Wicked Becomes Highest-Grossing Broadway Adaptation

The film adaptation of Wicked has shattered box office records, becoming the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation in history with over $263 million domestically within just eight days of its release on November 22, 2024. Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the film earned $114 million during its opening weekend, surpassing the previous record held by Grease, which earned $190 million unadjusted for inflation. Despite competition from other major films like Gladiator II and Moana 2, Wicked's strong performances and critical reception have contributed to its financial success, with projections indicating it could ultimately reach over $500 million. The film has also made history as the only Broadway adaptation to exceed the $200 million mark in domestic grosses. While it lags behind animated musical films like Disney's Beauty and the Beast in all-time rankings, it has secured a place in the top four highest-grossing movies based on Broadway musicals worldwide, with earnings of $358 million. Wicked's story, based on Gregory Maguire's novel, explores the backstory of iconic characters from The Wizard of Oz, and it is set to release its second part on November 21, 2025.