The highly anticipated film ‘Wicked: For Good’ has made a monumental impact at the global box office, raking in an impressive Dh830 million during its opening weekend. This cinematic adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical not only broke a nine-week slump in North American ticket sales but also set a new benchmark for film adaptations of stage productions. In the US and Canada alone, the film grossed $150 million (approximately Dh550.8 million), marking the third-best domestic opening weekend for a musical, trailing only Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ (2019) and ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (2017).
Directed by Jon Chu and featuring a star-studded cast including Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, ‘Wicked: For Good’ has been hailed as a triumph for Universal Pictures. The film’s success is attributed to its enduring source material, inspired casting, and a robust marketing campaign. Industry analyst Daniel Loria praised Universal’s bold decision to split the musical into two films, calling it a ‘fantastic feat’ that has paid off handsomely.
Despite mixed critical reviews, audiences have embraced the film wholeheartedly, awarding it an A grade from CinemaScore and a 95% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie’s appeal to younger viewers has been particularly noteworthy, with Comscore’s Paul Dergarabedian likening its cultural impact to that of ‘The Sound of Music’ for older generations.
Beyond North America, ‘Wicked: For Good’ garnered an additional $76 million from 78 international markets, bringing its total global opening weekend earnings to $226 million. This performance has revitalized the North American box office, which had struggled to surpass $100 million in ticket sales for nine consecutive weeks. Universal’s president of domestic theatrical distribution, Jim Orr, expressed immense satisfaction with the film’s reception, highlighting the years of dedication from the cast and crew.
‘Wicked: For Good’ is not just a box office success but a cultural phenomenon, proving the enduring power of musical storytelling in cinema.