Is Wicked: For Good, the sequel starring Ariana Grande, worth (re)watching?

By Jordan Bako.

Published on 21 October 2025. Updated on 3 July 2026.

It was the dream of a lifetime for singer Ariana Grande. Before becoming the pop star we know today, the Californian had made her debut on Broadway at the age of 15. Back then, she already had one role in mind — the fairy Galinda, the emblematic character from the musical Wicked. A dream that has now come true.

Wicked, a cult musical adapted on the silver screen

More than 80 years after Judy Garland, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo bring the enchanted landscapes of The Wizard of Oz back to life in Wicked. Gregory Maguire’s novel was first adapted into a stage musical by Stephen Schwartz in 2003, before hitting the big screen in 2024.

A kind of prequel to The Wizard of Oz, it doesn’t follow the tale of the ruler of Oz, but that of two compelling characters. Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba Thropp, a young and gifted sorceress ostracized for her green skin and her magical powers. While Ariana Grande embodies Glinda Upland, a witch adored by all, who comes from a wealthy family. When these two souls meet, they clash bitterly at first. But forced to share a room, they eventually become best friends.

An Oscar-nominated feature

Beneath its childlike appearance, Wicked draws the portrait of an authoritarian regime ruled by the iron fist of The Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum) and his confidante, Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). The musical was a commercial success, ranking fifth at the global box office in 2024. But above all, it was largely acclaimed by the critics.

Indeed, the fairy tale Wicked stood as the perfect counterpoint to the biopics, dramas, and action blockbusters leading the race to the 2025 Oscars. Up against Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, Ralph Fiennes in the papal epic Conclave, and the frenzied antics of the quartet in Jacques Audiard’s musical Emilia Pérez, Wicked did not go unnoticed. Thanks to the performances of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo – as well as the film’s impressive production – Wicked was nominated no fewer than 10 times at the Oscars.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo to star in Wicked: For Good

In 2025, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were back in Wicked: For Good, the sequel to Wicked. And Colman Domingo lent his voice to the fearful lion. While the stage musical was not divided into two acts, director Jon M. Chu felt compelled to split the story into two chapters in order to do it justice. On X, he explained that as he prepared Wicked last year, “it became increasingly clear that it would be impossible to wrestle the story of Wicked into a single film without doing some real damage to it.”

In this new chapter, we once again follow the adventures of Elphaba and Glinda, who have become enemies. The former is a victim to a political conspiracy, incurring the wrath of the citizens of Oz. As for the latter, she becomes the regime’s puppet, forced to act against her friend. We can therefore expect a second instalment with darker themes than in the first opus.

Released in theatres on November 19th, 2025, the feature had a warm reception. However, it failed to receive awards and nominations at the 2026 Academy Awards like the first opus. Hopes had been high that Cynthia Erivo might finally achieve the coveted EGOT — the rare distinction awarded to performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony Award.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo fared better at the Golden Globes, where Wicked: For Good earned five nominations. Cynthia Erivo received nods including Best Original Song for co-writing and performing one of the film’s new tracks, while Ariana Grande was nominated for Best Actress.

Wicked: For Good (2025), directed by Jon M. Chu, available on Netflix on July 4th, 2026.