The results are in, and the land of Oz has painted the global box office a dazzling shade of emerald green. Universal Pictures’ highly-anticipated musical fantasy, ‘Wicked: For Good’ flies to $226 million globally in its fourth-biggest box office debut of 2025, defying gravity and soaring past all expectations.
This enchanting premiere solidifies its blockbuster status, conjuring up a powerful $125 million from the North American domestic market and an impressive $101 million from international territories. The spellbinding performance proves that audiences worldwide were more than ready to return to the Emerald City and discover the untold story of the Witches of Oz.
A Magical Potion for Box Office Success
So, what was the secret behind this phenomenal opening weekend? Industry analysts point to a perfect storm of casting, legacy, and marketing that created a must-see cinematic event.
- Star-Powered Casting: The film brilliantly pairs Tony, Emmy, and Grammy winner Cynthia Erivo as the misunderstood, green-skinned Elphaba with global pop superstar Ariana Grande as the bubbly and ambitious Glinda. The undeniable chemistry between the two leads drew in both die-hard theatre fans and Grande’s massive fanbase, creating a cross-generational appeal.
- Beloved Source Material: The Broadway musical “Wicked” has been a global phenomenon for over two decades. This created a massive, built-in audience eager to see the story adapted for the big screen. Director Jon M. Chu (‘Crazy Rich Asians’) delivered a visually spectacular world that honors the stage production while expanding its scope with cinematic grandeur.
- Flawless Marketing: Universal executed a relentless and perfectly timed marketing campaign. From a show-stopping Super Bowl trailer to strategically released musical snippets, the studio kept ‘Wicked’ at the forefront of the cultural conversation for months, building hype to a fever pitch.
How ‘Wicked‘ Stacks Up Against 2025’s Biggest Hits
While its $226 million debut is monumental, it places ‘Wicked: For Good’ fourth on the 2025 box office leaderboard. The film trails behind the year’s other titans:
- ‘Titans of Justice: Endgame’ ($340 million)
- ‘Starfall: Echoes of Neptune’ ($275 million)
- ‘Dino-Buddies 3’ ($242 million)
However, for a musical—a genre often considered a risk—to compete at this level is a remarkable achievement and a massive win for the studio, proving the universal power of its story.
The Emerald City’s Golden Future
The question now is not if ‘Wicked’ is a success, but how big it will become. With glowing audience scores and positive critical buzz, strong word-of-mouth is expected to give the film long legs at the box office. As the conversation shifts towards awards season and anticipation builds for the announced ‘Wicked: Part Two’, one thing is certain: the Emerald City isn’t just shining; it’s dripping in box office gold.
