Wicked: For Good looks to buck 2025 box office trend after solid reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

• The first reviews for Wicked: For Good have arrived and they are positive.
• Much of the praise once again focuses on the actresses, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, and Jon M. Chu’s direction.
• However, there has been criticism over the lack of ‘cohesion’ between the first and the new film.

With the cinema calendar drawing to a close for another year, all eyes and hopes are on (and pinned) to one of the last big theatrical outings of 2025 - and early reviews seem positive.

Wicked: For Good is set to open in UK cinema this weekend, with lead actress Cynthia Erivo already being touted as a possible Oscar contender for her role as Elphaba, alongside Ariana Grande returning as Glinda, and according to Rotten Tomatoes, currently, the film is set to be a ‘must see’ to finish off the year in cinema.

As of writing, the film currently holds a 73% ‘Fresh’ rating on the review aggregation website, based on 102 views, while the Popcornmeter - the scale which fans give their verdict on films - is currently sitting on 97% from over 2,5000 verified ratings.

Of the critical reviews, many have stated that although it is ‘magical,’ it’s “not as magical as Part One,” according to Zach Pope; however, Carla Hay from Culture Mix states that the film “delivers a lavish spectacle that is more action-packed and more emotionally impactful than the first Wicked movie.”

The criticisms, however, come in the form of the film lacking ‘cohesion,’ with Paul Klein from FILMHOUNDS Magazine summing up as “something that was never going to be in (director) Chu's hands, and for what he has, he excels at.”

Carla Mayer of the San Francisco Chronicle was more damning in their review: “It holds too much space for trite dialogue, obvious special effects and pointless skirmishes between green-skinned animal-rights advocate Elphaba and the corrupt Oz administration — and too little for the story’s key relationships.”

However, the critiques where they seem to count in this day and age - the cinema-going public - have been more warm, with one audience member commenting on the website: “It absolutely shattered me in the best possible way.

“I’ve heard that song more times than I can count, but something about how it was framed in the second film felt deeper, heavier, and so much more raw. When Glinda and Elphaba hit those final lines together, it was impossible not to cry. “

Wicked: For Good opens in UK cinemas, including Vue and Odeon, on November 21 2025; tickets are available to book, and should be booked owing to the popularity of the film, from online box offices of your intended cinema chain of choice.