Adapted from the iconic Broadway musical for the big screen, Wicked: For Good is the incredible second half of a story celebrating the values of friendship and the importance of second chances.

Wicked, the critically acclaimed Broadway musical originally starring Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, has won three Tony Awards, six Drama Desk Awards, and a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. Its movie adaptation is equally impressive, garnering two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe. 

Intending to replicate the Broadway musical’s original plot on screen, Wicked and Wicked: For Good each follow the musical’s stories of Act One and Act Two, focusing on the friendship between Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s dichotomous characters.

Wicked, the first movie of the two to be released, earned international acclaim and approximately $758.7 million in the box office. The first film set the stage for the musical’s adventure, beginning the story of Elphaba and Glinda, two roommates and eventual but unlikely friends.

Both films aim to provide a new perspective on the story of the Wizard of Oz, crafting a new, original story surrounding the origins of the Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda, the Wizard, and Dorothy’s team of companions.

Wicked: For Good takes the journey a step further, navigating Elphaba’s trials as Oz’s proclaimed antagonist. Elphaba and Glinda, although friends who deeply care for one another, have opposing beliefs about the Wizard and grapple with finding a solution that they both agree on in order to save Oz from tyranny.

Jon M. Chu, the director of both films, utilizes color grading and lighting to immerse the audience in the world of Oz and to contrast the original Wizard of Oz film, which utilized bright, intense, and unsaturated coloring. The beautiful scenery and set design in the movie remains whimsical, but creates a more realistic and tangible visual that makes the films seem more palpable.

Such an intentional use of lighting creates an atmosphere that emphasizes that Glinda and Elphaba’s relationship is not dreamlike or unsubstantial, but rather something real, with high stakes and emotional significance. 

Throughout the film, Elphaba and Glinda learn that their friendship is not defined by their differing values but by their love and adoration for one another. 

The movie emphasizes the importance of learning from one another, and using that knowledge to better oneself and to make a difference. Although Elphaba and Glinda are contrasting forces, they both discover indispensable characteristics about themselves and their opinions about the incredulous and fantastical world around them.

Wicked also stresses the importance of second chances, with Glinda being given the choice to better herself near the end of the film. Following Elphaba’s example, Glinda is inspired to create a better future for the citizens of Oz.

Although Wicked focuses a new lens on the classic story of the Wizard of Oz, its true focus is on the power of friendship and its ability to alter perspective and to create real change. For those interested in watching the film, it is currently showing in local theaters, such as Cinemark North Hills and Cranberry Cinemas.