According to prerelease tracking, Universal's highly anticipated musical adaptation Wicked: For Good is poised to open with a triumphant $115 million-plus at the Thanksgiving box office, setting yet another record for a Broadway musical adaptation on the big screen. The second installment in Jon M. Chu's ambitious adaptation of the iconic musical about the witches of Oz opens in North America on November 21st, just before the grand feast weekend. It's also a global day-and-date release.
Leading market research firm NRG predicts the female-fueled film will debut to $115 million domestically, but insiders with access to NRG's raw data believe it could approach or even surpass $120 million. Furthermore, sources say that presales for the second installment are pacing ahead of the first film, though Universal and the filmmakers are managing expectations with a more conservative estimate of $115 million.
Last year, Wicked soared to a record-breaking $112.5 million in its three-day debut, the best showing ever for a musical adaptation. It ultimately topped out at nearly $750 million worldwide, which is also the best showing ever for a Broadway musical adaptation. Wicked: For Good reunites producer Marc Platt and Chu with stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, whose iconic characters must confront the consequences of their choices. Erivo plays Elphaba, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, while Grande plays Glinda the Good Witch. Both are expected to be major players in the Oscar race, as is the film itself.
Last year, Wicked was tracking to start off with $85 million domestically but came in notably higher. Paramount's Gladiator II also opened that weekend, earning a solid $55 million. This time around, Wicked: For Good is the only studio tentpole debuting. The following Wednesday, Disney Animation's Zootopia 2 hits theaters (that film won't come on tracking until next week).
