Universal’s Wicked crossed $262 million at the domestic box office this Thanksgiving weekend, making it the highest grossing adaptation of a Broadway musical ever domestically. This is coming off a record-breaking weekend, where the combined efforts of Moana 2, Wicked and Gladiator II made it the highest grossing Thanksgiving weekend ever with over $420 million combined.
While the film was theorized to be eaten up by another PG-rated musical targeting a largely female audience in Moana 2, both films performed very well, breaking records lefts and right. This is especially impressive considering Moana 2 is newer as well as just 1 hour 40 minutes compared to Wicked, which was a full hour longer.
Wicked has now earned $359 million worldwide, making it the fourth highest grossing Broadway musical adaptation worldwide. The only films standing in its way are Grease ($396 million), Les Miserables ($442.7 million) and Mamma Mia! ($611.2 million).
If the film wants to break the top 5 for all live-action musicals at the domestic box office, it still has a way to go. The list is dominated by Disney live-action remakes including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Jungle Book and The Little Mermaid. Plus, if you consider The Lion King (2019) to be live action, that tops them all. Additionally, some consider Greta Gerwig’s Barbie to be a musical, and if that is the case it leads the pack with $636 million domestically.
Leave a Comment