The first Wicked film was nothing short of a cultural juggernaut — earning around $756 million worldwide, including roughly $473 million in the US, and breaking records as the highest-grossing adaptation of a Broadway musical. It opened to a massive $112 million weekend in North America and went on to become one of the biggest films of 2024. Critics and audiences alike embraced it, with a 91% audience score and 84% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes, along with 10 Oscar nominations — winning for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
Rather than waiting to green-light a sequel after seeing how the first film performed, the creative team made a bold move and shot both parts back-to-back. The decision allowed them to release the first film in late 2024, followed by the sequel — Wicked: For Good — exactly one year later. In the meantime, the gap between releases only fuelled a huge fandom online, with endless fan theories, memes, and speculation about what the second half would bring.
The beloved cast returns for the sequel, led by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, alongside Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Bowen Yang, and Ethan Slater. Director Jon M. Chu remains at the helm, ensuring visual continuity and emotional depth, with the screenplay adapted by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox.
In the first film, audiences followed Elphaba, a misunderstood, green-skinned student at Shiz University, who forms a surprising friendship with the popular Glinda. Their relationship is tested as Elphaba’s strong moral convictions and growing magical powers place her at odds with the corrupt powers in Oz. What began as an inspiring friendship gradually becomes a painful divide between two women who choose very different paths — one celebrated, the other vilified. The story was lauded for its emotional power, political allegory, and message about prejudice and perception.
With Wicked: For Good, the saga continues into darker, more emotional territory. The sequel will explore the aftermath of Elphaba’s exile, the political unraveling of Oz, and Glinda’s growing guilt as she confronts the truth about her former friend. Fans can expect the iconic final duet, For Good, to serve as the film’s emotional centrepiece, with new scenes expanding Glinda’s backstory and giving deeper weight to Elphaba’s transformation. There are also whispers of a few surprise appearances, including nods to the wider Wizard of Oz universe.
Given the scale of the first film’s success and the unprecedented buzz surrounding the sequel, Wicked: For Good is shaping up to be a box office landslide — a rare cinematic event where the emotional payoff, the music, and the sheer spectacle all converge.
