Warning: mild spoilers ahead.

One year after shattering records and glass ceilings, “Wicked: For Good” flies even higher than its predecessor.

Director Jon M. Chu’s highly anticipated sequel landed in theaters Nov. 21, following last November’s “Wicked,” which won two Academy Awards and became the highest-grossing adaptation of a Broadway musical. Picking up after “intermission,” the film finds Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) in hiding from the Wizard’s Guard after being falsely labeled the Wicked Witch of the West, leaving her best friend Glinda (Ariana Grande) to step in while managing her image as a public figure. Whereas Broadway’s “Wicked” falls flat in its second act, Chu’s sequel swoops in to save its source material by fleshing out the story to solidify a spellbinding journey. With heavier themes and grander visuals, the film’s leading actors tackle more mature performances, bringing a collective force to the screen that is nothing short of magical.

The decision to break “Wicked” – a roughly 2 and a half hour stage show – into two films was initially met with skepticism from fans, although that seemed to subdue after Chu’s vision was clarified in last year’s release. For anyone still on the fence, however, even just the first few minutes of the sequel make the split’s necessity clear, as it provides infinitely better context for the time jump than its Broadway counterpart. As the film progresses, its nearly nonexistent limitations repair the musical’s severe pacing issues to heighten the story’s stakes. For example, a scene is added to show Boq (Ethan Slater) suffering from the removal of Munchkin rights, which was originally just a brief line of dialogue.

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Another triumph immediately noticeable to viewers is an enchanting improvement in tone. “Wicked” already dominated the visual sphere last year – as evidenced by its Oscar wins in costume and production design – but its coloring occasionally faltered for a fantasy of its scale. Nonetheless, the weak point subsides in “Wicked: For Good,” which proves pink truly does go good with green in a bolder display of vibrancy that matches its higher volume of magic. The introduction of new, large-scale sets from production designer Nathan Crowley provides a breathtaking backdrop for the film’s more mature story and supports the weight of its emotional structure.

Thematically, “Wicked: For Good” feels more political this time around – perhaps because this year, everything does. In “No Place Like Home,” an original song from composer Stephen Schwartz made specifically for the movie, the exiled Elphaba sings, “Why do I love this place that’s never loved me?” The number not only succeeds in demonstrating Elphaba’s motivations and endearingly nods to the original “Wizard of Oz,” but it also seems to painfully correspond with how the Trump administration has given numerous minorities a complicated, fear-driven relationship with their own home. The concept persists throughout the film, as Elphaba challenges oppressive leadership and learns more about public-facing politics.

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On that note, it is Erivo’s portrayal of the Wicked Witch that carries the movie’s stylistic shift and brings a sharper edge to an already commanding narrative. She disappears into Elphaba with the ease and authenticity required to guide viewers through the harsh winds of her arc, stretching from betrayal to anger to courageousness. Specifically, Erivo’s vocal performance remains the production’s main attraction after captivating listeners worldwide with last year’s “Defying Gravity.” While the finale’s iconic battle cry seemed impossible to surpass, Erivo outdoes herself in this film’s climactic solo, “No Good Deed,” doubling its emotional depth.

Opposite Erivo, Grande’s performance as Glinda practically guarantees the Academy Award victory she was robbed of in March. After “Wicked,” any doubt that Grande was the right pick for the legendary role vanished with the wave of her wand – but in “Wicked: For Good,” an already perfect act gets even “goodlier.” With impeccable comedic timing, she brings all of Glinda’s infectious sparkle from the first film into the next. However, as her character also faces heartbreak, loss and a complex choice, Grande unveils a broader, more poignant display of emotional range. There’s a world in which this portrayal is remembered as her very best work, a concept unimaginable just a few years ago when she was already at the height of pop stardom.

Complementing the leading women is Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, who undergoes some of the most significant character development in the duology. Bailey’s transition from swoonworthy bachelor to a deeply conflicted partner is a masterclass in acting, and he holds his own next to the powerhouse talents of Erivo and Grande. His standout moment is undoubtedly “As Long As You’re Mine,” a romantic duet in which he and Erivo deliver breathtaking vocals and surprisingly palpable sensuality for a PG-rated film.

These mature characterizations lay the yellow bricks on the road to the film’s namesake and grand finale, “For Good.” Compared to “Defying Gravity,” which closed out last year’s film, the farewell duet between Elphaba and Glinda is less dramatic, less vocally demanding and not as interesting visually – nonetheless, it is exponentially more emotional. There is not a dry eye in the cinema as Erivo’s and Grande’s voices blend into smooth harmonies through heartwrenching sobs. The number represents the culmination of the protagonists’ journey to a transcendent friendship, so vividly captured on screen that audiences are wholly swept into its intimacy.

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Upon leaving the theater, viewers’ first thoughts will likely be whether or not the sequel surpasses last November’s blockbuster. In truth, it might not be a fair comparison to make. Being derived from a singular production would ideally leave “Wicked: For Good” with the stronger half of the musical’s story, boasting more conflict and character development – but that is not the only reason it soars.

The film works in tandem with “Wicked” to create what might be the greatest pop culture event of the decade, a celestial display of artistry rooted in decades of storytelling. In a time where genuine creativity feels increasingly rare, the forces behind the duology – most notably Chu, Erivo and Grande – fully devote themselves to the construction of this fantasy in a way that couldn’t make audiences happier.

Unlike the Wizard, “Wicked: For Good” has nothing to hide: it is completely, honestly “Wonderful.”