Universal’s ‘Wicked for Good’ has rounded-up a record-breaking opening with more than $151m (Tk18.5 crore)in North America and $228m (Tk27.9 crore) worldwide over its first weekend.
The film topped the November 21 US chart with a staggering $68.7m (Tk8.4 crore) from 4,115 cinemas, including $30.8 million (Tk3.77 crore) from previews. Audiences are embracing it enthusiastically, awarding the film an A CinemaScore and a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked for Good is the second instalment in his two-part adaptation of the hit Broadway musical. Ariana Grande stars as Glinda, with Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.
If projections hold, the film will set multiple records: the biggest opening ever for a Broadway musical adaptation; the third-largest launch for any musical; and Universal’s second-biggest domestic debut after Jurassic World. It’s also pacing to become the second-highest opening for a pre-Thanksgiving weekend and one of 2025’s strongest three-day debuts, behind ‘A Minecraft Movie’.
Internationally, the film is poised to deliver the largest global opening for a Broadway adaptation and one of the top five starts for any musical.
The performance comes as a major boost to the struggling North American box office, which has lacked strong female-skewing releases. Nearly 70 percent of Friday’s audience were women and girls, underlining the market’s buying power.
The first Wicked film also launched over Thanksgiving last year and went on to earn nearly $750 (Tk91.8 crore) million globally, proving the enduring appeal of the franchise and the value of Universal’s continued investment in musical adaptations.
