Wicked: For Good 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		5.0

Wicked: For Good 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Justin Dekker January 21, 2026

Competing the story begun in 2024's 'Wicked' , 'Wicked: For Good' arrives on 4K UHD disc courtesy of Universal. Starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Ariana Grande as Glinda, and backed by Michelle Yeoh (Madame Morrible) and Jeff Goldblum (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), the brilliant cast returns to take viewers on the final portion of this toe-tappingly tragic, triumphant, humorous, and heartfelt journey. Based on the book by Gregory Maguire and the smash Broadway musical, the film grossed over half-a-billion dollars upon its original theatrical release. Boasting reference-quality technical specifications, the release also features a variety of on-disc supplemental material, such as a "Sing-Along" version, deleted and extended scenes, and a feature commentary to name a few. An embossed slipcover, a Blu-ray, and a Digital Code redeemable through Movies Anywhere are also included.

In the intervening time between the films, Elphaba, living in hiding, wages her one woman war to take down the duplicitous Wizard of Oz and the malevolent Madame Morrible. Glinda, meanwhile, has found supreme satisfaction and fulfillment as the darling of the public eye. As the situation grows more dire for the animals and Munchkins, Glinda and Fiyero plan to wed. When Elphaba and Glinda reconnect, a reconciliation seems possible between the four most powerful players in the "merry old land of Oz". But is the Wizard's plan all smoke and mirrors? And just who is the young lady with the little dog that emerged from the strange house that crushed someone near and dear to Elphaba?

A film of this cultural significance and budget just wouldn't quite be the same without some element of controversy, and for Wicked: For Good that controversy involves certain changes that were made which cause it to differ from the Broadway musical with which many are familiar. As a life-long Star Wars fan, I'm familiar with those emotions. But whereas the changes made to that original film from 1977 feel more indelible, no iteration of "Han shot first" Star Wars exists on Blu-ray or 4K UHD disc, those who long for the story as the musical tells it can still easily catch a performance of the touring production which will be winding its way through the US in 2026 and is likely to continue to do so for some time to come. Without entering into the debate headlong, I will say that the changes made by Director Jon M. Chu and his team do make for an entertaining film. While I wasn't familiar with the two new songs written by Stephen Schwartz, Glinda's layered "The Girl in the Bubble", and Elphaba's poignant "No Place Like Home", they fit perfectly into the narrative, afford the two women a further opportunity to showcase their vocal prowess, and in the instance of the latter, it cleverly and touchingly introduces the single most memorable line of dialogue from the 1939 film.

Shot relatively concurrently with the first film, principal photography lasted just over two years; December 2022 - January of 2024. While this may have resulted in some grueling days for cast and crew alike, the productions certainly benefitted immensely. Primarily, it assured the availability of the cast and limited any concerns of age-related changes to those involved had the gap between the two films been more substantive. But, of virtually equal importance, it resulted in a perfect consistency of sets and locations between the two films. Various elements of set dressing could be added or removed based on which film the scene in question was destined, and once erected, the massive practical sets, some reaching heights of 55', could remain in place, ready to be used until filming wrapped. In the modern era, there is an all too ready reliance on CGI sets in major motion pictures. While I believe they have their place, and there are certainly instances where practical sets would be impractical if not impossible to construct, I am as ever a fan of providing actors with an actual physical environment in which to ply their trade. The ability to inhabit a real and tangible space adds to the performances of all, and they have a decidedly different and noticeable look on film. And the sets seen in Wicked: For Good are impressive by any measure. From the nine million flowers planted to catch the iconic wide shots of Oz's landscape, to Elphaba's hideaway (which reminds me a great deal of Yoda's humble abode on Dagobah) which sprawled across two sound stages, to the Emerald City itself, who's colors, scale, and attention to detail are breathtaking.

With all of that built in continuity, if this film differs from the previous one in any significant way, for me it's the desiccation of the humor that flourished in first film. But it makes sense. In the first installment, the two young women were alive with hope. Arriving at Shiz, anything was possible. Aptitudes were yet to be discovered. Roles and identities were being tried on and discarded as need be, as the young people, our two leads included, journeyed into adulthood. That wondrously volatile time of intense emotion, the quest to impress, and the developing and growing sense of self goes hand-in-hand with comedy, as some use it to deflect, others to delight, and still others quite obliviously and unintentionally. But as the first film ends and the second begins, the emotional landscape has changed. The women are older now, and they've seen what lies beneath the polished and shiny veneer of the Emerald City. Whether they chose to reject it (Elphaba) or to accept it (Glinda) their choices have had consequences. For both, it results in the loss of a dear friend. And with the broader understanding of the how the world works, some of the "magic" is gone, and with it, too, some of the humor. In its place is a sadness, a world weariness, a desperation. Elphaba is feared and friendless, and thanks to a well-oiled and endlessly spinning propaganda machine, she's an enemy to all. Glinda, contrastingly, is positioned as the face of ultimate good. She's scarcely a person, and almost exclusively a living ideal. While she is surrounded by people and glamor, sycophants are as poor a substitute for friends as the fawning adoration of fans is for love. Both women are alone, longing for a change that will make a positive impact, not only for for their personal situations, but for the wider world as well. The chief difference between the two is that the outsider is more willing to take selfless and bold action to bring about her vision for a better tomorrow.

Wicked: For Good 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

I believe that it's fair to reiterate that I was dazzled by the first film's 2160p presentation. As a result, I had extremely high expectations for this disc. Needless to say, this new 4kUHD presentation with Dolby Vision does not disappoint. Primarily shot with an Arri Alexa 65 with a fine layer of grain added in post production, Wicked: For Good looks wonderfully filmic in motion. When Glinda sings "Thank Goodness / I Couldn't be Happier" after her early-film "press conference" with Madame Morrible, every sequin is visible on her iridescent, bubble-inspired dress, as is every gem in her elaborate crown. Make-up particulars are precisely defined and appreciable on her face and that of Yeoh's Morrible, and every strand of their perfectly coiffed hairstyles is as well. Skin tones are even more universally realistic and healthy here on all humanoid Ozians, and every strand of fur is distinguishable on their animal residents. Whites are brilliant, and blacks are deep and absorbing. Even in the darkest scenes, and there are a surprising number of moments in gloomy or dimly-lit environments, shadows are handled expertly, with various subtle gradations allowing viewers to peer into those scenes and see what occupies the darkened corners of the wonderfully detailed sets. That aside, dizzying color is, as with the first installment, critical to Wicked: For Good's visual identity and the format's expanded color palette makes the film visually arresting. Colors here are richly saturated, from the bubbly pastels favored by Glinda, to the green of Elphaba and much of the Emerald City, to the yellow of the Yellow Brick Road that we see under construction during this film. CGI blends seamlessly with the massive practical sets, making Oz and the fantastical creatures found in it looking as if they belong together. It's a brilliant transfer.

Please note that all screenshots are sourced from the included 1080p disc.

Wicked: For Good 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Wicked: For Good's Dolby Atmos track doesn't even wait a beat to make its presence known and felt. As the massive "Chu-nicorns", as the cast called them, go about their tedious forced labor, my subwoofer immediately sprang to life with a deep and hearty room-shaking rumble. And the wonderful bass presence continued throughout the scene as Elphaba, in full control of her powers, worked to disrupt the building of the Yellow Brick Road and free the massive beasts. During the chaos, directionality was most impressive, allowing for the vilified woman to be tracked without error as she swooped, soared, ascended, and descended, to say nothing of the various objects and people who also went flying, albeit involuntarily. As the action shifts to Oz and a song erupts, we're treated to an understanding of how music will be handled. As was the case with the first film, it's handled exceedingly well. Songs fill the stage, with precise instrumentation, solid sound separation, and impeccable balance. Vocals always sit nicely on top the orchestra, with each line of of every song being easily understandable. This is especially important given the addition of two new songs that Wicked fans will need to commit to memory. Sound effects are realistically reproduced and well-supported by the powerful bass. Dialogue is clear and typically kept front and center. Aiding in the magical nature of the film, the track does its absolute best to remain as consistently immersive as possible, surrounding the viewer in the voices, animals, musical fills, machinery, and in short, the everything of Oz, and keeping the real world at bay for the duration of the film's runtime. It's an impressive and demo-worthy track.

Wicked: For Good 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This release comes with a interesting assortment of on-disc extras as detailed below.

• Deleted Scenes (5.51) - Four mostly finished scenes are included: "Brick Making", Glinda Train Tour", "Friendship Montage", and "The Wizard is Sentimental". They are playable individually or via the "Play All" option.

• Making Wicked: For Good' (51.28) - Director Jon M. Chu, stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, Johnathan Bailey, and others discuss the five-year journey of making this film. The segment covers where we find Elphaba at the start of the film, Glinda's new situation, and the challenge of filming two movies simultaneously rather than consecutively. Erivo's stunt work and flying scenes are covered, as are costuming changes from one film to the next, choreography, the film's villains, and the tornado scene. Time is also given to the various elements of the wedding scene, Fiyero's journey, and Bok's evolution as well. Grande shares her fondness for the fight scene that occurs on the Yellow Brick Road, and her baton work. Music eventually takes the focus, with particular attention paid to the two new songs, one for each of the main female characters that were written by Stephen Schwartz, who penned the original music. Time is spent on both. Through it all, it's interesting to see the massive and intricate sets that were constructed, and to hear the actors tirelessly singing on set.

• The True Wizard (5.56) - Rather than being focused on Jeff Goldblum's character, this segment trains its vision on the work done by Director Jon M. Chu.

• More Than Just a Place (6.26) - This segment provides information on how the actors were able to convincingly interact with animals that inhabit Oz and the filming of "There's no Place Like Home".

• The Girl in the Bubble (6.06) - The new song created for Glinda and its performance is in the spotlight here. Grande weighs in on the character's growth and her moment of transition that is captured in the song.

• Kiamo Ko (608) - The castle in the sky is examined with time given to it's design, filming, it's significance to character of the Wicked Witch, and the key scenes filmed there.

• Feature Commentary with Director Jon M. Chu - Chu shares that "twelve tide-turns" have passed since the end of the first film as he covers the constructing of the iconic road, and wasting little time to reveal Elphaba demonstrating her control and scope of her full power. He takes a moment to comment on the 9 million tulips in bloom as she flies over them, and pointing out scenes and moments different from the stage show. Chu's comments are largely reactions to what he sees on the screen, and his level of knowledge is suitably encyclopedic, covering sets, choreography, props, crew, and the cast with equal ease. Though he's been working on the two films in the franchise for five years, his enthusiasm and love for them are apparent and undiminished. It's an informative listen.

• Sing-Along Version - While not found in the "Bonus" menu, it made sense to list it here. Once again, after "Play" is selected from the main menu, viewers will immediately need to select the Theatrical Version or the Sing-Along Version. Please note that the Sing- Along Version is only available in English. Once chosen, lyrics to the film's many songs appear at the bottom of the screen in a magical, Oz-inspired take on the traditional karaoke style, with the word to be sung increasing in size as magical sparkles dance above it, so even those who don't know the words by heart can participate with gusto.

Wicked: For Good 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

One thing's for certain, it's been changed from the source material. Whether or not it's for the better, or for good (or not), is going to be up to the viewer. Keep in mind this is a movie series based on a Broadway musical that was based on a book that relates to a classic film that was based on a thirteen-book series by L. Frank Baum that is now over 100 years old. For just as Gregory Maguire's novel made some modifications to Baum's tales, Chu, who usually stays true to the source material, makes the modifications he feels he must to make the story he wants to tell work for the big screen. And the story absolutely entertains as Glinda, Elphaba, and Fiyero take actions and make choices that lead them to their ultimate fates, be it wicked or good. Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum again turn in fantastic performances, and there's a wonderful cast around them, but this is absolutely Grande and Erivo's movie, and they carry it with ease. Enhanced by outstanding costumes, massive practical sets, top-notch effects, and enchanting musical numbers, the disc presents the film flawlessly. Wicked: For Good 4K earns my highest recommendation.