‘Wicked’ Topples an MCU Favorite With Yet Another Box Office Milestone

As a seasoned cinephile who has witnessed the evolution of cinema over several decades, I must say that the success of “Wicked” is nothing short of astounding. Having grown up in the era of VHS tapes and blockbuster movies, it’s quite remarkable to see a stage musical adaptation not only captivate audiences on Broadway but also break records at the box office.

Ever since its debut on November 22, “Wicked” has been a cultural sensation that’s swept across the country and shattered several records in its path. Now, it can add yet another feather to its cap, as the film adaptation of this popular Broadway musical has dethroned an MCU fan favorite to secure a spot among the top 50 highest-grossing movies of all time at the domestic box office.

In the movie titled “Wicked“, featuring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, we delve into the intricate bond between Elphaba and Galinda prior to Dorothy’s arrival in Oz. This friendship eventually transforms them into the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, respectively. As reported by Deadline, the film raked in $3.2 million on its pre-Christmas day release, pushing its North American earnings to a staggering $392.4 million. This impressive figure has secured it the #49 spot among the top 50 highest-grossing movies domestically, surpassing Tom Holland’s MCU film “Spider-Man: Far From Home“, which currently holds the bottom spot with $391.4 million. If its growth trend persists, “Wicked” could potentially displace “Frozen” from the #48 position, but it needs to make over $401 million to achieve this feat.

To put it simply, despite being an impressive film, “Wicked” has yet to come close to the global box office success of “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” While “Wicked” has made $580.9 million so far, “Spider-Man: Far From Home” raked in a staggering $1.133 billion by the end of its run. It’s doubtful that “Wicked” will match these numbers as it nears the end of its initial release.

‘Wicked’ Still Has a Chance to Beat ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’

Despite the current situation, don’t underestimate the potential of “Wicked” just yet. It still has a fighting chance to reach, or even surpass, the earnings of “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” The reason for this optimism lies in its unique advantage: it’s only the first installment, with a sequel, “Wicked: For Good,” set for release next November. This means there’s a strong possibility that Universal Pictures could re-release “Wicked” in theaters prior to the sequel, which could significantly boost its total box office collection, potentially placing it on par with the MCU film.

Absolutely, all that talk is merely conjecture right now. However, one thing we can bet on is that during the awards season, the musical “Wicked” is likely to win several prizes given it has been nominated for four Golden Globe Awards, a staggering 11 Critics’ Choice Awards, and eight Satellite Awards. We’ll just have to wait until January 17, 2025, to find out how many Oscar nominations it receives. In the meantime, why not catch “Wicked” at a cinema close to you, courtesy of Universal Pictures?

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2024-12-26 20:03