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Wicked: For Good is officially available to stream on Netflix. The Universal title dropped on Peacock on Mar. 20 after its Nov. 21 release date.
Thanks to Universal and Netflix's deal, the latter gets the second window to stream its titles, so, four months later, Wicked: For Good was among Netflix's July additions. As expected, it continued its success there too. In just one day, Wicked: For Good flew to the top of the charts, per FlixPatrol.
However, the title didn't hold onto the top position for too long, as it was replaced by Alan Ritchson and Halle Berry's drama Ordinary Angels and the steamy thriller Desire, as Wicked: For Good fell to third place.
Why Did Wicked: For Good Receive Mixed Reviews?
Wicked introduced audiences to the popular Galinda and wallflower Elphaba. The first film showed them going from enemies to friends, before Elphaba uncovered a major conspiracy happening in Oz. At the end of the film, she was accused of being a "Wicked Witch" to manipulate the Ozians into hating her, so she flew away.
Wicked: For Good continued with Madame Morrible's efforts to discredit Elphaba, and did so by promoting Glinda as the supreme good, unveiling her as the "Good Witch." However, Elphaba was still determined to help those who weren't heard, and even fight against the Wizard of Oz.
The 2024 film was a massive success, enchanting both critics and audiences. It scored an 88% Certified Fresh rating from critics and a near-perfect 95% Verified Hot score from audiences. Wicked also took home two Academy Awards, and had also scored nods for Cynthia Erivo for Best Actress in a Leading Role and Ariana Grande for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Wicked: For Good, however, was snubbed at the Oscars and didn't impress critics, who gave it a 66% score, barely enough for a "fresh" badge. Audiences continued to enjoy the film, which boasts a Verified Hot 92% approval score.
Wicked and Wicked: For Good tell the same story. Based on the 2003 Broadway show of the same name, the second film adapts the Second Act, which is famously shorter than the first. Outside of "No Good Deed" and its titular "For Good," the Second Act isn't as studded with catchy tunes, and the story is tightly connected to the first part.
Coming off the success of the first film, critics felt the pacing of the second part was uneven and that it felt "repetitive."
Will Wicked Continue?
While the franchise didn't score the same success with critics overall, it was a major commercial success. So, naturally, there was a conversation about more installments. Glinda and Elphaba's story is officially over, but Universal wants more.
Earlier this year, NBCUniversal Entertainment chair Donna Langley addressed Wicked's future, noting it was "very early days" to discuss its future.
The exec continued on a more hopeful note, "We are hopeful that after the amazing success that we’ve seen with the two movies there are other ways that we could branch out with the world-building."
She added, "And of course, we do that with our rights holders and in conjunction with them, so when they’re ready," which would include making sure they feature characters and stories they have the rights to.
Wicked: For Good is now streaming on Netflix.
