On Friday, November 21st, Wicked: For Good was released to theaters, continuing the story from Wicked: Part One, released November 22nd, 2024. The two movies, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, tell the backstory of the friendship between the witches of Oz, Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.
Red carpet premieres for the movie were held in early November in cities all over the world, such as São Paulo, Paris, London, Singapore, and New York City. New York’s premiere was the last stop of the cast’s press tour. The event was at Lincoln Center and was decorated with pink and green colors to theme the event to fit the film aesthetics, along with themed and interactive displays.
Prior to the release of the movie, it had already gained traction through collaborations with well-known brands, including Dunkin’, Target, Owala, LEGO, Crocs, and r.e.m beauty. These collaborations brought extra attention to the movie’s release, encouraging fans to purchase merchandise. “I saw the Takis collab and I tried it; it was really good,” says 8th grader Danilo Rincon also added that “the advertisements didn’t impact whether I was going to watch it or because I am a fan of Ariana Grande.”
Wicked: For Good resumes with Elphaba making efforts to stop the Wizard and save the animals while remaining in hiding, as everyone views her as the Wicked Witch. This movie gives a deeper insight into the background and truth behind common misconceptions surrounding the plot of The Wizard of Oz, showing how Elphaba was never wicked, but rather framed and misunderstood. “I watched The Wizard of Oz and it was good to see the connections between the original film and Wicked,” says 6th grader Olivia Gay after watching Wicked for the first time.
The two movies follow the same plot as the original musical. However, there were notable differences between the two, including two new original songs added for the movie, “No Place Like Home” and “The Girl in the Bubble.” Additionally, new parts to the Wizard’s solo, “Wonderful” now included parts for Elphaba and Glinda. One of the most notable changes was how the movie portrays the characters. “In the movie they really added more depth into Glinda’s character. You get to see more of Glinda’s thoughts and opinions on Oz and the Wizard’s actions. In the first movie she wanted fame and magic, but in the second you can tell she has changed and is passionate for telling the truth,” says 8th Grader Danilo Rincon. The musical focuses on Elphaba, but seeing a different point of view now changes people’s perspectives, which is a big part of the story’s message.
“The original musical was a masterpiece and so was the movie adaptation. The actors were phenomenal, and the sets and visuals were beautifully crafted.” says sophomore Sophia Botino. After watching the movie, audience members gave positive feedback, and reviews even went viral online. An audio clip from Michelle Yeoh, the actress who plays Madame Morrible, went viral, stating how the initials of her character can be flipped to become “WW,” standing for Wicked Witch. Along with this, the beginning portion of “No Good Deed” when Elphaba yells Fiyero’s name, has also become a commonly used audio on TikTok, further showing how aspects of the film have impacted social trends.
Wicked was first brought to Broadway in 2003 and is now the fourth longest-running show. The two movies bring the story to newer and more accessible media. Whether the story is being told by live actors or on the big screen, the story continues to impact millions with its deep message: the idea of good and evil is never as simple as it seems.
