Wicked: For Good has officially soared past one of Universal's most critically acclaimed releases at the domestic box office.
In a major milestone for the studio, the musical sequel has now outgrossed Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer domestically. This recent update means that the film adaptation of the hit Broadway show is now officially the #15 highest-grossing Universal movie of all time in North America.
At the time of this article's publication, Wicked: For Good had reached an impressive $331.3 million domestic total in its sixth week, edging out the Academy Award-winning film. Oppenheimer received almost universal praise when it premiered in 2023, with many viewers considering it one of the best historical dramas in cinematic history.
While Oppenheimer ultimately became a global hit due to its international performance, Wicked: For Good has proven to be a domestic winner. The film's box office numbers have been speculated to be caused by repeat viewings, great reviews, and the timeless nature of the Broadway musical.
This weekend, Wicked: For Good played in 2,008 theaters, which is around 905 less than last week. However, it still earned $1.85 million on Friday, making it a 45% increase. Its weekend total came in at $4.75 million, demonstrating only a 2% drop from the previous weekend. This is considered a very small decline for a movie that has now been in theaters for over a month.
Passing Oppenheimer on Universal’s domestic chart is no small feat. Nolan’s film was a box office sensation when it first came out in 2023. Wicked: For Good surpassing it, highlights the musical’s massive appeal, from longtime fans of the stage production to general audiences drawn in by its popular stars such as Ariana Grande (Glinda), Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba), and Jonathan Bailey (Fiyero).
This achievement also justified Universal’s decision to split the story into two separate films, a move that was met with skepticism. However, Wicked: For Good’s box office performance validated the studio's choices, proving that audiences were more than willing to return to Oz for a part 2.
