“The Witches of Oz are making magic at the box office. Universal’s Thanksgiving tentpole Wicked: For Good is now on course to open to a record-smashing $151 million-plus in North America and $228 million worldwide after topping Friday’s North American chart with a massive $68.7 million from 4,115 theaters (that number includes $30.8 million in previews). Audiences”, — write: www.hollywoodreporter.com
Universal’s Thanksgiving tentpole Wicked: For Good is now on course to open to a record-smashing $151 million-plus in North America and $228 million worldwide after topping Friday’s North American chart with a massive $68.7 million from 4,115 theaters (that number includes $30.8 million in previews). Audiences are more than embracing the pic, giving it an A CinemaScore and a glowing 96 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Wicked: For Good is the second title in filmmaker Jon M. Chu’s ambitious big-screen adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical and book about the untold story of the witches of Oz. Ariana Grande stars as Glinda the Good Witch and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West.
If it hits its target, the female-fueled movie will shatter numerous opening records. Domestically, it will boast the biggest start ever for a Broadway musical adaptation — as of now, last year’s Wicked is the record-holder at $112.5 million — and the third-biggest of all time among any musical behind 2019’s The Lion King and 2017’s Beauty and the Beast. It would also be the second-biggest North American opening ever for a Universal title, behind Jurassic World ($208.8 million); the second-best for the weekend before Thanksgiving behind The Hunger Games: Catching Fire; and the second-best launch of 2025 to date behind A Minecraft Movie ($208.9 million).
Globally, Chu’s film will likewise pass up Wicked to rank as the top launch ever for a Broadway adaptation. It would also be the fifth-biggest opening of all time for any musical, behind The Lion King (2019), Moana 2, Frozen 2 and Beauty and the Beast. Finally, it would pass up Superman to become the fourth-biggest opening of the year to date behind Jurassic World Rebirth, Minecraft and Lilo & Stitch.
Wicked: For Good is a needed jolt for the struggling North American box office, which has suffered the worst fall in decades due to a glut of male-skewing pics and a lack of product for females and families. The movie’s better-than-expected performance more than proves the buying power of girls and women; almost 70 percent of Friday’s audience were females.
On the same weekend a year ago, the first Wicked likewise made history in its debut on its way to grossing nearly $750 million globally, a record showing for a Broadway musical adaptation. Such adaptations have been a tough genre for Hollywood to crack, but NBCUniversal entertainment chief and longtime movie studio head Donna Langley has remained intent on doing just that, even after Cats bombed. She’s succeeded.
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