Wicked: For Good Praised as ‘Epic and Heartbreakingly Tender’ in Glowing First Reactions: ‘Sheer Musical Greatness’

The first reactions to Wicked: For Good are in — and they’re thrilling!

Late on Monday, Oct. 27, the sequel’s social media embargo lifted, giving those lucky enough to have screened Wicked: For Good early the chance to react publicly to Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s upcoming movie-musical.

“All Good Deeds Go Rewarded in Wicked: For Good,” Deadline’s Destiny Jackson wrote on X following the film’s screening. “It’s an epic and heartbreakingly tender conclusion to one of the most dynamic friendships in pop culture history. There’s a lot for fans of the Broadway show to love with butterfly kiss sized surprises in store.”

Variety‘s Jazz Tangcay wrote in a similarly glowing review on X that the movie “exceeds all expectations” and praised director Jon M. Chu as “a genius in the way he brings this to a close.” 

“Elphaba and Glinda’s stories are expanded, and leave you with an emotional gut punch at the end. Cynthia Erivo is magnificent, but get ready for Ariana Grande as she takes this performance to the next level and is a tour de force,” Tangcay wrote. “And wow, the world building, the costumes, and Alice Brooks’ cinematography deserve your attention. Can not wait to see it again. I sobbed hard. Wicked: For Good is sheer musical greatness.”

As Buzzfeed U.K.’s Ada Enechi wrote, Wicked: For Good “delivers in every way possible.”

“The new original songs… life changing! They will melt your heart in ways you can’t even imagine,” Enechi added. “Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande have cemented their places in history, this is truly an unmissable sequel.”

Chris Murphy, a staff writer at Vanity Fair, wrote on X on Oct. 27 that he saw the new movie last month. “Believe me when i say that it expands and deepens the original source material in generally exciting and innovative ways,” Murphy wrote. “Cynthia and Ari take their performances to the next level with jaw dropping performances. The film fully sticks the landing.”

Metro UK‘s Tori Brazier described the sequel as “the tricky second act handled with aplomb” by director Chu. “Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo continue to own, extend and BE Glinda & Elphaba. With weaker songs, the music is still mined for everything; For Good & No Good Deed are stand-outs,” Brazier wrote. “But it’s the acting that truly continues to impress, with more fleshing out for Glinda esp, to the extent that we may see v rare two-time nominations for playing the same role. The pacing is tight, Oz has never looked better and the ties with Dorothy’s tale dovetail satisfyingly.”

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Wicked: For Good sees Grande, 32, and Erivo, 38, return as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively; the rest of the first movie’s cast reprises their roles in the sequel, including Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang and Ethan Slater.

“Elphaba, now demonized as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, hidden within the Ozian forest while continuing her fight for the freedom of Oz’s silenced Animals and desperately trying to expose the truth she knows about The Wizard,” reads an official synopsis for the sequel, in part. “Glinda, meanwhile, has become the glamorous symbol of Goodness for all of Oz, living at the palace in Emerald City and reveling in the perks of fame and popularity. Under the instruction of Madame Morrible, Glinda is deployed to serve as an effervescent comfort to Oz, reassuring the masses that all is well under the rule of The Wizard.”

Wicked: For Good is in theaters Nov. 21.