Historic $150M Opening: 'Wicked: For Good' Breaks Records and Captivates Audiences
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LOS ANGELES - Universal Pictures' highly anticipated film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical 'Wicked: For Good' has shattered box office records, grossing a staggering $150 million in its opening weekend across the US and Canada. This achievement not only sets a new standard for film adaptations of stage musicals but also ranks 'Wicked: For Good' among the top-performing musicals of all time. The sequel to the 2023 film, which reunites Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba with Ariana Grande's Glinda, has secured the third-best domestic opening weekend for a musical, narrowly behind Disney's 2019 photorealistic computer-generated version of 'The Lion King' and its 2017 remake of 'Beauty and the Beast.' This impressive feat marks a significant turning point for the North American box office, which had struggled to reach $100 million in total ticket sales for nine consecutive weeks. Industry insiders attribute the film's success to the enduring appeal of the long-running Broadway musical, inspired casting, and an aggressive marketing campaign. According to Comscore's box office analyst Paul Dergarabedian, 'Wicked' has become a cultural phenomenon, particularly among younger viewers, much like 'The Sound of Music' was for an older generation. Jim Orr, Universal's president of domestic theatrical distribution, expressed his satisfaction with the film's performance, crediting the hard work of the filmmakers, cast, and crew. Industry analyst Daniel Loria praises Universal Pictures for taking a risk by breaking the musical into two films, an approach that has paid off handsomely. While stage-to-screen adaptations can be unpredictable, 'Wicked: For Good' has proven to be a cinematic blockbuster, cementing its place in the history of musical films.
