Wicked for Good has officially taken flight at the global box office, and the numbers are nothing short of historic. Universal’s newest musical event did not just open big, it opened record-breaking. In fact, it beat the records set by the first Wicked film and created new milestones across nearly every category.
The film debuted with a massive 150 million dollars domestically and 226 million dollars worldwide, giving it one of the strongest musical openings ever recorded. For a Broadway adaptation, the success is unprecedented. It is now the biggest domestic and global opening for any movie based on a Broadway show, passing every title that came before it.
This release is also the strongest opening of Ariana Grande’s film career. Her fans have been waiting years to see her step into Glinda’s world, and their excitement translated directly into ticket sales. The same goes for Cynthia Erivo, whose performance as Elphaba has been praised as the emotional core of the film. Both actresses now hold their highest global and domestic debuts to date.
Director Jon M. Chu has reached a career peak as well. Wicked for Good marks his biggest global and domestic opening of all time. After years of anticipation, delays, fan debates, and endless speculation online, audiences finally got to see his vision, and the turnout shows how strongly the movie resonated.
Perhaps the most interesting part of this box office story is how Wicked for Good essentially beat itself. The film’s opening crushed the first Wicked film’s debut of 112.5 million domestic and 164 million global. Sequels rarely open higher than their predecessors, especially in the musical genre, but Wicked for Good managed it with ease.
It also ranks as the fifth highest global opening weekend for a musical in history, putting it in elite company and reaffirming the staying power of this franchise. With incredible word of mouth, huge rewatch value, and a built-in fanbase that has waited almost two decades for these stories to hit the big screen, the film’s momentum is only just beginning.
The movie has sparked massive cultural conversation too. Fans are sharing reactions, behind-the-scenes clips, and theatre-going experiences online nonstop. Scenes between Grande and Erivo are already being called some of the most powerful in modern musical cinema. Songs are climbing charts again, cosplay has erupted across social timelines, and theatres around the world are reporting packed shows day after day.
Also Read: Cynthia Erivo Steps In To Protect Ariana Grande At Wicked For Good Premiere
Universal has once again proven that when they commit to a big, bold musical world, audiences show up. With records broken, fan excitement at an all-time high, and the future of the franchise now wide open, Wicked for Good stands poised to become one of the defining pop culture moments of 2025.
