By Caroline Cope

The highly anticipated Wicked: For Good is coming to theaters Friday, November 21. The movie Wicked starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda was the fifth highest-grossing movie in 2024, earning over $750 million in the box office. Wicked: For Good will follow the journey of Elphaba the “wicked witch,” and Glinda, “the good witch,” and the storyline will pick up where the first film ended.

Landon Brown, a junior at BHS and an avid Wicked fan, will see Wicked: For Good one week before it officially releases.

“I’m seeing the [new] movie the Thursday before it releases,” Brown said. Brown will see both Wicked and Wicked: For Good as a double-feature early-access screening that is exclusive to cinema chains like AMC and Cinemark.

Another junior at BHS, Chloe Meadows, is thrilled to see the new film.

 “I already pre-bought tickets to see Wicked: For Good over Thanksgiving break, and I seriously can’t wait,” Meadows said. “I’m expecting to really see how Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship shaped each other’s lives and who they became.”

The budget for Wicked was $150 million dollars, and the production team certainly spent their money well. Nine million vibrant tulips were planted in England and spotlighted during the opening sequence. The Wicked: For Good budget was $15 million dollars more, so it is fair to expect even more extravagant sets and cinematic elements.

“I’m excited to see what creative direction the team takes with their story,” Meadows said. “Since I’ve read the book and seen the Broadway musical, I’m really looking forward to comparing how the movie’s ending might differ because you never know how a director might put their own twist on it.”

It is also expected that Wicked: For Good will feature live vocals from Grande and Erivo just like the first film. The directors and producers chose to have the talented artists sing as they were filming–without lip syncing–for a deeper connection to their characters and each other.

“The singing that was live made me cry,” Brown said.

Wicked: For Good’s projected box office is $112 to $155 million on the opening weekend, which is even higher than Wicked’s opening box office. Given the trends of Wicked’s studio album, the new songs from the sequel are sure to top the charts once they’re released.

The earliest time to see Wicked: For Good on its own in theaters is Thursday, November 20 as an early access screening. There are currently 20 different showtimes at the Cinemark at The Greene.