Did Wicked Change Hollywood… For Good?
The Sam Sanders Show
KCRW & Sam Sanders
4.9 • 709 Ratings
🗓️ 25 November 2025
⏱️ 33 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Now that Wicked: For Good is finally in theaters, has the industry been changed for the better?
NOTE: This episode contains hot takes and spoilers.
Sam breaks it all down with Katey Rich, awards editor at The Ankler, and host of the Prestige Junkie podcast and newsletter. They dive into the memes, the money, and star power that created the biggest Broadway adaptation ever. Plus, what do all the mixed reviews mean for the film’s awards potential (looking at you, Ariana!) and what’s next for the Oz Cinematic Universe?
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The Sam Sanders Show is a production of KCRW and Sam Sanders Productions.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey listeners, it is the season of giving. |
| 0:03.0 | Get that warm, fuzzy feeling. |
| 0:05.1 | Make a donation, pick out some cozy KCRW merch, or send meals to local food banks. |
| 0:11.1 | Donate now at kCRW.com slash give. |
| 0:24.5 | Hey, y'all, it's the Sam Sanders show from KCRW, |
| 0:27.1 | all about the things that entertain us. |
| 0:28.8 | Thank you so much for listening. |
| 0:31.4 | This episode, Wicked for Good. |
| 0:34.5 | Y'all knew I had to talk about this movie. |
| 0:39.2 | To start, here is a review of Wicked for Good from a fellow Sam. |
| 0:47.6 | Did you cry? At the ending part, a little. What happened in the ending that made you feel sad? Not sad, well, happy, happy tears. Happy tears. That's the review, man. |
| 0:55.1 | It's just as simple as that. |
| 0:57.5 | That's Little Sam. |
| 0:58.5 | He is six years old and the son of Tyler, our showrunner. |
| 1:02.5 | Unfortunately, the critical consensus on Wicked for Good is not as positive as Little Sam's review. |
| 1:09.1 | But that did not matter. |
| 1:10.3 | Wicked for Good made about $150 million in the U.S. |
| 1:14.9 | this past weekend alone. We're going to talk about how and why this movie worked and whether |
| 1:21.3 | Wicked for Good can save a movie industry that increasingly feels like it's on life support. |
| 1:30.0 | Also, I'll give you my review of Wicked for Good. |
| 1:32.1 | It is a very complicated one. |
| 1:34.3 | It involves a fast food chain. |
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