‘Wicked 2’ First Reactions Are Predictably Over-the-Top — “Masterpiece”

Gosh, the pundits are back, and they have raves galore when it comes to “Wicked: For Good.” Jon M. Chu’s sequel to his 2024 blockbuster hit has been screening over the past week or so for carefully selected Oscar experts.

We Live Entertainment’s Scott Mantz is calling it a “masterpiece,” adding: “Grande is definitely coming for that Best Supporting Actress Oscar.”

I’m absolutely not saying that “Wicked” will not turn out to be a good film; I just can’t weigh in on this debate since I haven’t seen it. We’ll just have to wait for the reviews to see if this is actually an Oscar contender. My best guess is that it will probably get a Best Picture nomination, and Grande/Erivo will again be competing in the acting categories. Jon M. Chu will once again be snubbed in Best Director.

Journalist Simon Thompson is saying the film is “absolutely magical,” adding that “Chu knocks it out of the park […] an exhilarating and deeply satisfying conclusion.”

Earlier in the month, “Wicked: For Good” became Fandango’s best first-day ticket pre-seller of 2025. The film will be making boatloads of cash, and that’s great news for exhibitors who will be coming off a disastrous October, which barely gave them any blockbuster hits.

Part of the film’s advantage is logistical genius. Both installments were shot back-to-back in late 2022, giving Universal a major budget win and allowing the finale to ride the hype of last year’s film. Chu explained that while shooting, it became clear they couldn’t compress the story into a single movie without doing “real damage” to the source material.

The film stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, with Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum, and Michelle Yeoh in supporting roles. It’s an adaptation of Holzman and Schwartz’s ultra-popular Broadway musical of the same name, which draws on characters from “The Wizard of Oz.”

“Wicked: For Good” will be released on November 26, 2025.

Edward Berger’s Lance Armstrong Biopic, Starring Austin Butler, Starts Production in January

Edward Berger seems to have settled on what comes next. His Lance Armstrong biopic, starring Austin Butler, is now holding casting calls, with production eyed for January.

Ramin Bahrani’s ‘Last Meals’ to Star Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook, Michael Shannon, and Tessa Thompson

In "Last Meals," Mikkelsen stars as Walter Karat, a disgraced former White House chef now preparing final meals for death row inmates at a maximum security prison.

‘NAZA’: Israel Moves to Strip Citizenship From Oscar-Winning Filmmakers Behind Gaza Doc

After its much-reported Venice premiere, Israel's culture minister is vowing to strip citizenship from the two Israeli filmmakers behind "NAZA."

Chris Rock’s ‘Misty Green’ Premieres, Rosalind Eleazar Stuns — 73 on Metacritic [TIFF]

I wouldn't call this film great — it stops short of that because of how neatly it resolves itself — but I'll give Rock his due here: this is much better than his previous directorial effort, "Top Five."

Zack Snyder's ‘The Last Photograph’ Is Getting Destroyed at TIFF: “Unabashedly Sh*t On Every Level”

As expected, Snyder's latest is being torn apart by TIFF attendees. No mercy given. The film, which had its world premiere this evening, is being called by some one of the worst movies to ever premiere at the festival.

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

Joaquin Phoenix Reuniting with Mike Mills for Next Film, Shooting in January 2027

Phoenix is set to reunite with Mills on this next film, which is being distributed by A24 and starts shooting January 2027. This will be Phoenix’s first film since “Eddington.”

Paul Thomas Anderson Has Already Chosen His Next Film, Jonny Greenwood Says

“Paul is getting close to pressing the button on the next film, I believe, and I’m already trying to learn a new instrument that would be central to it,” Greenwood tells Screen Daily.

Ridley Scott Says “I Didn’t Say That” After Calling ‘The Dog Stars’ His Best Movie Since ‘The Martian’

In June 2026, Scott told The Buyer that “The Dog Stars” is “probably the best movie I’ve done since The Martian.” He’s now denying he ever said that.

Todd Field-Written ‘The Girls’ Sets Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic to Direct, November Shoot

Cinephiles another Todd Field movie, and although we might have to wait for his next directorial effort, “The Girls” will have to suffice for now.

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

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