As a die-hard musical theater fan with over two decades of experience under my belt, let me tell you, I was absolutely spellbound by “Wicked.” The way it brought the beloved Broadway production to life on the big screen was nothing short of magical.
After long-awaited excitement, the first part of the “Wicked” movie has finally arrived in theaters (with the second half not set to debut until November 2025). This film adaptation is based on the successful Broadway musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, which itself was inspired by Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” That book, in turn, was influenced by the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz” and Frank L. Baum’s original novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Unsurprisingly, the film has been a massive hit at the box office, exceeding all expectations even during its preview screenings before the official release on November 22, 2024. The reason for its success is obvious.
In this situation, there are numerous elements influencing the outcome, including the general excitement, strategic release date, massive marketing effort akin to Greta Gerwig’s 2023 blockbuster “Barbie,” and the subsequent coloring of Hollywood with pink. Let’s delve into the full rundown on “Wicked,” its extraordinary success in 2022, and everything you should know about this pop culture craze that has swept through our culture like wildfire.
How much did the Wicked movie make at the box office?
The film “Wicked” proved to be highly profitable at the box office, and it was evident from ticket sales alone that success was imminent even before its release. According to Box Office Pro, shortly after tickets went on sale in October 2024, the movie shattered some records, placing as the top PG-Rated first-day ticket pre-seller of 2024 and the third best of all time (following blockbusters like the initial “Frozen” movie and the 2019 live-action version of “The Lion King”). As for its opening weekend, we can only imagine the impressive numbers it must have generated.
The musical “Wicked” delivered an exceptional performance during its debut weekend, shattering numerous box office records as documented by Deadline. It surpassed the opening weekends of previous musical hits like “Into the Woods” and “Les Miserables,” not only becoming the highest-grossing opening for a movie musical but also setting a new record as the biggest opening for a pop star in film, specifically Ariana Grande. Moreover, it earned $19.2 million during previews alone. With a total domestic and international earnings of $164 million during its first weekend, “Wicked” ranks third among the top openings of 2024, trailing only behind “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Inside Out 2,” two box office titans with a history of massive success.
The Wicked musical is extraordinarily … popular
Don’t undervalue the fervor of theater enthusiasts. Although some may have attended the Broadway adaptation out of casual interest, true musical theater aficionados have been eagerly anticipating this film for a long time – decades even, considering the movie’s announcement in 2012 and numerous setbacks along the way, including the significant one caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Delayed as it was from its initial run on Broadway in 2003, “Wicked” left an indelible mark on many theater kids during their middle or high school years, sparking a deep-seated obsession that persists to this day. Given the passionate fanbase who yearned to perform numbers like “Defying Gravity” before a captivated audience, the film’s success was all but guaranteed.
If you haven’t read Gregory Maguire’s original novel, it’s quite a dark story… However, in their musical adaptation, Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman opted to lighten the mood significantly to tell the backstory of Elphaba Thropp, the green magical girl who eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. By incorporating humor and camp, they transformed “Wicked” into a massive cultural sensation, boosted by the exceptional performances of its two original lead actors (Idina Menzel as Elphaba and Kristin Chenoweth as Galinda Upland, later known as the Good Witch). To this day, “Wicked” remains one of Broadway’s highest-grossing musicals, earning numerous Tony nominations—with Menzel winning for best actress, although the show lost most major awards to “Avenue Q”—and productions continue to be staged in theaters worldwide, years after its debut. In essence, it’s one of the most successful, long-lasting, and popular musicals ever produced. Given its success, it was inevitable that it would rake in a fortune at the box office.
The adaptation of the Wicked musical has an incredible cast full of singers and dancers
For many theater enthusiasts, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth have become synonymous with the characters Elphaba and Galinda from the musical “Wicked,” although other actresses like Eden Espinosa, Lindsay Mendez, Annaleigh Ashford, and Megan Hilty have also left their mark on these roles. However, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are making a strong case for challenging those legacies. As Elphaba, Erivo adds a sense of depth to the story of a young girl struggling with her place in the world due to her green skin; Grande’s portrayal of Galinda-turned-Glinda is nothing short of exceptional, stealing the show so effectively that it leaves you speechless. The supporting cast is filled with talented actors as well, including Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Peter Dinklage, who play Madame Morrible, the Wizard of Oz, and Doctor Dillamond respectively. Although their singing abilities may not be top-notch, they deliver solid performances, while the rest of the central performers are seasoned Broadway veterans.
In a groundbreaking move, debutant Marissa Bode, who becomes the first actress with a disability to portray Nessarose, Elphaba’s wheelchair-bound younger sister in the movie, showcases an exceptional voice that she has developed through years of participating in smaller productions. Meanwhile, Ethan Slater, famed for his role in “The Spongebob Squarepants Musical,” seizes a chance to demonstrate why he deserved a Tony nomination with his stellar performance in that production. Jonathan Bailey, previously lauded with an Olivier award for his 2019 role in “Company” on the West End, may be recognized more for his work in “Bridgerton” and “Fellow Travelers,” but his singing and dancing talents in “Wicked” are nothing short of extraordinary. Moreover, Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who both appeared in the massive ensemble number “One Short Day,” which depicts Elphaba and Galinda’s arrival in Oz, further contribute to the outstanding cast that was instrumental to the success of “Wicked.” Indeed, the film version of this musical was cast exceptionally well.
Wicked’s over-the-top marketing blitz clearly worked
Since the release of “Barbie” in the summer of 2023, studios have been striving to replicate its marketing success, with “Wicked” being the most successful attempt so far. Universal Pictures has gone all out, leading to an abundance of pink and green merchandise. From Stanley’s giant water bottles offering pink and green versions to Ariana Grande’s r.e.m. beauty releasing a Wicked-themed makeup line, there’s been no escaping the trend. Clothing retailers like Forever 21 have even launched glittery jerseys bearing Elphaba and Galinda’s names. You can find Wicked collaborations at Target stores nationwide, Shay Mitchell’s luggage line BÉIS Travel offers green and pink-hued suitcases and weekender bags, Oreos have filled their cookies with green and pink cream, and Rice Krispie Treats now feature green and pink sprinkles. Even Ariana Grande and her co-star Cynthia Erivo have been seen wearing outfits inspired by Elphaba and Galinda, with their Met Gala attire in 2024 being a perfect example of this trend.
It doesn’t mean that if a marketing campaign is huge and seemingly unavoidable, a movie will automatically become successful. The success of “Wicked” serves as an example, despite the fact that Ariana Grande may or may not have sold many “Wicked” eyeshadow palettes through her r.e.m. platform. By now, it’s clear that everyone knew “Wicked” was hitting theaters due to the intense marketing campaign.
Socia media buzz — and memes — are both helping Wicked soar
Currently known as X (previously Twitter), the social media platform has been buzzing intensely about “Wicked” memes recently. These memes can either be linked to the original movie or the intense emotionality of the press tour featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. To put it politely, they’ve been shedding quite a few tears while promoting the film, which has inadvertently given rise to some incredibly viral instances. For instance, an unexpected confession made by Out reporter Tracy E. Gilchrist during an interview with Grande and Erivo (as reported by Rolling Stone) has become one such viral moment.
This week, people have been deeply connecting with the words from ‘Defying Gravity’, finding strength and creating a supportive atmosphere. Gilchrist remarks on this phenomenon, which seems both profoundly meaningful and subtly enigmatic. The scene that unfolds next is almost surreal. Erivo appears on the verge of tears and expresses, “That’s incredibly powerful. That’s exactly what I aimed for. I didn’t realize it was resonating this way.” As Erivo speaks, Grande seems to reach out to her co-star and friend, but instead grasps Erivo’s index finger. This moment is a unique blend of the utterly bizarre and deeply moving, and in its wake, everyone has been touched by the powerful impact of the song ‘Defying Gravity’.
It’s clear that amusing incidents such as those involving Erivo or Grande have played a significant role in boosting the popularity of “Wicked.” From Erivo’s reaction to a modified fan-made poster to numerous times when both actresses were moved to tears during interviews, the “Wicked” press tour will be remembered for a long time… and when the second half of the movie premieres in November 2025, similar moments are bound to happen all over again.
When director Jon M. Chu goes big, he succeeds at the box office
Director Jon M. Chu has made significant strides from directing sequels such as “Step Up 2: The Streets” and “Step Up 3D,” respectfully acknowledging the esteemed “Step Up” series. In 2016, he was entrusted with a larger sequel, “Now You See Me 2” – a magic heist film that brought Daniel Radcliffe into an ensemble cast featuring Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, and Woody Harrelson. However, his most substantial work thus far took place two years later in 2018, when he transformed Kevin Kwan’s bestselling novel “Crazy Rich Asians” into a movie for the big screen.
Not only did “Crazy Rich Asians” break new ground in Hollywood by having a primarily Asian cast, a first since “The Joy Luck Club” in 1993, but it also proved to be highly profitable at the box office. Jon M. Chu’s film became the highest-grossing studio romantic comedy of the past decade and ranked sixth among all movies within that genre, raking in an impressive $234 million worldwide on a budget of only $30 million. In the end, it was estimated by outlets like Deadline that the movie made a staggering profit of $120 million.
Regrettably, for Chu, his latest movie – which was his initial Broadway adaptation – didn’t perform as strongly as either “Crazy Rich Asians” or “Wicked.” In 2021, Chu’s version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning musical “In the Heights” premiered in cinemas and on streaming platforms at the same time. Due to a substantial budget and the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, it struggled at the box office with an estimated earnings of around $45 million. However, given the global pandemic and the film’s simultaneous release on streaming services, this may not be a fair assessment for Chu. Instead, we can learn from “Wicked” that when Chu directs a grand spectacle, it tends to perform well at the box office.
The Wicked movie’s release came at the perfect time
It’s common knowledge that high-quality, award-worthy films typically debut around Thanksgiving. By releasing a week before the major holiday in late November, “Wicked” undeniably boosted its chances at the box office. Movies launched during this period often contend for major awards, and while January and August are notorious for being ‘dumping grounds’ for less-acclaimed films, November is an excellent month to premiere a successful movie.
It’s been noted that “Wicked,” with its impressive acting and grand scale, seems ideally suited for numerous Golden Globe nominations. In fact, it appears quite probable that Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande will be contending against each other in the lead actress category for a comedy or musical. The Oscars could also be on the table, as Grande might secure a supporting actress nomination due to her stunningly accurate, authentic, and sharp portrayal of Galinda. Furthermore, the movie’s November release may boost its box office performance, and it might lead to immediate major nominations as well.
No other movie directly competed with Wicked during its opening weekend
In 2023 summer releases, if “Barbie” was paired with “Oppenheimer” in terms of contemporaneity, “Wicked” found itself debuting alongside a highly anticipated sequel – Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II.” It’s worth noting that “Gladiator II,” much like its predecessor which won an Oscar for Best Picture, proved to be successful at the box office. This isn’t surprising given its star-studded cast featuring fresh faces such as Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, and Denzel Washington.
What makes this significant? Some viewers may have enjoyed a “Barbenheimer-esque” double bill, a term popularized as “#Glicked” on social media. However, “Wicked” didn’t need to go head-to-head with “Gladiator II.” Their respective audiences are quite distinct, and if there was any crossover, enthusiasts of both buzzworthy projects likely watched both movies over their shared opening weekend. The absence of another movie aimed at a female audience as direct competition undeniably boosted “Wicked’s” success – the same can be said for “Gladiator II,” in reverse – and while “#Glicked” didn’t reach the popularity of “Barbenheimer,” it still played a role in promoting “Wicked.
All of the early reviews — including during opening weekend — were pretty great
Before its official release in cinemas, “Wicked” received positive reviews across the board, with Cynthia Vinney from Looper being among them. Currently, it boasts a strong 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting that even if it were to decline in the future, it would still be high. The critical consensus is that “Wicked” soars with its enchanting duo of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, offering an unresistible journey to Oz through its grandeur, charm, and faithful adaptation of the original Broadway production. Early reviews were also largely positive, despite a smaller sample size.
Given the resounding success of “Wicked,” both critically and commercially, Jon M. Chu and his team should feel incredibly proud. This triumph might be a positive sign for “Wicked: Part 2,” set to release on November 21, 2025. It’s hard to deny that “Wicked” is one of the most significant films this year, breaking records at the box office. In fact, it could be said that “Wicked” surpassed expectations, much like its characters who defied gravity.
“Wicked” is playing in theaters now.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-11-26 01:00