Overview
- The film posted a $70 million domestic Friday after $30.8 million in Thursday previews, with outlets projecting roughly a $151 million domestic debut and about $228 million worldwide.
- Audience response is exceptionally strong, with a 97% Rotten Tomatoes Popcornmeter score, while critics sit near 69% and flag slower pacing and structural stretch.
- Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the second installment opened in theaters on November 21, 2025.
- Coverage highlights deliberate Act Two revisions that expand Glinda’s trajectory and center the Elphaba–Glinda bond, as multiple reviews note a restrained approach to Dorothy’s role.
- Composer Stephen Schwartz contributed new songs for this chapter, including No Place Like Home and The Girl in the Bubble, which some reviewers view as weaker than the original score.