With the success of Wicked, the upcoming Wicked: For Good has one big challenge after the first film’s best scenes. Since its release on November 22, 2024, Wicked has continued to defy gravity, continuously breaking box office records along the way. Wicked also scored well with critics, most likely securing some nominations for the upcoming Academy Awards. Wicked is a hit on all accounts, which bodes well for Wicked: For Good.
Wicked Part 1’s two best scenes, “Popular” and “Defying Gravity,” were the most predictable moments in the film, and they predictably ended up being the best. The first half of Wicked needed to nail both of these scenes, and it did with flying colors, making the song sequences some of the best moments.
“Popular” is a classic Glinda song, and Ariana Grande does it justice, showing off her immense talents as both an actor and a singer. Her decision to seemingly selflessly reinvent Elphaba is truly one of the best scenes in the entire film. Of course, “Defying Gravity” is what can be considered the quintessential Wicked song, seeing Elphaba embrace who she is. Cynthia Erivo blew everyone away with her performance of the song, ending Wicked on the film’s highest note going into the sequel.
However, Wicked Part 2’s lack of a big song number is its biggest issue. There’s no “Popular” or “Defying Gravity” left, which could make the sequel feel less memorable and impactful. Given that Wicked is one of the most popular Broadway musicals of all time, one of its biggest draws is obviously the stellar musical numbers throughout. The biggest problem, though, is that most of the best songs in the show are in the first half, which is the same for the first film.
Wicked adapts the Broadway musical into a two-part film, following the unlikely friendship between Elphaba, born with green skin, and Glinda, a popular aristocrat, in the Land of Oz. As they navigate their contrasting paths, they evolve into Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.