Universal has been vindicated, thanks to the witches of Oz and the tenacity of studio chief and top NBCUniversal executive Donna Langley.
Over the Nov. 22-24 weekend, director Jon M. Chu’s Wicked opened to an estimated $114 million domestically, the biggest box office launch of all time for a Broadway adaptation in a landslide victory, considering that the previous record-holder, Into the Woods, opened to $31 million, not adjusted for inflation.
Moreover, it’s the fourth-biggest domestic opening among any musical behind three marquee Disney titles.
It couldn’t be a more welcome result for Universal, which was left badly bruised when Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper‘s Cats adaptation turned into a box-office debacle in 2019. The movie opened to just $6.6 million before topping out at $25.2 million domestically and $75.6 million globally. Langley and her team, however, remained steadfast in sticking with making two Wicked movies (Chu’s sequel debuts a year from now).
“With Wicked, Universal created the blueprint on how to grab $100 million-plus worth of opening weekend box office for this notoriously fickle movie genre, which is no small feat considering how many movie musicals have failed despite known IP, notable stars and filmmakers and solid marketing efforts,” says Comscore top box office analyst Paul Degerabedian. “Lest anyone thinks this opens the floodgates for a sudden barrage of hit movie musicals need keep in mind that the road to success for Wicked was thoughtful, strategic and planned out to the ninth degree and therefore won’t be easily replicated.”
Overseas, Wicked also shattered records in launching to $50.2 million from 61 markets for a global launch of $164 million, likewise the biggest worldwide opening for a Broadway musical adaptation ahead of Les Misérables and the fifth-biggest of all time for any musical.
Below is breakdown of where Wicked ranks on the various lists, not adjusted for inflation.
Top 10 Domestic Openings of All Time for a Broadway Musical Adaptation
Wicked (2019) — $114 million
Into the Woods (2014) — $31.1 million
Mamma Mia! (2008) — $27.8 million
Hairspray (2007) — $27.5 million
Les Misréables (2012) — $27.3 million
Annie (2014) — $15.9 million
Rock of Ages (2012) — $14.4 million
Jersey Boys (2014) — $13.3 million
Chicago (2002) — $12.7 million
Grease (1998) — $12.7 million
Top 10 Domestic Openings for Any Stage Musical Adaptation
Wicked (2019) — $114 million
Into the Woods (2014) — $31.1 million
Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Family Reunion (2006) — $30 million
Mamma Mia! (2008) — $27.8 million
Hairspray (2007) — $27.5 million
Les Misréables (2012) — $27.3 million
About Last Night (2014) — $25.6 million
Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married? (2007) — $21.4 million
Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns (2008) — $20.1 mililon
The Birdcage (1996) — $18.3 million
Top Five Domestic Openings for Any Musical
The Lion King (2019) — $191.8 million
The Beauty and the Beast (2017) — $174.8 million
Frozen II (2019) — $130.3 million
Wicked (2024) — $114 million
*Runner-up: The Little Mermaid (2023) — $95.6 million
Top Five Global Openings for Any Musical
The Lion King (2019) — $446 million
The Beauty and the Beast (2017) — $358 million
Frozen II (2019) — $358 million
Aladdin (2019) — $213 million
Wicked (2024) — $164.2 million
Originally based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked tells the untold story of the witches of Oz, with Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. Winnie Holzman, the stage production’s book writer, wrote the screenplay for Chu’s movie with Dana Fox. Academy Award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz adapted the musical for the screen.
