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Record-Breaking ‘Wicked’ Is a Smash at the Box Office

The first installment of the musical comedy broke records during its opening weekend.

Other blockbusters are sure to be green with envy when they see Wicked’s record-breaking box office debut. Variety reports that the first movie in the two-part Broadway musical adaptation extravaganza made $114 million stateside and $50.2 million overseas. This $165 million payday exceeds its $150 million budget. Its success also makes it the third-largest film opening in 2024 behind Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2, which made $211 million and $154 million, respectively. Wicked also had the most profitable opening weekend of any Broadway show turned film. The movie, directed by Jon M. Chu, stars pop star Ariana Grande as good witch Glinda and two-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo as her fellow witch and green frenemy Elphaba. For just over two hours, the film explores what could’ve happened between the two that led to their notorious rift long before Dorothy and her red shoes blew into Oz. Film legend Jeff Goldblum plays the equally legendary Wizard of Oz, and Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh portrays Madam Morrible, a headmistress at the university the young witches attend. The second film is expected to be released in November 2025.