Wicked: For Good (2025)

This film is actually as good as can be expected as an adoption of act 2 of Wicked the stage musical. All the flaws from the stage musical are still here, perhaps more salient because it doesn’t have the protective veil of a stage performance. Things that were already rushed in the stage version felt more jarring in a film, even after they stretched the runtime. 

However, it also knew to lean on its strengths which were Cynthia and Ariana (and Jonathan Bailey). It’s disappointing that the original numbers added were subpar, but they got really good mileage out of For Good and No Good Deed Goes Unpunished, thanks to the committed performances from the two leads both individually and together. Ultimately this is not a movie that will touch you emotionally the way the end of act 1 does, but it will keep you entertained as long as either lead is on screen. 

Michelle Yeoh is comically bad in this film even more so than the first. Should have given more of her time to Bowen. The ending poses an important question: would you still love Jonathan Bailey if his dick was burlap? Worthwhile to think about.