REVIEW: Wicked: Part 2 exceeds expectations and shows potential for major awards.

Wicked: Part 2 It is undeniably one of most anticipated movies by fans in 2025 – and the expectation is totally justified. It's hard to watch the first part of the story and not fall in love with it. Glinda (Ariana Grande) e Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo)The duo delivers an intense dynamic that transcends visual spectacle, focusing on the importance of friendship and the complex gray areas of relationships, all set in a world shaped by extremism. Check out our review of the second part of below. Wicked For the cinemas.

WARNING: This text contains SPOILERS for the film. It is recommended that you watch it before continuing to read.

History

In all, Wicked: Part 2 (Wicked: For Good (in the original), a feature film directed by John M. Chu, remains faithful to the second part of the play by Broadway And in a perceptive way, it replicates the main dialogues that touched the hearts of fans. 

In this second phase, as in the play, while Glinda (Ariana Grande) e Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey) They seize power in Oz and maintain a relationship that is not entirely reciprocal. Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) He continues in the shadows, trying to find a way to prove his innocence and save the Animals, helping them regain the dignity and equal space they once had in the city – a space taken away by the deceitful man. The Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum). 

To fuel the chaos and revolt of the population of Oz against Elphaba, now referred to as the Wicked Witch of the West, Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) It intensifies hate speech and contributes to the more political and somber atmosphere of this second part, whereas the first film served as something introductory to this universe.

In its turn, Nessarose (Marissa Tropp) She has her moment in the spotlight and maintains an antagonism driven by resentment against her own sister. Elphabawho was only seeking to establish peace and, perhaps, acceptance amidst a literal witch hunt. It is in this scene of the two meeting, in fact, that Nessarose tries to cast a spell so that Boq (Ethan Slater) Love doesn't go as planned, and he turns into... Tin Man – which later joins the Dorothy against a Wicked Witch of the West, who takes the blame for what happened.

Despite having sealed the peace with glinda, Elphaba She understands that society needs extremes and polarities to survive. Someone to venerate and someone to repudiate. This is one of the saddest parts of the story, because she understands that there is no place for her in Oz. So, upon deciding to be the witch everyone expects her to be, comes the decision to "let herself be defeated" by the buckets of water thrown at her, causing her to melt. But just like in the play, she manages to save herself and escape with... Fiyero, now transformed into a Scarecrow, in search of a new world.

Between hatching this plan and the escape, we are introduced to Dorothy and some references to... Wizard of Oz – like the scene in which the Magical ask for the broom of Elphaba as proof of his death for Dorothy, her witch hunt and the fight over the shoes of Nessarose, the only memory Elphaba could have of her sister after her death, which was mainly orchestrated by Mrs Morrible.

The fact that the film never shows the face of Dorothy Or delving a little deeper into his journey opens the door for a future remake of the classic and, who knows, a reunion with our Favorite Wicked Witch of the West – this time truly embracing his wicked side.

Although effective and with more positive than negative details, it's almost universally agreed that the second act of the play is usually seen as weaker than the first. And, no matter how hard the film tries and how many relevant new elements it introduces, it ultimately fails to escape this comparison. Wicked: Part 2 It is indeed a powerful film, but compared to the first, it doesn't have as much impact. After all, it's impossible to compete with the iconic scene of... Defying Gravity. 

Book, play, and film: what do they have in common and what is original in film?

The key moments are faithfully and masterfully represented in the film:

The thwarted marriage of Fiyero e glinda, the search for Elphaba for justice and its confrontation with the Wizard of OzThe dynamic of the friendship between the protagonists, which in the plays has a more bittersweet tone, while on screen the focus is on sisterhood. The need for Elphaba trying to reconnect with her sister and the consequences that this brings to Boq (Ethan Slater)The transformation of Fiyero em Straw man so that he doesn't die. The ambiguous end of Elphaba and the dream come true of glinda upon taking on the role of Oz and committing to good, despite suffering the tragic death of her best friend.

The story of Nessarose

Instead of following the play's script and having the character walk again with the spell of ElphabaThe film's production team carefully listened to fans with disabilities and altered this scene, making the witch's conjuring actually possible. Nessarose to float with the magic shoes. This was an important adjustment, as it prevented ableism from becoming perpetuated. 

New songs

Two songs were created for Wicked: Part 2This reinforces the theory that they intend to invest in awards, including for Original Score. These are: 

No Place Like Home: a solo of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) about the search for a home while trying to convince the Animals to fight for their space in Oz and not run away.

The Girl in the Bubble: a solo of Glinda (Ariana Grande) about the need to see beyond their privileges through flashbacks to their childhood and the frustration of not having been able to administer magic as they always dreamed. 

Elphaba's Perspective

In this second part, we actually managed to enter the hideout of Elphaba and immerse yourself with her and with Fiyero in their hut, where they sing As Long as You're Mine and declare their love for each other. Naturally, the details of the place were explored much more than they are in the play and manage to faithfully reflect the aesthetics of Elphaba.

main highlights

Combining business with pleasure, Wicked: For Good It was brought into the world not only to conclude the story and honor the fans but, clearly, to enter the awards race. With brilliant and visibly committed performances, Ariana Grande must compete for Supporting actress e Cynthia Erivo , the Best actress. 

Besides the main characters, it's worth highlighting the detestable character. Mrs Morrible played by Michelle yeoh and the comical villain of Jeff Goldblum, who, in turn, despite having sufficient reasons to be equally detestable, ended up becoming an interesting and eccentric character.

Another highlight is the visual effects. The scenes with the animals are very well produced and capable of creating empathy from the audience for their situations, stories, and the injustices done to them. The expressions are very convincing and deserve praise in terms of technical aspects. 

Technical aspects

the second part of Wicked It maintains the high quality in photography and throughout the minimalist construction of Oz. Just as there is an expectation of Oscar nominations for the actresses, for example, the film demonstrates its intention and effort to be considered in technical categories such as Production Design, Cinematography, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Editing, Sound (Sound Editing and Sound Mixing), Visual Effects, and Original Score.

Conclusion

Wicked: Part 2 It not only honors the legacy of the acclaimed Broadway play but also brings a unique and captivating tone that only the lead duo could offer. The commitment of the actors is evident. Ariana Grande e Cynthia Erivo in their respective roles as glinda e Elphaba And how the two reinforce the power of friendship amidst a world full of injustice and power struggles. This is a film that honors fans and, at the same time, captivates new viewers. Despite the comparison between the first and second parts, the collective emotion in the cinema, complete with tears and sniffles, couldn't be a better indicator of the success of this chapter that concludes a story of lessons learned. 

Where to watch

Wicked: Part 2 It will be shown in theaters starting November 20th.

Watch the trailer

See also:

Text revised by Alexandre Marques in 18 / 11 / 2025.

Sources: ELLE, IndieWire e Screen Rant