Perhaps because of the crowded nature of the Christmas period, it seems likeWickedwas released ages ago. The box office has seen numerous blockbusters in the two months since the movie faced off withGladiator IIin a hotly-anticipated clash, but despite all the competition,Wickedhas persevered. In its ninth weekend of release, themusical passed what will likely be its final global box office milestone. By now, it has become clear thatWickeddidn’t perform as well internationally as it did in the domestic market, but this gives Universal plenty of time to figure out its marketing strategy for the sequel,Wicked: For Good.
With nearly $465 million domestically and another $244 million from overseas markets,Wickedhas now passed the $700 million mark worldwide. The film’s exact global total now stands at $708 million. Directed byJon M. Chu,Wickedis based on the hit Broadway play of the same name, which itself is based onGregory Maguire’s novel. The novel, in turn, was inspired byThe Wizard of Ozbooks written byFrank L. Baum. While you’d imagine that the IP has enough recall value and lasting relevance to attract global audiences, this wasn’t the case. The majority ofWicked’s revenue came from North America, where it’s one of the biggest hits in history.
Wickedishovering just outside the top 25 on the all-time list; what’s more remarkable is that its success has come in the face of competition posed by fellow family-friendly films such asMoana 2,Mufasa: The Lion King, andSonic the Hedgehog 3. Produced ona reported budget of $150 million,Wickedopened to excellent reviews, and even better audience response. It seems to have settled at a “fresh” 88% rating on the aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, where its audience score stands at a “certified hot” 95%.In his review, Collider’sJeff EwingdescribedWickedas “an incredible cinematic musical outing and easily one of the year’s best films.”
‘Wicked’ Has Been a Bona Fide Cultural Phenomenon
StarringCynthia ErivoandAriana Grande, the movie is expected to earn several nominations at the upcoming Academy Awards. It received four nods at the Golden Globes, five at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, seven at the BAFTAs, and 11 at the Critics' Choice Awards. It was also named as one of 2024’s best films by the American Film Institute and the National Board of Review. The movie is now less than $6 million shy of passingDune: Part Twoto become the fifth-biggest hit of 2024.
Wicked: For Goodwill be released in November; until then, you can re-watch the first film at home and in theaters. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
The story of how a green-skinned woman framed by the Wizard of Oz becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. The first of a two-part feature film adaptation of the Broadway musical.
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