Wicked: For Good

Jon M. Chu's two-part adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical reaches its emotional conclusion with Wicked: For Good. Picking up right after the events of the first film, Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) has been branded the Wicked Witch of the West, forced to flee the Emerald City with her flying monkey guards. Glinda Upland (Ariana Grande) stays behind, now serving as the Wizard's propaganda spokesperson and enjoying the spotlight, though she's secretly troubled by her conscience and the fracture with her former best friend.

The film expands the world of Oz far beyond Shiz University, showing rebel strongholds, a swamp hideout, and the Wicked Witch's castle. The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) tighten their grip, spreading fear and lies. Meanwhile, Nessarose (Marissa Bode), Elphaba's sister, becomes governor of Munchkinland and enacts cruel laws against Animals. The love triangle between Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) grows more complicated as the story merges with the 1939 The Wizard of Oz. With a $150 million budget and a worldwide gross over $539 million, the sequel was a commercial hit, though critics found it less cohesive than the first part.

John Powell and Stephen Schwartz's score gives the darker material a menacing edge, while Alice Brooks's cinematography paints Oz in vivid, often shadowy hues. The film runs 137 minutes and earned an A CinemaScore from audiences, despite a 70% Rotten Tomatoes critic score. [edit]

Elphaba Thropp has become the Wicked Witch of the West in the eyes of Oz. After her dramatic escape from the Emerald City, she hides in a forest stronghold with her flying monkeys, continuing her fight for Animal rights and against the Wizard's corrupt regime. Glinda Upland, meanwhile, basks in the public's adoration as the Wizard's spokesperson, but privately she wrestles with guilt over her complicity and the lost friendship.

The Wizard and Madame Morrible intensify their propaganda campaign, painting Elphaba as a menace. Glinda is engaged to Fiyero Tigelaar, now Captain of the Gale Force, who secretly tries to locate Elphaba. Glinda insists Elphaba doesn't want to be found. The awkward romantic tension between the three continues as the story begins to align with the events of the 1939 film.

Nessarose, Elphaba's paraplegic sister, becomes governor of Munchkinland after their father's death. Furious at Elphaba for the shame she brought on the family, Nessa signs discriminatory laws against Animals to avoid suspicion. When a Munchkin man breaks her heart, she enacts unfair laws to trap him in Munchkinland, revealing her own turn toward tyranny.

The film shows more of Oz's geography, from Elphaba's swamp hideout to her architecturally improbable castle. Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow appear as their journey converges with Elphaba's story, though some critics felt these scenes felt rushed. The musical numbers include expanded versions of Broadway favorites like "Thank Goodness," "No Good Deed," and "For Good," with the score amplifying the darker, more menacing tone of this second chapter.

As an angry mob rises against Elphaba, the two former friends must decide where their loyalties lie. The film explores how fear and power can turn people against each other, and whether true friendship can survive even the deepest betrayal.[edit]