Wicked: For Good

What’s it about?

Elphaba challenges the Wizard’s harsh rule and ends up being seen as the “Wicked Witch of the West.” The Wizard then makes Glinda “Glinda the Good” and presents her as Oz’s hero. In this sequel, both witches make choices that shape their futures.

The facts 

• Directed by Jon M. Chu
• Stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater
• English language 
• Runtime: 137 minutes
• The film is the second of a two-part adaptation of the stage musical of the same name by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, loosely based on the 1995 novel ‘Wicked’ by Gregory Maguire.

Why did it get this rating? 

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Violence and scary scenes

Wicked: For Good contains slightly more violence than the first film and has some darker themes that may frighten very young audiences. The strongest moments include:

• A character is beaten by guards, mostly off camera, however you do see some slow-motion punches and the character in pain.
• A character is said to have died after being crushed. This is not shown.
• It is made out that a character melts, leading to their death. You see this happen through shadows on a wall as they scream in pain. However, they are shown alive later on.
• Two characters have a lengthy fight, involving slapping and tackling. This is intended to be funny and is more slapstick than actual violence.
• Multiple people are hurt after a stampede of animals crash through an event. No detail of injury is shown.

Sexual references

Two characters slowly take items of their clothing off before kissing on a bed. The scene cuts away which mildly implies sex, however this is likely to go over the heads of younger viewers.

Sad scenes

Several characters either die, or are thought to have died, which may be upsetting for younger audiences, especially when you see the impacts of the death on other characters.

When content stays with you: 

We all have our boundaries, and it’s completely okay if something you’ve watched is weighing on your mind. If certain content lingers with you, consider having a chat with friends or whānau to debrief about what you’ve just seen. But if you’re still feeling affected, please reach out to any of the following helplines for support.  

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau? (blog)
• Wicked (content breakdown)
• Can My Child Watch Wicked? (blog)