Wicked Conjures Up $150 Million on Opening Weekend – Biggest Ever for a Broadway Movie

Universal’s much-anticipated “Wicked: For Good” is projected to soar with a massive $150 million plus at the domestic box office, making this potentially the largest opening ever for a Broadway musical film adaptation. The Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo-starrer generated $30.8 million from preview screenings alone, setting it up for a record-shattering launch. 

Industry trackers, including Forbes and Variety, point to a wide release in around 4,000 North American theaters, with estimates ranging from $150 million to as high as $180 million in its first weekend. Those numbers would handily top the $112.5 million opening of the first Wicked movie — already a huge hit and the previous opening record holder for a Broadway adaptation. 

The early preview haul has industry watchers buzzing. The $30.8 million for For Good was not only the biggest preview total of 2025, but also surpassed last year’s first Wicked film preview earnings. Box office analysts say that the high presales, combined with strong fan demand, give Wicked: For Good a real shot at rewriting the musical adaptation box office rulebook. If these projections hold up, Wicked: For Good is poised to set a new height for musical adaptations on the big screens.   

“Wicked: For Good” continues the untold story of Elphaba (Erivo) and Glinda (Grande) in the magical Land of Oz following the former’s gravity-defying escape from Oz. Hunted by the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), Elphaba must fight for survival. Meanwhile, Glinda. the newly crowned Good Witch, grapples with her public persona. With sweeping musical numbers and a bigger world than ever, it’s a fitting final act full of redemption, betrayal, and heart.