The highly anticipated sequel to the Broadway musical adaptation, Wicked: For Good, has kicked off its theatrical journey with an impressive international debut, perfectly timed for the lucrative Thanksgiving holiday period.
Strong Opening Numbers
According to reports from Forbes and Deadline, the film has collected a substantial $30.8 million from early screenings and Thursday previews across the United States market. A significant portion of this revenue, $18.2 million, was earned on Thursday alone. The film also benefited from special showings held on Monday and Wednesday, which contributed an additional $6 million each. These exclusive events included screenings for Amazon Prime members.
Global Rollout and Indian Performance
The global release of Wicked: For Good commenced on November 21, strategically positioning it as a major holiday attraction. It is set to compete with Disney's Zootopia 2, which is projected to have a five-day domestic debut of at least $125 million.
In India, the film began its run with a day-one collection of ₹0.25 crore for English shows on Friday, as reported by Sacnilk. The occupancy rate for these shows stood at 7.10%. Given the film's niche genre as a musical and its premium ticket pricing, business is expected to be primarily driven in metropolitan cities over the coming days.
Film Overview and Outlook
This fantasy musical continues the epic story of Elphaba and Glinda, portrayed by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The narrative delves deeper into their complex and strained relationship as they unite to confront a dangerous conspiracy that threatens the entire land of Oz. Jeff Goldblum stars as the Wizard. This is the second chapter in Jon M. Chu's two-part cinematic adaptation, following the first film's successful holiday release in 2024.
Industry analysts predict that Wicked: For Good will heavily rely on the traditional Thanksgiving box office boost and strong turnout from audiences seeking premium format experiences like IMAX. A positive momentum over the opening weekend could potentially set the film on a path to become one of the highest-grossing November releases this year. The Thanksgiving period is historically one of the most profitable for Hollywood; the previous Wicked installment amassed over $263 million in its first ten days in North America alone.
