‘Wicked: For Good’ Lands High CinemaScore Against Mixed Critics Reactions

Wicked: For Good has arrived in theaters, and the reaction to the film has already sparked a lot of conversation.

The movie is the second half of Jon M. Chu’s two-part adaptation of the famous stage musical. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return to play Elphaba and Glinda, and the story picks up as the two characters grow into the roles that audiences know from the world of Oz.

Universal first began working on a movie version of Wicked many years ago, and after delays and setbacks, filming for both parts took place between late 2022 and early 2024. The sequel then premiered in Brazil before opening in the United States on November 21. Since release, it has earned $36 million worldwide.

Even with the mixed critical reaction, audiences seem to be responding very differently. CinemaScore gave the film an A, and PostTrak surveys showed strong audience satisfaction.

Critics, however, have been far more divided. Rotten Tomatoes lists most reviews as positive, while Metacritic sits much lower, signaling mixed or average feelings from reviewers.

Some critics praised the final chapter of the story, but others had harsh comments. One reviewer said, “Splitting Wicked into two movies was a financially successful decision, just not the right creative one.” Another wrote, “Wicked: For Good is remarkably, uniquely awful. The pacing is atrocious, the visuals are wonky, and sidelining Erivo for Grande is like trading an ice-cold beer on a hot day for a glass of lukewarm milk. A glass of milk that is trying way, way too hard.”

There were also reviewers who called the movie “a sodden, soggy mess.” Others felt the film leaned too heavily into modern blockbuster style, with one saying, “For Good is the worst of both worlds, with the flaws inherent in its source amplified by the drabness and dourness of Chu’s capitulation to modern blockbuster stylings.”

The final #WickedForGood trailer is here ✨ Watch now. pic.twitter.com/P9UPa4B1Rx

— Wicked: For Good (@wickedmovie) September 24, 2025

Despite the criticism, the strong audience scores show that moviegoers are embracing the film much more warmly than reviewers. The contrast between audience and critic response is one of the biggest talking points around the movie’s release.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!