So, ‘Wicked: For Good’ hit theaters. The numbers are out. And they’re big. $223 million globally in its opening weekend. Fourth-biggest debut of 2025, they say. Sounds like a triumph, right? Well, let’s dig a little deeper.
It’s impressive, sure. But look at what it’s trailing. Disney’s ‘Lilo & Stitch’ remake, ‘Jurassic World Rebirth,’ ‘A Minecraft Movie.’ All mega-franchises. Established names. ‘Wicked’ is holding its own, no doubt. But it’s not exactly setting a new standard for blockbusters. It just barely nudged out ‘Superman’ and ‘The Fantastic Four.’ So, ‘big’ is relative, isn’t it? Depends on your perspective.
Still, a $223 million global take? You can’t just ignore that. Especially in a year where the box office has been, frankly, a bit of a disaster zone for big-budget flicks. We’ve seen plenty of films crash and burn. This one, at least, isn’t one of them. It pulled in $147 million here at home, plus another $76 million from overseas markets. That’s solid.
And here’s something concrete: It broke records. For a Broadway adaptation. Worldwide, internationally, and domestically. New benchmarks set. It even outdid the first ‘Wicked’ movie, which had a decent but not earth-shattering $164 million worldwide debut. Clearly, there’s an audience for this story. Especially in North America. The first film made 62% of its money here. It shows where the core fanbase really is.
But that’s the interesting part, isn’t it? The first ‘Wicked’ was a domestic hit. Not so much a global juggernaut. This time, Universal wants a more even split. They launched in 78 markets. Got some decent returns from the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Germany. David A. Gross, a movie consultant, called it a ‘sensational opening.’ But he quickly noted its ‘limitation’: overseas performance. He’s right. ‘The Wizard of Oz’ is, at its heart, an American story. It has a ‘natural domestic skew.’ Some narratives just travel better than others. It’s a fact.
Now, whispers around ‘For Good’ suggest it’s darker. Fewer of those catchy, sing-along tunes that made the first film so popular. That could be a gamble. Darker themes might hook a different crowd. But losing those big musical numbers? That could easily turn off the casual moviegoer. Yet, the industry expects it to keep pulling people in through the holiday season. They’re banking on it, actually. Especially with ‘Zootopia 2’ on the horizon, supposedly ready to give the box office another boost.
Because let’s be frank: attendance is still a problem. We hear about ‘moviegoing roaring back.’ But then Gross, the expert, admits attendance remains ‘seriously challenged.’ It’s a confusing picture. A few strong films break through. Some even make history. But the overall health of cinemas? Still up in the air. So, ‘Wicked: For Good’ is a win for Universal. Absolutely. But don’t let the headlines convince you everything is suddenly perfect in Hollywood. It’s a momentary ray of sunshine. In a pretty cloudy sky. A good movie for them, sure. But a savior? That’s a stretch. Just another piece on the chessboard, trying to keep the lights on.
