As Wicked: For Good, the second chapter of the blockbuster two-part adaptation, hits theaters, critics are landing in that familiar zone of “mixed but leaning positive.” It’s not being hailed as the euphoric showstopper its 2024 predecessor became, but reviewers across the board note its emotional weight, heightened performances, and visual ambition.
Early numbers reflect the split. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film is hovering around a 71 percent critics’ score while audiences are far more enthusiastic, giving it a commanding 97 percent.
The Hollywood Reporter’s chief film critic David Rooney singled out Ariana Grande as the film’s breakout force, calling her performance “the standout of the movie.” Rooney wrote, “Grande has been acting since she was a kid, and her quiet moments of introspection, anxiety or sadness show tender depths, as does her loyalty to Elphaba.” He also praised the film for “leveling the playing field” by giving Glinda a more complex emotional landscape, something he attributes in part to Stephen Schwartz’s new song, The Girl in the Bubble.
“Glinda’s song provides intimate access in a moment of personal crisis, as she takes an honest look at her priorities and privilege while locating her moral compass,” Rooney added. “Grande floods it with so much feeling that it humanizes and enriches the character and, by extension, the whole movie.”
Rooney also described the film’s emotional impact at its climax. “When Erivo and Grande, toward the end of For Good, ease into that stirring title song and soar into gorgeous harmonies celebrating the reciprocal rewards of love and support, the young women in the row behind me at a recent press screening started sniffling and sobbing, their tears then flowing on and off through the entire final act.”
Several outlets have praised the sequel for embracing darker, more introspective terrain. Vulture called it “more somber, more focused, more human than the first film,” highlighting how the story delves deeper into the complicated bond between Elphaba and Glinda.
Performances from Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are earning some of the strongest notes (pun intended). Multiple critics cite Erivo’s emotional intensity and Grande’s nuanced portrayal of Glinda as among the movie’s best assets. People.com described the film as “epic and heartbreakingly tender,” singling out the pair’s chemistry and the way their arcs elevate the material.
BBC critic Caryn James echoed that sentiment, calling the sequel more compelling than its predecessor. “Let’s be clear: the Wicked films are the definition of preaching to the choir. They aren’t likely to win over anyone skeptical of candy-colored spectacle and overt sentimentality presented in Broadway show-stopping fashion. Wicked is what it is. But if you’re fine with that, this latest installment is more captivating than the last and enjoyable to watch throughout.”
Not all critics were convinced. The Associated Press delivered a contrasting take, noting that while fans may welcome “more Cynthia Erivo, more Ariana Grande and more soaring soliloquies,” the sequel doesn’t fully escape what they call the overwhelming tone of the first film. “For those of us who felt — what’s a non-wicked way to say this? — mildly waterboarded, in pink and green, by Wicked, For Good doesn’t offer much relief,” the review stated.
The AP critic added that the film “often feels more like a Production than a movie, with characters shuffled on and offstage with Oz-like orchestration,” and concluded, “I rarely found myself lifted into a movie world, but rather sat watching it — sometimes with admiration, rarely with delight — from the mezzanine.” Still, the review notes that whatever momentum For Good has is “owed significantly to its stars.”
USA Today also weighed in, calling the film “a spectacle built on pure emotion,” praising Cynthia Erivo’s “towering vocal command” and Grande’s “impressively nuanced, deeply felt performance,” while noting that the movie can feel “overstuffed but undeniably heartfelt.”
Visually, the world of Oz remains a triumph. Costumes, production design, and large-scale set pieces continue to dazzle. Even critics who didn’t connect with the story acknowledge that the spectacle alone is worth the price of admission.
That said, the film’s criticisms are consistent. Many feel For Good doesn’t quite reach the structural clarity or narrative snap of the first installment. The Washington Post described portions of the sequel as “a letdown,” noting that some plot points feel stretched thin or emotionally undercooked.
Others argue that the film’s deeper tether to The Wizard of Oz mythology creates more drag than momentum. TheWrap wrote that the Oz connection “takes up a lot of screen time” without fully serving the central Elphaba–Glinda relationship that audiences care most about.
New musical additions also generated mixed reactions. Intended to elevate the story and expand the emotional palette, the fresh songs haven’t been widely embraced as true standouts. As The Washington Post noted, none rise to the level of instant-classic showstoppers.
Even with the critiques, the industry sentiment suggests the film will be a major box-office performer. Forbes pointed out that while the critics’ score trails the first film’s much stronger 88 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, there’s little doubt that audience enthusiasm will carry For Good to a robust run.
Early projections suggest Wicked: For Good is headed toward a massive opening weekend in the $110 million to $125 million range — putting it neck-and-neck with Wicked (2024), which debuted to $112.4 million last Thanksgiving weekend.
In the end, the film appears to deliver what most fans wanted: meaningful emotional beats, commanding performances, and the return to a world audiences love. Viewers hoping for another lightning-in-a-bottle sensation may find the sequel less enchanting, but for those invested in the saga of Elphaba and Glinda, this chapter still flies where it needs to. If the numbers hold, Oz will be flying high once again.
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