The highly anticipated musical film Wicked: For Good has generated impressive early box office numbers, raking in approximately $20 million to $22 million during its Thursday night previews. This figure is further boosted when considering additional screenings from Amazon and premium fan shows held on Wednesday, suggesting a much stronger opening than initially expected.
In comparison, the current record for the year belongs to Disney/Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four: First Steps, which achieved $24.4 million during its Thursday previews, starting at 14:00. While these figures are industry estimates and should be viewed cautiously until Universal Pictures releases official numbers, the early results indicate a solid performance for Wicked: For Good.
Last year, the original Wicked film garnered $19.2 million during its previews, which included $11 million from Thursday showings, $2.5 million from Monday previews, and $5.7 million from fan events on Wednesday. Those previews represented 42% of the film’s first day total of $46.2 million, leading to a remarkable opening weekend of $112.5 million, the highest for any film adapted from a Broadway musical.
Looking ahead, some industry analysts project that Wicked: For Good could achieve a weekend box office total exceeding $175 million. However, it is important to note that the sequel may experience front-loading similar to the original film. The demographics from Screen Engine/Comscore PostTrak indicate that the audience for the first Wicked film was predominantly female, with 72% of viewers being women and 57% aged between 18 and 34.
Fans are already expressing enthusiasm for the sequel, with early reviews suggesting that Wicked: For Good is just as good, if not better, than its predecessor. The film currently holds a 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, slightly higher than the original’s score of 95%.
As with the first installment, Wicked: For Good is anticipated to perform strongly in the domestic market, mirroring the original’s success, which saw 63% of its $758.4 million global box office coming from the U.S. and Canada. Analysts are forecasting that the global opening for the sequel could exceed $200 million, further solidifying its place in box office history.
The excitement surrounding Wicked: For Good suggests it could break numerous opening records, continuing the legacy of its beloved predecessor. As audiences flock to theaters, all eyes will be on the final figures for what promises to be a spectacular weekend for this musical sensation.
