The second installment of the Wicked film series, Wicked: For Good, soared to a record-breaking $150 million in North American theaters during its opening weekend, contributing to a global haul of $226 million. Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, the film surpassed the debut of its predecessor and marked the biggest opening for a Broadway musical adaptation. This success underscores the franchise's cultural impact following the first film's Oscar wins and $758 million worldwide gross.
Opening Weekend Performance
Wicked: For Good launched in theaters on November 21, 2025, with early previews generating $6.1 million on Monday from 1,050 locations and $6.5 million on Wednesday from 2,300 theaters. By Friday, it expanded to 4,115 North American locations, earning $68.6 million that day alone. IMAX screenings accounted for $15.5 million, or 11% of the domestic total, setting a November record for the format.
The film attracted a predominantly female audience, with women comprising 71% of ticket buyers per PostTrak exit polls. Audiences responded positively, with 83% recommending it to friends. Box office tracker EntTelligence estimates that approximately 2 million more people attended this opening weekend compared to the first Wicked film.
Record-Breaking Achievement
This debut not only unseated the original Wicked's $112 million North American opening but also became the second-highest debut of 2025, trailing only A Minecraft Movie's $162 million. Globally, the $226 million figure positions Wicked: For Good among the top-grossing Broadway musical adaptations, joining an elite list that includes Mamma Mia! ($706.7 million lifetime) and the first Wicked ($758.1 million lifetime).
Universal's Jim Orr praised the results: "The results are just fantastic. Some films can deliver a false positive when tickets go on sale early but these results speak for themselves." He added, "The first film paved the way. It’s really become a cultural event I think audiences are going to be flocking to theaters for quite some time to come."
IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond noted the broad appeal: "Our momentum carries into demos and genres beyond our traditional core, including families."
Context and Industry Impact
The duology, produced for around $300 million combined (excluding marketing), builds on the 2003 Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. The first film earned 10 Oscar nominations on January 23, 2025, winning for best costume design and production design on March 2, 2025.
Comscore's Paul Dergarabedian highlighted the timing: "It sets up a very strong final homestretch of the year." With upcoming releases like Zootopia 2, the film bolsters a domestic box office nearing $7.5 billion, aiming for a post-pandemic target of $9 billion.