The witches of Oz are casting a spell at the box office.
Universal’s new film, Wicked: For Good, is set to make a stunning debut. It’s projected to open with over $151 million in North America and $228 million worldwide. On its first Friday, it pulled in an impressive $68.7 million from over 4,100 theaters, which includes $30.8 million from previews. Audiences are loving it, giving it an A Cinemascore and a fantastic 96% on Rotten Tomatoes.
This film is the second part of Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical that tells the hidden story of the witches of Oz. It features Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.
If it meets expectations, Wicked: For Good will break multiple records. It will have the biggest opening for a Broadway musical adaptation, surpassing last year’s Wicked, which opened at $112.5 million. It would also become the second-largest North American opening for a Universal film, next to Jurassic World, which hit $208.8 million.
Globally, it’s on track to be the highest launch for a Broadway adaptation, just ahead of its predecessor. It’s also expected to rank among the top five musical openings of all time.
This film is a big win for the North American box office, which has struggled recently. The audience demographics show that nearly 70% of viewers on Friday were women, underlining their significant purchasing power.
Historically, the launch of Wicked: For Good echoes last year’s Wicked debut, which grossed nearly $750 million worldwide. Adaptations of Broadway shows have often faced challenges in Hollywood, but Donna Langley, the head of NBCUniversal, has been determined to change that narrative, especially after the disappointing results of Cats.
The current success of Wicked: For Good indicates a shifting trend in cinema where female-led stories are not just viable, but thriving.
For more on this trend and box office statistics, check out detailed analyses on sources like Box Office Mojo and industry insights from Variety.
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