The cinematic spell cast by Wicked: For Good has proven even more powerful than its predecessor, with Jon M Chu's sequel conjuring a record-breaking opening weekend at the global box office.
The film, which serves as the concluding instalment to the two-part Broadway adaptation, has magically swept past the records set by the first film in 2024. Its worldwide earnings have soared to an impressive $226 million, a significant leap from the $164.2 million debut of the initial movie.
A Tale of Two Box Offices
The sequel's success story is one of rebalancing. While the first Wicked film heavily relied on its domestic US audience, earning $114 million stateside compared to $50.2 million internationally, Wicked: For Good has dramatically corrected this. The new film banked a formidable $150 million from 4,115 North American cinemas, setting a new high for Broadway adaptations. Simultaneously, its international haul reached a robust $76 million.
This powerful domestic performance makes it the second-biggest US opening of the year, slotting in just below A Minecraft Movie ($162m) and above Disney's Lilo & Stitch remake ($146m).
Global Domination and UK Success
On the world stage, the film's achievement is even more remarkable. Wicked: For Good is now officially the biggest international opening for a stage musical adaptation in cinematic history, once again dethroning the first Wicked film.
While official UK figures are pending, early reports from Vue cinemas are overwhelmingly positive. The sequel is said to have enjoyed the biggest opening weekend since 2023's Barbie and outperformed its predecessor by an estimated 30% in British cinemas.
Stars, Security, and Awards Buzz
The film's success is amplified by the growing awards buzz surrounding its leading ladies, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo. Should they both receive Oscar nominations for their roles as Glinda and Elphaba, they would break another record by being nominated in the same roles over two consecutive years.
The promotional tour for the film was not without its drama. Grande contracted Covid towards the end of the global tour, curtailing her activities. Furthermore, at the red carpet premiere in Singapore, an Australian vlogger breached security, leaping over barriers to approach Grande. Erivo swiftly came to her co-star's aid, and the individual was subsequently arrested and sentenced to nine days in jail. It has since been reported that the man has been permanently banned from entering Singapore.
The extraordinary promotional effort for Wicked: For Good has clearly paid off, cementing its place as a box office phenomenon and a cultural moment that has captivated audiences across the globe.
