Wicked: For Good arrives on Netflix on July 20, giving subscribers another opportunity to experience the emotional conclusion to the two-part Wicked film adaptation.
The movie reunites Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, two former friends whose choices have placed them on opposite sides of a growing conflict in Oz.
Netflix lists the film among its July 20 additions. Streaming availability can vary between countries, so viewers should confirm that it appears in their local Netflix catalogue.
Quick Streaming Details
Movie: Wicked: For Good
Netflix release date: July 20, 2026
Original theatrical release: November 21, 2025
Director: Jon M. Chu
Lead cast: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
Genre: Musical fantasy drama
Flicklevel status: Streaming guide and recommendation
What Is Wicked: For Good About?
Wicked: For Good continues directly from the ending of the first Wicked movie.
Elphaba has been publicly branded the Wicked Witch of the West. She now lives in exile while continuing her campaign to expose the Wizard and defend the Animals whose voices and freedoms have been taken away.
Glinda has followed a very different path.
She has become the public face of goodness in Oz, living in the Emerald City and helping Madame Morrible reassure the population that everything is under control.
Although Glinda enjoys popularity and influence, she remains troubled by her separation from Elphaba.
The conflict intensifies when Glinda prepares to marry Fiyero, Elphaba continues opposing the Wizard and a young girl from Kansas enters Oz. Elphaba and Glinda must eventually confront the consequences of their choices and decide whether their damaged friendship can still change their futures.
Do You Need to Watch the First Wicked Movie?
Yes.
Viewers should watch 2024’s Wicked before streaming Wicked: For Good.
This is not a separate adventure that briefly refers to the earlier movie. It is the second half of one continuing story.
The first film explains:
- How Elphaba and Glinda meet
- Why they initially dislike each other
- How their friendship develops
- Elphaba’s discovery about the Wizard
- The persecution of Oz’s Animals
- Fiyero’s relationship with both women
- Why Elphaba is declared an enemy
- How Glinda becomes separated from her
Watching Wicked: For Good without that background would weaken its emotional impact.
The friendship between Elphaba and Glinda is the centre of the story, and the second film depends on viewers understanding everything they have already experienced together.
Returning Cast
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
Cynthia Erivo returns as Elphaba, now living as a fugitive.
Elphaba has become more determined, but her public image is being controlled by people who want the citizens of Oz to fear her.
Her struggle is not only about defeating the Wizard. It is also about deciding how much she is willing to sacrifice for the truth.
Ariana Grande as Glinda
Ariana Grande returns as Glinda, who has become one of the most recognised people in Oz.
Glinda’s popularity gives her influence, wealth and access to political power. However, she must decide whether maintaining that position is more important than confronting what she knows is wrong.
Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero
Jonathan Bailey plays Fiyero.
He is expected to marry Glinda, but his feelings, loyalties and growing understanding of the political situation place him at the centre of the conflict.
Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard
Jeff Goldblum returns as the Wizard of Oz.
The Wizard presents himself as a reassuring leader, but Elphaba knows that his rule depends on manipulation, propaganda and fear.
Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible
Michelle Yeoh plays Madame Morrible, one of the most powerful figures supporting the Wizard.
She helps shape Glinda’s public image while using her position to influence how the people of Oz see Elphaba.
Ethan Slater as Boq
Ethan Slater returns as Boq.
His unresolved feelings and decisions have serious consequences as the story moves closer to the events audiences recognise from The Wizard of Oz.
Marissa Bode as Nessarose
Marissa Bode plays Nessarose, Elphaba’s younger sister.
Nessarose’s relationship with Elphaba becomes increasingly difficult as political and personal tensions grow.
Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James and Sharon D. Clarke also return in supporting roles. The official cast is led by Erivo, Grande, Bailey, Slater, Bode, Yeoh and Goldblum.
Songs Featured in Wicked: For Good
Music remains central to the movie.
The official soundtrack contains 11 songs:
- “Every Day More Wicked”
- “Thank Goodness / I Couldn’t Be Happier”
- “No Place Like Home”
- “The Wicked Witch of the East”
- “Wonderful”
- “I’m Not That Girl (Reprise)”
- “As Long As You’re Mine”
- “No Good Deed”
- “March of the Witch Hunters”
- “The Girl in the Bubble”
- “For Good”
The soundtrack includes songs from the second act of the original stage musical, alongside new material created for the film.
The Two New Original Songs
Two original songs were created for the movie.
No Place Like Home
“No Place Like Home” is performed by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.
The song gives Elphaba another opportunity to express her feelings about identity, belonging and the Oz she is fighting to protect.
The Girl in the Bubble
“The Girl in the Bubble” is performed by Ariana Grande as Glinda.
Its title reflects the protected environment surrounding Glinda. She has fame and public admiration, but those advantages can also prevent her from fully understanding what is happening outside the palace.
Both songs expand the film beyond a direct recreation of the stage production.
Why For Good Is the Most Important Song
“For Good” is the emotional centre of the conclusion.
The song is not simply about whether Elphaba and Glinda agree with each other.
It is about recognising that their friendship has permanently changed both of them.
They have hurt each other, misunderstood each other and chosen different paths. However, neither woman would be the same person without the other.
That is why the title Wicked: For Good has more than one meaning.
It can refer to a final or permanent change, but it can also refer to change made through friendship, honesty and love.
How It Connects to The Wizard of Oz
The second film moves closer to the familiar events of The Wizard of Oz.
The arrival of the girl from Kansas connects Elphaba and Glinda’s story with Dorothy’s journey.
However, Wicked tells the story from a different perspective.
Instead of accepting the traditional idea that one witch is completely wicked and another is completely good, the movie examines how those reputations were created.
It asks viewers to consider who controls a public story, how political enemies are created and whether history can simplify complicated people into heroes and villains.
Major Themes
Friendship
The relationship between Elphaba and Glinda remains the story’s strongest element.
They cannot return to the uncomplicated friendship they once had, but they must decide whether understanding and forgiveness are still possible.
Propaganda
The citizens of Oz are encouraged to fear Elphaba without understanding what she is fighting for.
Her reputation shows how easily a government can transform a difficult opponent into a public enemy.
Popularity and Responsibility
Glinda’s popularity gives her power.
The question is whether she will use that power to preserve her comfortable life or confront the system that created it.
Identity
Elphaba has spent much of her life being judged by her appearance.
The second film examines whether she can define herself without accepting the identity imposed on her by Oz.
Sacrifice
Both women must give up something important.
The story makes clear that meaningful change rarely happens without personal cost.
What Works Best About the Story?
The strongest part of Wicked: For Good is that its central conflict is emotional as well as political.
Elphaba and Glinda are not simple enemies.
They still care about each other, even when their choices place them on opposite sides.
That gives the movie more depth than a traditional battle between good and evil.
The songs also allow the characters to express ideas they might struggle to communicate through ordinary dialogue.
What May Not Work for Everyone?
The movie may not satisfy viewers who dislike musical storytelling.
Characters frequently communicate through songs, and the emotional importance of the soundtrack is essential to the experience.
The second half of Wicked is also darker and more serious than much of the first movie.
Viewers expecting another light school adventure may be surprised by the political conflict, damaged relationships and growing danger.
Some audiences may also find the story easier to appreciate when they already understand the wider Wizard of Oz mythology.
Who Should Watch?
Wicked: For Good should appeal to:
- Viewers who watched the first Wicked
- Cynthia Erivo fans
- Ariana Grande fans
- Musical-theatre audiences
- Fans of fantasy movies
- Viewers interested in emotional friendship stories
- Audiences who enjoy large-scale production design
- People familiar with The Wizard of Oz
Who Should Skip It?
The movie may not suit:
- People who have not watched the first film
- Viewers who strongly dislike musicals
- Audiences looking for a short, casual comedy
- People uninterested in fantasy or theatrical storytelling
- Anyone expecting a completely independent sequel
Is Wicked: For Good Worth Streaming?
Yes, especially for viewers who enjoyed the first movie.
This is the conclusion to Elphaba and Glinda’s shared story, not an unnecessary extension created after the original became successful.
It completes their emotional journey and reveals how the familiar legends of the Wicked Witch and Glinda the Good were shaped.
The Netflix release also gives audiences who missed the theatrical run a convenient opportunity to watch the conclusion.
Flicklevel Recommendation
Recommended after watching the first Wicked movie.
Viewers should approach Wicked: For Good as the second half of one complete adaptation.
Its greatest strength is not spectacle alone. It is the complicated friendship between two women who love each other but cannot ignore the consequences of their different choices.
Final Opinion
Wicked: For Good works best when it focuses on the idea that public labels rarely tell the complete truth.
Elphaba is called wicked because she refuses to cooperate with a dishonest system.
Glinda is called good because she has the appearance, popularity and public position that Oz finds comforting.
The movie’s real question is not which woman deserves which label.
It is whether they can see each other honestly before their choices separate them permanently.
For Netflix viewers, this is one of Monday’s strongest streaming additions and an essential conclusion for anyone emotionally invested in the first film.
Official source for factual information: Netflix Tudum’s July 2026 release schedule and Universal Pictures’ official Wicked: For Good page.