“Wicked: For Good” is hitting the notes and wallets alike, with box office numbers that scream potential blockbuster. Before officially opening, it raked in $30.8 million from advanced screenings, outshining many past hits.
What happened
According to IndieWire, “Wicked: For Good” tallied an impressive total from three separate preview events this week. It surpassed previous heavyweights like “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which made $24.4 million in its previews. The original “Wicked” managed $19.2 million before its grand opening, so this sequel is already on a steeper trajectory.
The $30.8 million puts it in the Top 10 ever for a preview total, edging past “The Dark Knight Rises” from 2012. But let’s sprinkle in some context—these numbers are stitched together from multiple days of advanced screenings.
Breaking it down
“Wicked: For Good” flexed its box office muscles over several days:
- Monday: $6.1 million from Amazon Prime member screenings.
- Wednesday: $6.5 million from other advance showings.
- Thursday: $18.2 million, with theaters offering double features with the first “Wicked.”
It opened its doors as early as 11 a.m. on Thursday for those double features, a clever strategy that borders on a full release.
Weekend predictions
With an anticipated opening weekend haul between $150-180 million, this film could dominate 2025’s box office. It’s in line to outperform the first “Wicked,” which closed out with $758.6 million globally. The biggest current contender, “A Minecraft Movie,” scored $162.8 million on its opening weekend, but its previews were meager in comparison.
Don’t let the hefty preview numbers fool you—every studio is playing the same hype game. Previews today don’t quite capture the magic they once did, reminding us of nights when midnight exclusives meant something. Remember “The Dark Knight” making $18.5 million, and that was without 2 p.m. showings on a Thursday?
Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, “Wicked: For Good” revisits the enchanted land of Oz with a fresh perspective.
So, is this the start of a magical box office reign, or just another flick in the pan? Time will tell if Elphaba’s broomstick flight will carry it to new heights.
