“Wicked: For Good” is in the category of a film sequel that is equal to or better than the original film.

It’s not difficult to see why.

“Wicked: For Good” is essentially Act Two of the hit Broadway musical, “Wicked,” on which the movies are based.

Jon M. Chu is back to direct part two of “Wicked,” again starring Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba), Ariana Grande (Glinda), Jeff Goldblum (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible) and Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero).

The sequel to “Wicked” (2024) adapts the second act of the 2003 hit Broadway musical by Stephen Schwartz (music and lyrics) and Winnie Holzman (book).

The musical is based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel of the same title, which is based on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” and the classic 1939 film, “The Wizard of Oz.”

“Wicked: For Good” tells the imagined back story of why and how Elphaba became the Wicked Witch of the West and of her love-hate relationship with Glinda, the Good Witch of the North.

“Wicked: For Good” is darker in tone and more weighty in topic than “Wicked.” The contrast between the two movies is symbolized in the songs.

“Wicked,” the first film, includes the upbeat, irresistible pop of “Popular,” performed by Ariana Grande, and the transformational anthem of the independent spirit, “Defying Gravity,” performed by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

“Wicked: For Good,” the second film, includes the cautionary warning, “Everyday More Wicked,” performed by Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh and the cast, and the dour, dastardly and downright negative, “No Good Deed,” performed by Cynthia Erivo.

“Wicked: For Good” comes alive with the delicious old-style Broadway show tune send-up set piece, “Wonderful,” performed with bluster and bravado by Jeff Goldblum, accompanied by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. The song conveys the smug, haughty and seemingly all-powerful personality of the Wonderful Wizard Of Oz. Revealer of the Obvious hint: He’s not all that.

The Broadway songs seem to be more integrated into the plot line of “Wicked: For Good” than in “Wicked” and spring more organically from the story, contributing in the best sense of traditional musical theater to advance the story.

“Wicked: For Good” includes a reprise of “I’m Not That Girl,” sung by Ariana Grande, whereas the song was sung by Cynthia Erivo in “Wicked.”

“The Girl in the Bubble,” sung by Ariana Grande, brings sweet humanity to the character of Glinda and the flaws in her seemingly perfect personage and the world that she must pop out of. It’s a great new song.

“No Place Like Home,” another new song in the movie, sung by Cynthia Erivo, reveals the aching feeling of displacement of the character of Elphaba.

If “Wonderful” opens up the movie, “Wicked: For Good,” the song, “For Good,” performed by Cynthis Erivo and Ariana Grande, opens up the heart of he movie-goer. Their voices individually and in harmony are spectacular.

Not only will your eyes cry for these two noble characters, your heart will cry for them, too.

Jon M. Chu is a brilliant director. He’s able to balance the humor and the tragedy of life on planet Earth, as he did, directing “Crazy Rich Asians,” 2018, and “In The Heights,” 2021, and life in a fairy tale as he did with “Wicked” and does with “Wicked: For Good.”

Chu, working from a screenplay by Winnie Holtzman and Dana Fox (screenplay, “Cruella,” 2021) and with Cinematographer Alice Brooks (cinematographer, “Wicked,” “In the Heights”) and Production Designer Nathan Crowley (seven-time Oscar nominee, production design, including “The Dark Knight,” “Interstellar,” “Dunkirk”; Oscar recipient, production design, “Wicked”) has created a dazzling, incredible and palette-spanning, splashy colorful world of Oz with appropriate dark elements for the castle lair of Elphaba.

Cynthia Erivo (three-time Oscar nominee: actress, “Wicked” 2024; actress, “Harriet,” 2020; original song, “Harriet”) is compelling as Elphaba, bringing an intense pain, almost emoting completely with her eyes amidst her often passively-serious, mask-like countenance.

Ariana Grande (Oscar nominee: supporting actress, “Wicked”) is captivating as Glinda, with a magnificence that is not above being goofy (that “The Brady Bunch” Marcia hair toss) and scrunching up her lips in ways that heretofore would require CGI.

The cast includes Marissa Bode (Nessarose), Colman Domingo (voice of The Cowardly Lion), Peter Dinklage (voice of Dr. Dillamond) and Bowen Yang (Pfannee).

What’s perhaps most interesting about “Wicked; For Good,” its predecessor “Wicked” and the Broadway musical are the interpretations they provide for the beloved 1939 Judy Garland classic movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” and the original L. Frank Baum novel.

“Wicked: For Good” and “Wicked” is and will be the subject of many graduate theses, courses and seminars. As well they should be. There’s too much to examine in a mere movie review.

Suffice it to say:

The real wizard is you, your wonderful mind and your human emotions. You will be enthralled by the wonderful characters of “Wicked: For Good,” their wonderful journey of self-discovery and the wonderful actors and cinema artists who bring them and their world to life.

“Wicked: For Good,” MPA rated PG (Parental guidance suggested: Some material may not be suitable for children) for action, violence, some suggestive material and thematic material; Genre: Romance, Musical, Fantasy. Run time: 2 hours, 18 minutes. Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “Wicked: For Good” is dedicated to the original Broadway cast of “Wicked,” subsequent casts and national and international touring productions.

At The Movies: “Wicked: For Good” was seen in the Dolby Theatre at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, Nov. 28 - 30: “Zootopia 2,” the animated feature movie sequel, opened at No. 1 with $96.8 million, weekend, $156 million since Nov. 26, in 4,000 theaters for the five-day Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend.

“Wicked: For Good” dropped one place to No. 2 after its one-week No. 1 run, $62.8 million in 4,115 theaters, $270.4 million, two weeks.

“Zootopia 2 ” had the second-best Thanksgiving opening ever, after another Disney sequel, “Moana 2,” which grossed $225 million in the five-day weekend in 2024.

2. “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” dropped one place, $7 million in 3,092 theaters, $49.6 million, three weeks. 4. “Predator: Badlands” dropped one place, $4.8 million in 2,750 theaters, $85 million, four weeks. 5. “The Running Man” dropped one place, $3.7 million in 2,749 theaters, $34.2 million, three weeks. 6. “Eternity,” starring Miles Teller, Elizabeth Olsen and Callum Turner in the Fantasy Comedy, Drama, $3.1 million, weekend, $5.2 million, since Nov. 26, opening. 7. “Rental Family” $2.1 million in 1,925 theaters, $7.3 million, two weeks. 8. “Hamnet,” with Chloé Zhao directing Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal to Oscar buzz, $880,000, weekend, $1.3 million since Nov. 26, opening. 9. “Sisu: Road to Revenge” dropped three places, $810,000 in 2,222 theaters, $4.1 million, two weeks. 10. “Nuremberg” dropped two places, $749,325 in 540 theaters, $12.5 million, four weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Nov. 30 is subject to change.

At The Movies: Paul Willistein movie reviews: “Nuremberg,” “Bugonia,” “Frankenstein,” “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” “Tron: Ares,” “One Battle After Another”: https://www.lvpnews.com/

Unreel, Dec. 5:

“Hamnet,” MPA rated PG-13; 2 hours, 5 minutes: Chloé Zhao directs Jessie Buckley, Paul Mescal, Joe Alwyn, Emily Watson in the Biography Drama. A story of love and loss said to inspire William Shakespeare’s play, “Hamlet,” is told. The film expands its release.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” MPA rated PG-13; 1 hour, 44 minutes. Emma Tammi directs Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail and Piper Rubio, Matthew Lillard, Mckenna Grace and the voice of Megan Fox in the Horror Thriller. It’s one year later at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza shop. Unfortunately, it’s not one year wiser for the characters in it.

“Merrily We Roll Along,” MPA rated PG-13; 2 hours, 30 minutes. Maria Friedman directs Natalie Wachen, Lindsey Mendez, Krystal Joy Brown, Katie Rose Clarke, Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe in the filmed performance of the 2022 off-Broadway revival of the 1981 Musical Comedy by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth. The musical was inspired by the 1934 play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart.

Four Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes