“Wicked” is pocketing lots of green, with the Universal release coming in on the upper side of projections to head toward the third-biggest domestic opening of the year. Now forecasting a $117 million sum for the weekend, that’d only be behind “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($211 million) and “Inside Out 2” ($151 million) among 2024 releases. And Paramount’s “Gladiator II” is no slouch either, landing in second place with a projected opening weekend of $60 million. Theaters should be aglow about the two debuts, after being starved of a superlative hit through the fall. The last film to open with nine-digits (or even above $60 million) was “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” nearly three months ago.
“Wicked” earned $46.7 million from 3,888 theaters across Friday and preview screenings, a good chunk of which were held earlier in the week than Thursday, which is the traditional kick-off for a new release. Although the big-screen adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical landed the third-biggest opening day of the year, it comes with the caveat. Take out the $7.9 million head-start it got from Monday and Wednesday screenings and “Wicked” falls just behind the $41.5 million opening day of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
That’s a successful payout for what has been a substantial investment for Universal, which has gradually ramped up a months-long marketing blitz for “Wicked” throughout the fall. Produced at a $150 million budget, the Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande musical is proving to be the season-defining blockbuster that the studio believed it could be. Ticket revenue is also being boosted by play in premium large-format auditoriums (though “Gladiator II” has the bulk of Imax showtimes).
Critics flipped for the Jon M. Chu-directed return to Oz, and audiences are enthusiastic too. Moviegoer pollster Cinema Score turned in an approving “A” grade after surveying early ticket-buyers. The PG-rated “Wicked” will see some competition for family audiences and musical lovers when “Moana 2” hits theaters next week. But with such a strong response and a good deal of awards buzz, it is supremely positioned for the long haul after turning in a terrific opening. And all the better, as Universal will bow another $150 million “Wicked” entry, which adapts and expands on the Broadway show’s second act, on the same pre-Thanksgiving weekend next year.