Box Office: ‘Wicked: For Good’ Scores Massive $30.8 Million in Previews, Biggest of the Year
Universal’s “Wicked: For Good” is already casting a powerful spell over the North American box office, posting a massive $30.8 million in early preview earnings—the highest pre-opening total of any film this year.
The figure comes with an asterisk, however. Unlike traditional preview tallies, which typically include only Thursday evening screenings, Universal widened the window for eager fans. The studio hosted Amazon Prime–backed fan screenings on Monday, generating $6.1 million, followed by another $6.5 million from additional Wednesday showings. Thursday’s official preview slate—featuring double-feature showings of both “Wicked” installments—added $18.2 million to the total.
This performance easily surpasses the previous 2024 high set by Warner Bros.’ “Superman,” which pulled in $22.5 million from Thursday previews ahead of a $125 million opening weekend.
A Blockbuster Opening Weekend Ahead
Early projections suggest “Wicked: For Good” is heading toward a $150 million to $180 million domestic debut, which would put it in contention for the biggest opening of the year. The current top spot belongs to “A Minecraft Movie,” which earned $10.6 million in Thursday previews before building to a $162 million opening weekend.
Universal, however, is remaining conservative with its forecast, estimating a $125 million launch. But with momentum building and social buzz still strong—bolstered by the iconic performances of Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba—industry analysts expect the musical sequel to outperform internal expectations.
Following Up a Hollywood Phenomenon
The first installment of Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical debuted on the same pre-Thanksgiving weekend last year, raking in $19.2 million from previews and climbing to a $112.5 million opening. That film went on to power a record-setting holiday frame, contributing to a combined $420 million Thanksgiving weekend box office, alongside hits like “Gladiator II” and “Moana 2.”
Now, one year later, “Wicked: For Good” reunites its sprawling ensemble—including Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, and Bowen Yang—to conclude the sweeping reimagining of the “Wizard of Oz” world.
With Disney’s “Zootopia 2” debuting next week, the two family-friendly titles are expected to dominate moviegoing traffic through the extended holiday season.
Other New Releases This Weekend
While “Wicked: For Good” is the clear box office juggernaut, the weekend brings several smaller-scale releases.
Sony’s action sequel “Sisu: Road to Revenge” is targeting a $3 million opening, after generating $575,000 in Thursday previews.
Searchlight’s dark comedy-drama “Rental Family,” starring Academy Award winner Brendan Fraser, is also launching this weekend, though industry estimates expect it to open in the low single-digit millions.
A Strong Signal for Year-End Box Office
With a commanding preview total and exceptional audience anticipation, “Wicked: For Good” appears ready to seize the year’s biggest debut. Its performance may also provide the kind of holiday-season momentum the box office has been craving, setting the stage for a strong final stretch of 2024.
