“Wicked: for good” Casts a Spell at Global box Office,Grossing $226 Million
Los Angeles – global’s “Wicked: For Good” launched to $226 million worldwide this weekend,establishing itself as the fourth-biggest global debut of 2025 to date. The film, the second installment adapting the Broadway musical “Wicked,” represents a strong start for the revisionist take on “The wizard of Oz” story.
The opening places “For Good” behind Disney’s “Lilo & Stitch” remake ($341 million), “Jurassic World Rebirth” ($322 million), and “A Minecraft Movie” ($313 million). It surpasses the openings of “Superman” ($220 million) and “The Fantastic Four” ($218 million). Domestically, the film earned $150 million, while international markets contributed $76 million.
“Wicked: For Good” has already set records as the biggest Broadway adaptation ever, exceeding the $164.2 million worldwide total of 2024’s “Wicked,” as well as its $50.2 million international and $112.5 million domestic benchmarks. The success is attributed, in part, to the established fanbase of the “Wicked” intellectual property. The original “Wicked” film grossed $758 million globally,with $474 million domestically and $283 million overseas. Distributors are hoping for a more balanced international-domestic split with the sequel.Key international territories included the United Kingdom and ireland ($24.4 million), Australia ($8.6 million), and Germany ($4.1 million).
Directed by Jon M. Chu, “Wicked: For Good” continues the story of Elphaba and Glinda, exploring their journeys as the characters known as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. Despite a darker tone and fewer instantly recognizable songs compared to the first film, analysts predict continued strong performance through the holiday season.
“This is a sensational opening,” said David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research. “The only limitation, relatively speaking, is the series’ overseas performance.’The Wizard of Oz’ is a classic American story, with a natural domestic skew.”
The film’s momentum is expected to continue with the release of Disney’s “Zootopia 2,” perhaps contributing to one of the biggest Thanksgiving box office periods on record. Gross noted, “Moviegoing is roaring back this weekend, and it will strengthen again with ‘Zootopia 2.’ These are tough times, with a few strong titles breaking through and even setting records,” while acknowledging ongoing challenges in overall movie attendance.
