It is quite a performance for this Broadway hit, based on the adaptation of the novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” by Gregory Maguire, set in the world of the classic, “The Wizard of Oz.”
In the US, Jon M Chu’s “Wicked” movie achieved the best box-office launch ever for an adaptation of a Broadway musical. This figure is more than three times that of the previous record holder. “Into the Woods,” adapted in 2014 and starring Meryl Streep, previously held the record with an opening weekend grossing US$31 million.
The new movie also recorded the third-best opening of the year, behind “Deadpool & Wolverine” (US$211 million) and “Inside Out 2” (US$151 million). It won its duel with “Gladiator II,” also released in the US on Friday, Nov 22. Ridley Scott’s sequel grossed US$55 million
“Wicked” didn’t just dominate the US box office. Internationally, the film also broke records, grossing US$50.2 million, taking its worldwide box office total to US$164 million.
This figure is the highest ever recorded for an adaptation of a Broadway musical, surpassing even “Les Misérables,” and ranking fifth among all musical films. And its box-office grosses are set to rise even higher when the movie opens in additional countries in the coming weeks.
That said, it will have to compete with the Disney sequel “Moana 2” released on Nov 27 in several countries, including the US, where it coincides with Thanksgiving weekend – a prime time to head to the movies.
However, this success does not necessarily pave the way for a slew of blockbuster musicals. Tom Hooper’s 2019 adaptation of the famous musical “Cats” was a flop, grossing almost US$70 million at the global box office.
To a lesser extent, “Joker: Folie à Deux” was widely criticised for its emphasis on music, turning the film into a disappointing musical for some viewers.
“With Wicked, Universal created the blueprint on how to grab US$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 Dergarabedian, quoted by the Hollywood Reporter.
“Lest anyone thinks this opens the floodgates for a sudden barrage of hit movie musicals [they] need to 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.”