Wicked: For Good" Shatters Box Office Records: A Blockbuster Success Story
Universal's latest release, "Wicked: For Good," has proven to be a massive success at the box office, raking in an impressive $38.5 million on Friday from 4,115 locations. This follows a stellar $30.1 million from advance screenings, setting the stage for a projected $151.5 million opening weekend. The film's debut ranks as the second-highest of the year, trailing only behind the $162.7 million launch of "A Minecraft Movie" in April and marking the biggest opening weekend for a Broadway adaptation, surpassing last year's "Wicked" opening of $112.5 million.
Fans eagerly turned out in droves, many dressed in green and pink attire, to witness Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande reprise their roles as Elphaba and Glinda. Social media buzz has been overwhelmingly positive, with audiences praising the performances and musical numbers like "No Good Deed" and "For Good." The film has garnered a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, a 92% positive score on PostTrak, and an A rating on CinemaScore, mirroring the success of the original "Wicked."
Following a strong showing over Thanksgiving weekend, "Wicked: For Good" is poised to face stiff competition from Disney's "Zootopia 2," which is expected to open with over $150 million in a 5-day span. The film will then navigate a more competitive December slate, including the highly anticipated "Avatar: Fire and Ash," aiming to join the elite club of franchises with multiple $2 billion-grossing films, alongside Marvel's "Avengers."