'Wicked: For Good' breaks all-time box office record in the US on its first day

The highly anticipated film "Wicked: For Good" debuted in North American theaters with a surprising performance, breaking box office records on its first day of release. The continuation of the adaptation of the famous Broadway musical won a significant audience, consolidating itself as a resounding success and promising a highly notable trajectory at the box office. The film's plot takes up the story of the characters Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, and Glinda, played by Ariana Grande, whose paths diverged after the events of the first feature. Glinda, now a public princess, faces a complex political scenario, marked by the demonization of Elphaba, which culminates in a decisive confrontation that could transform the City of Oz forever. According to data released by the website Deadline, "Wicked: For Good" grossed an impressive 68.6 million dollars on Friday alone and in advance screenings in 4,115 cinemas across North America. With this performance, the film is projected to reach a total of 151.5 million dollars at the end of the first weekend, consolidating the biggest release ever recorded for an adaptation of a Broadway musical in the United States, even surpassing the record set by the previous film in the franchise. For comparison, the first film in the series also had a highly successful debut, grossing $114 million, while the previous record for an adapted musical was held by "Into the Woods," which grossed $31 million in its opening weekend. Furthermore, "Wicked: For Good" is expected to become the second biggest opening of 2025 so far, behind only "A Minecraft Movie", which totaled $162.7 million in the domestic market. In the context of Universal Pictures' history, the film will only be behind the performance of "Jurassic World" (2015), which reached 208.8 million dollars in its debut. This scenario reinforces the magnitude of the commercial success of "Wicked: For Good" and its relevance in the current cinematic panorama. Despite the success at the box office, the film's promotion faced a negative episode during the premiere in Singapore. An overenthusiastic fan invasively approached Ariana Grande on the red carpet, resulting in the arrest of 26-year-old Australian Johnson Wen. He pleaded guilty to public nuisance and was ordered to serve nine days in jail, it was reported. The film's positive impact, combined with its record-breaking performance, reinforces the strength of the "Wicked" franchise and the public's growing interest in film adaptations of major Broadway productions. The expectation is that the film will continue to attract viewers and maintain its prominent position at the box office in the coming weeks. Check out the official trailer for "Wicked: For Good" below and get ready to follow this new phase of the saga that promises to transform the magical universe of Oz.