“Phenomenal” ‘Wicked: For Good’s Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score Soars Above 2024’s 95%-Rated Hit

Wicked: For Good has already been released in some cinemas ahead of its official Friday release date. That has seen a huge wave of support for the film that not only defies gravity, but flies in the face of complaints from critics about Jon M. Chu’s conclusion of the story of Elphaba and Glinda being “messy” and lacking in big musical numbers compared to its predecessor.

With more than 2,500 reviews submitted by audiences, Wicked: For Good is currently surpassing Wicked with a 97% Popcornmeter score. This is two percent higher than the 95% received by last year’s November hit, and suggests that Chu and his talented cast have done everything needed to please the people who really matter: the audience.

One review calls the movie “phenomenal,” while another says that “this is what movies are supposed to feel like.” Several reviews start with a demand to The Academy to “give Ariana her Oscar,” and, of course, with the movie having new songs that were not in the musical, there is a good chance that the film would be heading for some kind of Oscar success in a few months. Whether being called “epic and heartbreaking” or “masterful,” it seems that with record-breaking box office results to follow, Wicked: For Good has already justified its two-part release strategy.

‘Wicked: For Good’ Is Shattering Records

Universal Pictures

Wicked was a huge box office success, and considering the film and its sequel were simultaneously filmed for a reported $300 million, that budget has already been recovered with the theatrical release of last year’s hit. Now, Wicked: For Good has a free run and is looking at making at least the same $758 million over the coming months.

Wicked: For Good is predicted to open worldwide to a $200 million box office. That would be around $40 million more than Wicked, setting yet another new record for the films. This is perhaps not surprising considering the movie’s presale has already become Fandango’s largest of the year. This could all change with Avatar: Fire and Ash, but for now Wicked: For Good is basking in glory and reaping the rewards.

Wicked: For Good’s glowing audience reviews continue to prove that the people who turn out to cinemas to support the release of new movies are the most important people to please. While the film’s critical score is still “fresh,” the drop between the two movies suggests that those who are not already invested in Wicked as a musical maybe won’t get as much from this continuation. For everyone else, it looks like Chu has hit the mark in a way that many would never have predicted when the movie was originally announced. It seems that everyone deserves the chance to fly after all.

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Release Date

November 21, 2025

Runtime

137 Minutes

Writers

Winnie Holzman, Dana Fox, Gregory Maguire

Producers

Marc Platt, David Stone