Wicked For Good First Reviews Are In: Darker, Bolder, and Absolutely Heart-Wrenching (2025)

Wicked For Good First Reviews Are In: Darker, Bolder, and Absolutely Heart-Wrenching (2025)The wait is almost over. Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated conclusion to Jon M. Chu’s two-part adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical, lands in theaters on November 21, 2025. After the first film became the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation of all time and a global cultural phenomenon, the pressure was immense. Now that the review embargo has lifted, the verdict is clear: Part Two is bigger, darker, more political, and far more emotional than anyone expected.A Noticeably Darker and More Mature Tone Critics are calling Wicked: For Good isn’t the bright, emerald-tinted fairy tale of Part One. The sequel plunges headfirst into the rising fascism in Oz, the Wizard’s propaganda machine, animal persecution, and the devastating fracture between Elphaba and Glinda. Multiple reviewers have compared its tone to “Game of Thrones in the Emerald City” and “the Empire Strikes Back of movie musicals.” Variety summed it up perfectly: “If the first Wicked was the sunlit prologue, For Good is the storm.”Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Deliver Career-Defining Performances The two leads are earning universal raves and early Oscar buzz that feels all but locked.Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba is being hailed as one of the greatest musical performances ever captured on film. Her “No Good Deed” and the nearly 10-minute “For Good” duet are already being called instant classics. The Hollywood Reporter wrote, “Erivo doesn’t just sing these songs—she bleeds them.”Ariana Grande silences every doubter with a transformative arc as Glinda. Critics say she evolves from bubbly popular girl to a morally conflicted leader with heartbreaking subtlety. Her reprises of “Popular” and “Thank Goodness” reportedly leave audiences in tears.Both actresses are currently the #1 and #2 in Oscar betting odds for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for 2026.The Supporting Cast Shines Jeff Goldblum finally unleashes the Wizard’s true villainy, Michelle Yeoh is deliciously evil as Madame Morrible, and Jonathan Bailey’s Fiyero takes shocking turns that have fans buzzing. Newcomer Marissa Bode gets a dramatically expanded Nessarose storyline, while Peter Dinklage reportedly has a cameo that “breaks the internet.”Technical Mastery on Another Level Early reviews are raving about:The 12-minute single-take “Defying Gravity” reprise A 40-foot practical animatronic flying monkeys Paul Tazewell’s jaw-dropping costumes (especially Elphaba’s black Act II gown) John Powell’s sweeping score and two brand-new Stephen Schwartz songs Current Critical Consensus (as of November 19, 2025) Rotten Tomatoes: 94% Certified Fresh (124 reviews) Metacritic: 88/100 IMDb early screening score: 9.4/10 CinemaScore: A (exit polls)Final Verdict Wicked: For Good isn’t just a great musical sequel—it’s one of the best film sequels of the decade. Bring tissues. Multiple critics report entire theaters sobbing uncontrollably during the final 20 minutes. This is the must-see cinematic event of the 2025 holiday season.Mark your calendars for November 21, 2025. Defy gravity one last time.