WICKED: FOR GOOD Takes Flight At Box Office, Breaks Own Record

WICKED: FOR GOOD Takes Flight At Box Office, Breaks Own Record

Universal expected the Wicked sequel to open strong at the box office — but the film’s early numbers are surpassing even the studio’s most optimistic projections.

News
By MarkJulian - Nov 23, 2025 05:11 PM EST
Filed Under: Fantasy
Source: SFFGazette.com

Universal's big-screen adaptation of the Broadway hit-musical Wicked continues to enthrall audiences worldwide, and the studio's choice to divide the story across two movies is turning out to be an incredibly savvy financial move.

With a $150 million budget, the first film made an impressive $759 million worldwide in 2024, and it looks like Wicked: Part Two is poised to achieve even greater success, opening with a staggering $226 million worldwide.

This opening represents yet another significant victory for the team, with $150 million coming from local sales and $76 million from foreign ones.

Wicked: For Good resets the record for domestic opening weekend gross, surpassing the $112 million gross of the 2024 film.

With such a strong opening at the box office, talk has already turned to the possibility of a third installment, which of course, would be a remake of the Wizard of Oz.

WB-subsidiary New Line has a remake in development from Nicole Kassell, director of the TV show Watchmen. At the same time, Warner Bros. also has a remake in the works from Black-ish creator Kenya Barris (which actually sounds closer to Diana Ross and Michael Jackson's The Wiz) .

But Universal doesn't have its own project in development, and  given these box office numbers, that should change very quickly.

The original 1900 L. Frank Baum Wizard of Oz novel is part of the public domain, but Warner Bros. owns the copyright to the 1939 film adaptation, meaning anything original to the film and not part of the book, is owned by WB.

These elements would include the ruby slippers (they were silver in the book), the specific look of the characters from the movie, and the movie-exclusive 'It was all a dream" ending.

About The Author:
MarkJulian
Member Since 6/8/2011
CBM writer for a decade+.
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Batmangina
Batmangina - 11/23/2025, 5:06 PM
Is it comic accurate?
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 11/23/2025, 6:08 PM
@Batmangina - Being accurate is offensive

User Comment Image
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 11/23/2025, 5:10 PM
Good for the cast and crew. Looking forward to seeing what Chu does next.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 11/23/2025, 6:09 PM
@ModHaterSLADE - And I'm looking forward to seeing what Chu does next.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 11/23/2025, 7:04 PM
@ObserverIO -Makes two of us.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 11/23/2025, 7:22 PM
@ModHaterSLADE - Makes Chu of us.
Nolanite
Nolanite - 11/23/2025, 7:47 PM
@ObserverIO -

And I am looking forward to seeing what Chu does next after I look forward to seeing what Chu does next.

Nolanite out
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 11/23/2025, 8:30 PM
@Nolanite - Here's looking at Chu, Nolanite.
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 11/23/2025, 5:19 PM
I just found out that's the real face of the broad playing the witch, not prosthetics. 😬
TheOtherOn
TheOtherOn - 11/24/2025, 12:29 AM
@Feralwookiee -

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ClungeOfSteel
ClungeOfSteel - 11/23/2025, 5:31 PM
Wait a minute? I thought streaming had a massive impact on ticket sales 👀

This opening is clearing some pre pandemic movie's openings 👀
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 11/23/2025, 5:50 PM
@ClungeOfSteel - Wait a minute, does one movie define the whole industry?

I will enlighten you once again. In 2024, Box Office for domestic movies in US was 8.58B, the last time a number less than that was in 2001 when it was 8billion. Global box office for 2024 was 32.3B, the last time a number less than that was in 2010 at 31.8B. Funnily enough, in 2001, global box office was 18.3B and by inflation that would have been 32B in 2024 bucks.

You want me to explain how that translates to total ticket sold for all movies, or you gonna be happy knowing that one movie is performing well?
ClungeOfSteel
ClungeOfSteel - 11/23/2025, 6:01 PM
@SpiderParker - tf you talking about? I was told certain movies were struggling due to those 2 factors, turns out it was all bs excuses as a few movies released this year are proving those theories wrong 👀
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 11/23/2025, 6:14 PM
@ClungeOfSteel - We like to make excuses for our cbms and then fight with anybody brave enough to point out the truth of the matter.

With Marvel, all hope lies in Doom.
With DC, all hope lies in... shit I don't know. Matt Reeves maybe? David Ellison? Somebody. Somebody gotta save DC.
ClungeOfSteel
ClungeOfSteel - 11/23/2025, 6:44 PM
@ObserverIO - well observed!

And 😅😂 at the DC bit
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 11/23/2025, 7:02 PM
@ClungeOfSteel - I explained to you how the ticket sales are still affected no matter what your argument is, it won't change that fact.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 11/23/2025, 7:07 PM
@ObserverIO - For clarity - 2019, $42.5B global movie box office. Translate that to 2025 dollars that's $54B. Compare that to the numbers made in 2024. $54B vs $32.3B.

That's roughly 8 to 8.5Billion tickets sold in 2019 vs only 4.5 to 5Billion tickets sold in 2024 which is the same projection for 2025 as well. Now do you see the drop of more than 40%, or rather, do you see that movies need to perform 70% better to reach the same height as 2019?

These are statistics. So, while you may say "We like to make excuses for our cbms and then fight with anybody brave enough to point out the truth of the matter." That currently fits you people who don't believe there is an cause and effect than people like me who are brave enough to point out the truth of the matter.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 11/23/2025, 7:20 PM
@SpiderParker - Movies are making less generally. But some movies are still making all the money. That used to be cbms.

At the beginning of the year I predicted that Wicked and prolly Avatar would be two of these movies. But that of all the tentpole summer movies it was all up in the air. There were no guarantees. From Snow White to Superman, the only one that I said would be safe was Lilo & Stitch and safe it was.

Superman and Fantastic Four should have been two of the movies that would predictably make all the money like Wicked 2 was.

That's the difference.
ClungeOfSteel
ClungeOfSteel - 11/23/2025, 7:38 PM
@SpiderParker - ooooooh ticket sales are still affected yet this and other movies are still doing big numbers 👀

I guess people are just watching what they find interesting then 😌
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 11/23/2025, 9:24 PM
@ObserverIO - Big surprise that Lilo & Stitch, a family/kids movie based on a beloved cartoon did decent numbers. Big surprise that Snow White, which already had many other adaptation and was also wrapped up in so many controversies didn't.

Bigger surprise that Wicked 2, another family/kids movie and a sequel to a movie that did decent numbers, MIGHT outdo its predecessor. But it must have been hard to figure out that two superhero movies that didn't do great numbers were also the ones whose previous installments were disastrous and whose demographics weren't purely family/kids.

But, am I fair to assume that, if you think these movies are doing good and decent numbers, they would have done better numbers pre-pandemic or is that too much?

For context though, Superman did 220m opening weekend, Man of Steel did 196m, Wicked did 165m, Wicked 2 did 226m. So, if Superman had a better start than most of them, why didn't it end its run higher? So, I'll wait for the moment when you realize these days these statistics are not as reliable and it relies on a whole lot than before but primary are which movie we can take the whole family to watch in theaters as a group activity or which are cultural significant movie and which movie we can wait to stream.

There are no guarantees now. If you really think these movies like Lilo & Stitch or even Superman would have made the same box office before pandemic, you need to stop smoking. You may choose to not believe the reality, but it won't change the fact. Try to see the forest not the trees.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 11/23/2025, 9:26 PM
@ClungeOfSteel - Certainly. Sure. Of course. If you say so.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 11/24/2025, 4:43 AM
@SpiderParker - "So, if Superman had a better start than most of them, why didn't it end its run higher?"

That's kind of my point.

Just because DC keep [frick]ing dropping the ball doesn't mean that Superman isn't one of the most globally recognised and biggest names in superherodom.

"There are no guarantees now."

Actually there are. Your first paragraph sarcastically agreed with me there. It's pretty obvious that Wicked and Lilo & Stitch were gonna do big numbers. Those guarantees just no longer extend to cbms not even the big ones.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 11/24/2025, 4:45 AM
Scary example: Doomsday.

We should all be 100% certain that Avengers: Doomsday will do Endgame numbers. But (and here comes the scary part) we're not.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 11/24/2025, 9:37 AM
@ObserverIO - I agreed you on Lilo & Stitch cause family can bring their kids for a fun day after not going to the movies for days. Kids will ask their parents to see it so its a given if the movie is decent but that doesn't change the fact it is still not great numbers, but only decent as I already pointed out. Pre-pandemic, it would have been $1.5B at least.

Likewise, Doomsday will do good probably between the range of Age of Ultron to Infinity Wars but its highly doubtful that it will surpass Endgame unless everyone feels like this is a significant cultural event that you can't miss. Even then it is going to be hard. It is a fact that total ticket sales are at an all time low.

If the global ticket sales need 70% increase to match 2019's ticket sales, is it really unfair to say that movies doing good right now would have experienced 70% more ticket sales pre-pandemic?

For context, global ticket sale for 2024 is less than 5B and prepandemic was 8B meanwhile 2000 was 6.5B and 1985 was 5B. You understand how much pandemic has affected? You may choose to see one tree and say the forest is okay but the forest is indeed on fire. And that one tree is also sick but its just apparent to you cause of your bias. Pre-pandemic, these movies would have performed atleast 40% higher numbers, yes EVEN Deadpool & Wolverine, which had roughly 350million tickets sold.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 11/24/2025, 2:23 PM
@SpiderParker - Even NWH, you're saying NWH woulda grossed 3 billy?

You're entire argument is that movies are down generally. I agree. I keep agreeing. But that isn't the reason that cbms are no longer the must-see movies they once were. Must-see movies do still exist and cbms are no longer must see. Multiversal ones maybe and that's the only reason I think Doomsday has a chance.
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 11/24/2025, 7:46 PM
@ObserverIO - Must movies do exist but even they are suffering. Yes I do think NWH would have made more money considering the buzz around it and the pandemic affecting it. It had 3 beloved Spider-Men and they were playing in the Marvel multiverse for the first time with Strange in it as well as pseudo-Sinister 5 who were all from previous movies, the scope was indeed Avengers level if you take into account the villain side as well.

And that is the reason CBMs are no longer the must-see movies. Streaming and pandemic has changed preferences. Heck even I don't go to the movies a whole lot than pre-pandemic cause I know they will be available on stream soon enough. Mind you, I have seen 90% of Marvel and DC movies (yes the shitty ones) before pandemic in theaters. You are saying they aren't the must see now, which I agree, but the reasoning behind it is pandemic and streaming, that's as simple as that.

And its not just CBMs, its most movies. Some fare better cause of the family time aspect or buzz around it for being unique but its also a fact that they would have fared even better before 2020.

Doomsday might have a chance but even then I wouldn't bet on it surpassing Endgame even if it might do it, it would not be a certain thing as it would have been if pandemic and streaming didn't happen. Secret Wars might have a bigger chance though if Doomsday is a great movie as Infinity War was. Endgame numbers was thanks to the groundwork laid by Infinity Wars and IW deserved to make more money as it was a superior movie that's why a movie's worth shouldn't be calculated by the box office, there are a various things contributing to it like how good the previous movie was. Which is why I can say that Man of Tomorrow will make more money than Superman even if it is not a billion, there is a possibility for it now.
ObserverIO
ObserverIO - 11/24/2025, 7:51 PM
@SpiderParker - "And that is the reason CBMs are no longer the must-see movies."

No, it's not. Because it's (as you keep saying) ALL movies that are down since the pandemic.

"And its not just CBMs, its most movies"

See?
SpiderParker
SpiderParker - 11/24/2025, 8:15 PM
@ObserverIO - Umm, that's exactly what I said. I specifically said CBM as a callback to your statement that CBM's are no longer a must see. Both statements are true! I'm not sure why you think CBM are not included in the set of All Movies or why the statement can't be true for the subset if its true for superset.

???
SuperCat
SuperCat - 11/23/2025, 6:17 PM
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Apophis71
Apophis71 - 11/23/2025, 7:06 PM
WHY would the sequel OBVIOUSLY be a remake of The Wizard of Oz, when this is an otherverse story and Dorothy's adventure is contained within the second film from beginning to end anyway.

I'm not saying a third movie WOULDN'T be this second film all over again from Dorothy's perspective instead but for one it wouldn't be a sequel and would not be in line with the rest of the books either.

The remaining unadapted novels dealt with what happened after the 'death' of the Wicked Witch with the second one about her Son (a full decade after the end of the first book). The third book overlaps the first two books from the Cowardly Lions PoV (plus a new characters) ending around 8yrs after the second novel and the fourth the focus is on the Grand-Daughter of Elphaba, RETURN of Dorothy and her trial for the killing the 'Wicked Witches' of the East and West during a full blown civil War in Oz.

TLDR we don't know for sure if a third film would be set before Wicked, or after WFG, or even if Elphaba let alone Dorothy would feature in it going by the novels the stage play was based on the first of. Being a retread of the second film however, from the PoV of Dorothy, seems unlikely although possible.
Biggums
Biggums - 11/23/2025, 7:51 PM
Co-sponsored by Ozempic
CreateNowSlpL8r
CreateNowSlpL8r - 11/23/2025, 8:19 PM
Im not sure how someone doesnt pull this girl aside before she passes away from whatever is going on with her.
DarthOmega
DarthOmega - 11/23/2025, 8:46 PM
@CreateNowSlpL8r - For the same reason countless celebrities self destruct even though they are surrounded by people. You're the bread winner. You're the star. Nobody wants to be kicked out of the circle so they keep their mouths shut. They will tell you how beautiful you are and how much people are jealous of you. They will shield you from criticism. I've even seen interviewers fawn over her Cynthia and Ariana as if they are angels who have descended from the heavens. The crazy thing is, if nobody steps up, you will end up losing access anyway if something tragic happens to the star.

I hope neither of them have something serious going on health wise and it's just side effects from a drug that can be fully reversible. But those type drugs are new and it could be years before we know the full effect.
CreateNowSlpL8r
CreateNowSlpL8r - 11/23/2025, 10:37 PM
@DarthOmega - I dont Ariana was heavy enough for a weight loss drug ever. Like, those arent meant to lose 20 pounds. I see things like shes vegan now. She has something more going on than vegan.
RolandD
RolandD - 11/23/2025, 10:48 PM
@CreateNowSlpL8r - I just read some quotes from Gene Simmons saying that he wishes he had said more to Ace and Peter when they were abusing substances and self-destructing. He went on to say why he didn’t and why others didn’t were much like @DarthOmega said . He said it was things like enjoying the moment, the women, not wanting to upset the success. I might not be getting everything he said right but this is the gist of it.
CreateNowSlpL8r
CreateNowSlpL8r - 11/23/2025, 11:42 PM
@RolandD - I actually googled images of her over just the last few years. At least in those years, shes didnt look like she had anything to lose to begin with. She looks really sick. The fact that shes commenting on it means she knows but she has to be lying about it. Some kind of eating disorder at minimum.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 11/23/2025, 10:32 PM
I could easily see this ending up as one of the, if not the highest grossing movies of the year alongside A Minecraft Movie & Lilo and Stitch…

It has some competition in the form of Zootopia 2 and perhaps Five Nights at Freddy 2 but I still think it will continue to do very well in theaters depending on when they give a digital release date which I could see happening before Avatar comes out.

Anyway congrats to the cast & crew , I haven’t seen both films but definitely want to soon!!.
NGFB
NGFB - 11/24/2025, 12:10 AM
Ticket sales have never recovered post pandemic. People are now just too lazy to go out and/or spend money. Domestic annual ticket sales from www.the-numbers.com/market/
2025: 766 million (estimated)
2024: 760m
2023: 939m
2022: 702m
2021: 444m
2020: 219m
2019: 1.225 billion
2018: 1.311b
1995 - 2017 are all between 1.221b - 1.575b
jackbauer884
jackbauer884 - 11/24/2025, 6:12 AM
@NGFB - No, loser. People aren't lazy. They just spend money for more important things. Like rents, groceries ect. Which are expensive. And most have children too.
dragon316
dragon316 - 11/24/2025, 8:01 AM
@jackbauer884 - forgot monthly cellphone bills
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