Post by : Meena Ariff

The much-anticipated second half of Wicked, titled Wicked: For Good, brought back Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba alongside Ariana Grande as Glinda. The film has achieved the third-highest domestic opening weekend ever for a musical, trailing only Disney's 2019 The Lion King and the 2017 Beauty and the Beast remake, according to Universal Pictures and Comscore.

Not only did the film succeed, but it also reinvigorated a North American box office that experienced a nine-week period of stagnation, during which total ticket sales struggled to exceed $100 million.

Jim Orr, Universal's head of domestic theatrical distribution, remarked, "It’s incredibly gratifying to see the dedication of our filmmakers, Marc Platt and Jon Chu, and the exceptional cast come to fruition so beautifully."

While musical adaptations have faced challenges in theaters, with previous hits like Dear Evan Hansen and In the Heights performing moderately, successful adaptations like Mamma Mia! are uncommon.

Industry expert Daniel Loria noted that splitting Wicked into two films was a bold decision. "Most studios would have opted for just one film; the ability to create two hits from a single intellectual property is a remarkable achievement," he stated.

Analysts attribute the film's success to the Broadway musical's lasting popularity, Jon Chu's astute casting choices, and a robust marketing campaign. Paul Dergarabedian, a box office analyst, emphasized, "Wicked resonates deeply with younger audiences, akin to how The Sound of Music touched the previous generation."

While critics offered mixed feedback, one pointed out that "too much of Wicked: For Good resembles Oz the World Turns." However, audience reception was overwhelmingly positive, with an A grade from CinemaScore and a 95% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Sean Gamble, president and CEO of Cinemark, noted, "Wicked: For Good opened 30% stronger than the original, marking our second largest November opening ever." Universal highlighted that the film excelled particularly in family-oriented markets such as Salt Lake City, Utah.

Globally, Wicked: For Good amassed an impressive $76 million across 78 countries outside North America, lifting its total estimated opening weekend earnings to $226 million.

#Global News #Entertainment News