This weekend, movie theaters were absolutely spellbound as Wicked: For Good flew to the top of the box office with a jaw-dropping $150 million domestic and $226 million worldwide opening. That's not just a win—it's a full-blown magical phenomenon that has Hollywood buzzing and audiences singing all the way home.
What Happened: A Historic Opening Weekend
The sequel to last year's smash hit completely outpaced its predecessor's $114 million debut. Director Jon M. Chu and his incredible cast pulled off something rare: a sequel that actually outperforms the original right out of the gate. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande return as Elphaba and Glinda, weaving their story directly into the events of the wizard of oz. The film actually shows Dorothy's arrival and her famous journey, but through the witches' eyes—a brilliant twist fans can't stop discussing.
Why This Record-Breaking Weekend Changes Everything
Wicked: For Good now holds the record for the biggest opening weekend ever for a Broadway musical adaptation, stealing the crown from the first Wicked film. It also became the second-largest domestic opening of 2025, trailing only A Minecraft Movie's $162.7 million but easily beating Disney's Lilo & Stitch remake.
Industry experts are calling it a four-quadrant hit that proves movie musicals aren't just back—they're thriving like never before. The film even scored the biggest November opening ever for a musical, which is saying something in such a crowded holiday season.
3 Key Details You Need to Know
1. Audiences Are Obsessed: Moviegoers gave the film an A grade on CinemaScore, matching the first movie's perfect rating despite critics being more divided this time around.
2. A Marketing Blitz for the Ages: The massive promotional campaign featured 400 brand partners and created a cultural moment worth $330 million, making it impossible to ignore.
3. A Clever Narrative Twist: The story cleverly overlaps with Dorothy's journey, showing familiar scenes from the classic tale through the witches' perspective. This has fans geeking out over every single Easter egg and hidden reference to the original story.
What's Next: Hollywood's Holiday Battle
After a sluggish October that had many worried about theatrical releases, Wicked: For Good gives Hollywood exactly what it needed. With Zootopia 2 arriving Thanksgiving weekend and Avatar: Fire and Ash coming just before Christmas, the box office is heating up again in a major way.
Analysts predict this momentum could push 2025 past the $9 billion mark by year's end, which would be the best performance since before the pandemic hit.
What did YOU think of Wicked: For Good? Did it live up to the hype? Share your thoughts in the comments below!