reach a climax in the emotional final scene. However, when Dorothy’s journey comes to a stark end, Elphaba, Glinda and Fiyero continue on. This solidifies how “Wicked: For Good” is able to stand apart as something more than just a remake.
But the film still respects its Broadway start, with the soundtrack repurposing songs from the original musical with new twists. Two new songs were also added: “No Place Like Home” performed by Erivo and “The Girl in the Bubble” performed by Ariana Grande.
These original songs also gave an opportunity to further develop the lead characters. Since its debut, fans and critics alike have debated if the second half of “Wicked” on Broadway is weaker than the first. Even though the songs are well-known and essential because of their storytelling aspects, the composer and lyricist of “Wicked,” Stephen Schwartz, believed that Act II was in need of more depth and development that isn’t seen on Broadway.
Another integral part of the character development was Paul Tazewell’s costume design. He also designed the wardrobe for the first “Wicked” film. He is the first Black man to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design, having received the award in March 2025.
Designing costumes for Broadway and for a major motion picture are two different beasts. On Broadway, the wardrobe has to be flexible and simple for the actors due to the constant movement and quick changes. For the film adaptation, Tazewell had a lot more room to be creative with the design. Instead of strictly complying with the costumes from the Broadway production, Tazewell took many factors into consideration. What each character wore in the film reflected their identity and development as the story progressed.
When “Wicked” was released last year, the discussion surrounding it winning an Oscar started immediately. For its sequel, it doesn’t seem to be the same. The anticipation for the film’s release was clear — as seen from the extremely successful opening weekend — yet, the reviews are mixed.
Many say the film had bad pacing and lacked the same level of memorable musical numbers. Others have said that having two films was unnecessary and that “Wicked: For Good” dragged on far too long. However, defenders of the film brought up similar beliefs that Schwartz had — Act II seems less developed than Act I. It’s also possible that the hype from the first film created unrealistic expectations for the second film.
Even with the mixed reviews, there are many important themes embedded in both Act I and II of “Wicked.” The story comes down to how something as simple as labels can ruin a society and its relationships between people. It also shows how those labels can be the difference between freedom and oppression.
In the first film, the animals of Oz become a marginalized group and are pushed out, oppressed and ostracized. This was because of words from a man who had no real power but could still manipulate the masses. Ultimately, with the Wizard’s demise, it showed that the truth always prevails.
“Wicked: For Good” is more than just a musical with a magical adventure. It’s a story of truth, sacrifice and internal battles, providing a thought-provoking experience. It shows the viewer two perspectives of the same story and makes them reconsider what is truly “wicked” and “good.”
