In 2024, Wicked emerged as a cultural phenomenon. The delightful first installment of the two-part musical adaptation captivated critics, paving it’s way to becoming a Box Office sensation that thrilled the industry. Much of this success can be attributed to the undeniable chemistry between stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, both in their performances and during their meme-generating press tour, capturing the cultural spotlight that Hollywood fervently seeks.
The Academy recognized it’s impact, awarding it 10 Oscar nominations, which tied for the second-highest total last year. In 2025, the situation was quite different.
While Wicked – For Good was still well-received and enjoyed significant Box Office success, particularly during it’s opening weekend, it failed to generate the same level of excitement as it’s predecessor. The buzz surrounding awards, which initially surged following Wicked’s debut, slowly faded as the season unfolded.
As of today, it’s campaign has come to an end. When the nominations for the 2026 Oscars were revealed, Wicked – For Good received no mentions whatsoever. We have publicly expressed our support for Wicked – For Good, yet we were not shocked to witness it’s exclusion from the Academy Awards competition.
It is the less impressive of the two films, and this year offered numerous stronger contenders. We wouldn’t be astonished if many voters opted to omit it from their ballots, believing that Wicked received it’s recognition last year, after all.
Ariana Grande Deserved To Win The Oscar Last Year
As the awards season kicked off, Ariana Grande emerged as a strong contender for Best Supporting Actress, and for a straightforward reason. The filming of Wicked and Wicked – For Good took place at the same time, which means that Grande’s interpretation of Glinda across both movies is essentially one cohesive performance.
Many believed she was poised to take home the award this year, given her impressive performance that had already earned her accolades last year. Nonetheless, even if For Good had not lost favor with the Academy, that reasoning was misguided.
The second act of the stage musical, which For Good was transforming, carries a more dramatic tone compared to the first act, and Glinda expresses herself in a different emotional range.
Ariana Grande continues to excel in her role, yet she is not providing the same captivating, effervescent performance that initially sparked so much enthusiasm. Had she won this year, it would have seemed like a compensatory Oscar for last year, a tendency that this awards organization is somewhat recognized for.
Indeed, Ariana Grande fell victim to that very notion when Zoe Saldaña took home the award for her role as Emilia Pérez, which many interpreted as a tribute to her overall career.
While Saldaña certainly merits a statuette, the phrase “right person, wrong film” wouldn’t need to be a recurring theme if the Academy simply honored the finest performances in real-time. Instead, Grande’s portrayal is categorized under yet another Oscars cliché – the undervaluation of comedy.
Wicked secured two out of it’s ten nominations, winning awards for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design. However, despite being a significant achievement in craftsmanship, it’s true legacy lies in how it’s lead performers animated the characters and the music.
The Oscars had a perfect opportunity to honor this element appropriately, but they squandered it, and that chance is now gone. If Ariana Grande pursues her film career and eventually wins for some inconsequential drama in a couple of decades, the Academy will have no one to blame but themselves.