“Wicked: For Good” is taking the box office by storm. In its opening weekend, the film raked in $150 million from over 4,100 theaters across North America. This makes it the highest-grossing opening for a Broadway adaptation, surpassing even the first installment of “Wicked,” which earned $112.5 million last year. It’s also the second-biggest opening of the year, just behind “A Minecraft Movie.”
The film performed well internationally too, adding $76 million from foreign markets. This brings its total to $226 million globally. This success is noteworthy because the first movie had a more significant following in North America, while “For Good” managed to attract a wider audience overseas.
Industry expert David A. Gross believes that strong word-of-mouth will keep ticket sales high, especially during the holiday season. He describes it as “broad-appealing Hollywood filmmaking at its best.” Despite the darker tone of the second act, 71% of viewers were female and still enjoyed it, giving it an “A” grade from CinemaScore, matching the first film’s rating.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, “Wicked: For Good” continues Elphaba and Glinda’s magical story as the Wizard plots against Elphaba, now labeled the Wicked Witch of the West. Glinda’s public persona as a good witch creates an exciting contrast. The film’s catchy soundtrack and deep-rooted goodwill from fans likely ensure many will return for repeat viewings.
The success of “Wicked: For Good” comes at a vital time for the film industry, which has struggled in recent weeks without major hits. Upcoming releases like Disney’s “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” are expected to boost ticket sales as the year ends. However, overall domestic grosses are projected to be just 3% higher than last year—a modest improvement, considering that last year’s earnings were nearly 24% lower than pre-pandemic levels.
Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian emphasizes that “Wicked: For Good” is breathing life back into the box office, providing essential momentum heading into the holidays.
While “Wicked: For Good” shines, other new releases struggled. “Rental Family,” featuring Brendan Fraser, opened in fifth place with $3.3 million, but received praise with an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. “Sisu: Road to Revenge” landed in sixth place at $2.6 million, falling short of expectations, particularly compared to its predecessor.
For context, films often have a difficult time recouping costs due to theater owners keeping half of ticket sales. For example, “Predator: Badlands,” costing $105 million, has made $76 million in the U.S., while “The Running Man,” with a budget of $110 million, has only brought in $27 million so far.
Overall, “Wicked: For Good” not only dominates the charts but also revitalizes the movie landscape, reminding audiences of the magic of musicals and stories that resonate across generations.
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Wicked: For Good
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