Wicked: For Food Review—New songs, drama, and magic make this sequel unmissable

The long-awaited sequel to 2024’s Wicked has finally arrived in theaters, giving fans the climactic finale to the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Wicked: For Good adapts the second act of the beloved Broadway musical, offering new songs, deeper character arcs, and expanded storylines that go beyond what audiences saw on stage.

Unlike the first film, which stayed largely faithful to its theatrical roots, Wicked: For Good takes creative liberties with act two. Three original songs—“Every Day More Wicked,” “No Place Like Home,” and “The Girl in the Bubble”—enrich the narrative, while additional scenes explore the relationships, struggles, and moral dilemmas of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande). Fans also reunite with other familiar faces from Oz, including Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey), Nessarose (Marissa Bode), Boq (Ethan Slater), Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), and the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum).

Revisiting Oz: The Nyx of Wicked

The film begins shortly after Elphaba’s defiant flight from the events of the first movie, where she attempted to rescue Oz’s talking animals and halt the construction of the Yellow Brick Road. In “Every Day More Wicked,” the ensemble reflects on the chaos left in Elphaba’s wake while establishing the stakes for the story ahead.

Glinda’s journey to becoming the Good Witch is also highlighted, including her first use of a traveling bubble and magic wand, paralleling flashbacks of Elphaba’s own childhood discovery of her powers. These moments deepen the audience’s understanding of the characters’ contrasting upbringings and the societal pressures that shaped them.

Love, Loyalty, and Legendary Showstoppers

A major focus of the sequel is the intertwined relationships between Elphaba, Glinda, and Fiyero. As Glinda prepares for her wedding to Fiyero, Elphaba warns the citizens of Oz about the Wizard’s tyranny, disrupting the celebration and setting the stage for conflict. The film expands on stage plot points such as Nessarose’s role as governor of Munchkinland, Boq’s conflicted loyalties, and the Cowardly Lion’s coming-of-age arc, giving these secondary characters richer narrative threads.

Audiences are treated to stunning visual adaptations of magical events, including Elphaba enchanting Nessarose’s silver shoes to allow her to float, Fiyero’s transformation into the Scarecrow, and Madame Morrible conjuring a cyclone to advance her nefarious plans. These sequences balance spectacle with character-driven storytelling, bringing new energy to iconic moments.

New Songs, New Magic, and Old Friends

Original songs like “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble” reveal the inner struggles of Elphaba and Glinda, emphasizing themes of friendship, duty, and moral choice. Nostalgic nods to the stage production, including cameos from Broadway’s original Elphaba and Glinda—Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth—add layers of fan-pleasing nostalgia. The film also explores the Grimmerie, a magical tome of lost spells, enriching the mythology of Oz for a cinematic audience.

A Powerful Finale

In the film’s conclusion, Elphaba and Fiyero fake her death, allowing them to escape together, while Glinda embraces her role as protector of Oz. The ending pays homage to the musical’s iconic imagery, with flashbacks that recreate the famous promotional poster, offering a satisfying blend of spectacle, emotion, and theatrical reverence.

Wicked: For Good is now showing in theaters worldwide, arriving in Australia on November 20, and in the UK and US on November 21, 2025.

FAQ

Q1: What is Wicked: For Good about?
A1: It’s the cinematic continuation of the Wicked story, focusing on Elphaba and Glinda as they navigate friendship, love, and moral dilemmas in Oz.

Q2: Are there new songs in the movie?
A2: Yes, three new songs debut: “Every Day More Wicked,” “No Place Like Home,” and “The Girl in the Bubble.”

Q3: Which actors reprise their roles from the stage or first film?
A3: Cynthia Erivo stars as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, with Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Marissa Bode as Nessarose, Ethan Slater as Boq, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard.

Q4: Does the movie differ from the Broadway musical?
A4: Yes, it expands character arcs, introduces new songs, and includes scenes and characters not in the stage version, such as an expanded Cowardly Lion storyline and glimpses of Dorothy.

Q5: When and where is the film released?
A5: Wicked: For Good premiered on November 20 in Australia and November 21, 2025, in the UK and US.