Movies Update: ‘Wicked: For Good’ is here.

Also, a slippery documentary about true crime.

View in browser|nytimes.com November 21, 2025 SUPPORTED BY APPLE ORIGINAL FILMS By Stephanie Goodman Hi, movie fans! Something "Wicked" this way comes. (Sorry I couldn't resist.) That's right, it's the much-awaited "Wicked: For Good," the conclusion to the two-part musical adaptation overtaking theaters this weekend. After a seemingly never-ending press tour, the movie is expected to make major bank at the box office, which I'm sure will be welcome news to Hollywood after a rough couple of months. But what about the movie itself? In her review, Manohla Dargis, our chief critic, writes that Part 2 is "less frenetic, more downbeat," even if the film "does everything it can to accentuate the positive." It's also, she writes, a showcase for Ariana Grande, who plays the ostensibly good witch Glinda to Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba. Though it's not quite a rave or a pan, the review concludes that the film "is finally most convincing as a story of an intense, soulfully nurturing female friendship." (By the way, you might have read that the film has two additional songs that weren't in the original Broadway musical. Find out how those songs came to be.) If "Wicked" isn't your thing, we have several critic's picks for you, starting with "Train Dreams," starring Joel Edgerton as a laborer in the early 20th century. It's a "luminous adaptation of Denis Johnson's 2011 novella," writes our critic, Alissa Wilkinson. There's also "Cutting Through Rocks," an illuminating documentary about the first woman elected to the council of her Iranian village, and "Cactus Pears," an understated Indian drama about a closeted gay man finding romance. Or try the slippery "Zodiac Killer Project," about the true-crime genre. Is it a tribute, a takedown or an analysis? Yes. Whatever you decide to watch, enjoy the movies! Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures 'Wicked: For Good' Review: Two Besties Till the End Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return to Oz for the second part of Jon M. Chu's maximalist adaptation of the Broadway musical. By Manohla Dargis Netflix Critic's Pick 'Train Dreams' Review: Life, Understood in Reverse Joel Edgerton stars in a gorgeous film based on Denis Johnson's celebrated novella about a laborer in the Pacific Northwest. By Alissa Wilkinson Chantal Anderson for The New York Times George Clooney, Adam Sandler and Noah Baumbach on Fame and 'Jay Kelly' The stars and the director look back on their days trying to break into the industry and how failure was part of the equation. By Kyle Buchanan and Chantal Anderson Music Box Films Documentary Lens 'Zodiac Killer Project': Hooked on True Crime Charlie Shackleton explains how he would have made a film had he won the rights to a book on a murderer. The result is a fascinating look at a whole genre. By Alissa Wilkinson A MESSAGE FROM APPLE ORIGINAL FILMS For Your Consideration Starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, and Javier Bardem - F1 is streaming December 12 on Apple TV Learn More CRITICS' PICKS Sabar Bonda/Strand Releasing Critic's Pick 'Cactus Pears' Review: Finding Intimacy Amid Grief This understated Indian drama follows closeted gay man gingerly initiating a romance with an old friend. By Natalia Winkelman courtesy of Gandom Films Critic's Pick 'Cutting Through Rocks' Review: The Only Way Out A documentary about Sara Shahverdi, the first woman elected to the council of her village in Iran, is propelled by her no-nonsense resourcefulness. By Sheri Linden ANATOMY OF A SCENE Universal Pictures Anatomy of a Scene Watch a 'Wonderful' Moment From 'Wicked: For Good' The director Jon M. Chu narrates a sequence from his film featuring Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Jeff Goldblum performing the song "Wonderful." By Mekado Murphy MOVIE REVIEWS James Lisle/Searchlight Pictures 'Rental Family' Review: Lost in Impersonation Brendan Fraser is quietly endearing in this fish-out-of-water tale of an American actor in Tokyo who accepts some highly unusual assignments. By Jeannette Catsoulis Sony Pictures 'Sisu: Road to Revenge' Review: Slapstick Rambo In this sequel to the 2023 exploitation film, blood-splattered inanity becomes a delirium of popcorn fun. By Brandon Yu Apple TV 'The Family Plan 2' Review: A Relaxing Vacation? Maybe Not. Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan return in a better executed, equally goofball sequel about a family's tangles with organized crime. By Lisa Kennedy The Age of Disclosure/Farah Films 'The Age of Disclosure' Review: Release the Extraterrestrial Files A documentary argues that the U.S. government needs to divulge what it knows about the phenomena formerly called U.F.O.s. By Ben Kenigsberg Netflix 'Selena y Los Dinos' Review: Still Dreaming of You In this look back at the singer Selena, the director Isabel Castro presents home video footage and photographs that have not been seen in other documentaries. By Chris Azzopardi Obscured Releasing 'Stop the Insanity: Finding Susan Powter' Review: When Fame Recedes A documentary tracks the highs and lows of the 1990s fitness guru, now a food delivery driver in Las Vegas. By Glenn Kenny NEWS & FEATURES Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images 'Wicked' and the Never-Ending Press Tour The pink-and-green-themed promotions were everywhere, with all the advantages and limitations that kind of marketing push entails. By Esther Zuckerman Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures How 2 New Songs Made Their Way Into 'Wicked: For Good' Each witch gets a new number as part of an effort to flesh out the arc of the stage show's second act. By Esther Zuckerman Illustration by Antoine Cossé Critic's Notebook Can You Believe the Documentary You're Watching? A combination of technological developments and market forces is undermining the trust between viewer and filmmaker. What's at stake is history itself. By Alissa Wilkinson Pop. 87 Productions/Focus Features How Much Sex, Drugs and Violence Can Be in a PG-13 Movie? The movie ratings board has pulled back the curtain on how it approaches hot-button topics, including nudity, marijuana and guns. By Julia Jacobs Kevin Winter/Getty Images The Projectionist Tom Cruise Accepts an Honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards The star was feted along with Debbie Allen, Dolly Parton and the production designer Wynn Thomas at a show that has become an awards campaign stop. By Kyle Buchanan Maxime La for The New York Times Has This Director Made the Year's Most Terrifying Movie? With the existential action thriller "Sirat," set in the rave culture of Morocco, Oliver Laxe says that he was not out to shock, but that he is still haunted by one scene. By Ben Kenigsberg STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS Magnolia Pictures Five Free Movies to Stream Now For the Thanksgiving holiday, this month's picks, including "Force Majeure" and "The Humans," look at family togetherness in all its mundane glory. By Brandon Yu Vertical Five Science Fiction Movies to Stream Now In this month's picks, there is cloud busting in Peru, a shadowy astronaut drama, doomsday preppers in New Zealand and more. By Elisabeth Vincentelli Vertical 'Sacramento,' 'Happy Christmas' and More Streaming Gems This month's off-the-radar streaming suggestions include modest but moving indie comedy-dramas, documentaries profiling comedy legends and more. By Jason Bailey How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to moviesupdate@nytimes.com. Like this email? 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