Wicked Redefines Musical Cinema with Box Office Success

Wicked, a unique musical fantasy, has significantly impacted the history of films.

The movie, based on the popular Broadway show, looks into the unknown pasts of Oz’s famous witches.

With great performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, it tells a gripping story and does very well at the box office, changing how Broadway magic is brought to the big screen.

Keep reading to know more details.

Wicked’s Unstoppable Box Office Journey in North America

The much-anticipated musical Wicked, which stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, has broken all kinds of box office records in North America.

When it came out on November 22, 2024, directed by Jon M. Chu, the movie was a huge hit, even more significant than a few classics.

Once it came out, Wicked quickly surpassed Robert Pattinson’s role in Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022) as one of the top 65 highest-grossing pictures of all time in the United States.

Wicked beat out Batman’s $369.4 million domestic total, as well as the domestic totals of Despicable Me ($368.1 million) and The Secret Life of Pets ($368.7 million).

Around the world, Wicked had made $370.4 million by its fourth Thursday. In the US alone, this was the most significant fourth Thursday for any November movie, with a drop of only 19.9%.

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The movie has made an impressive $536.55 million worldwide, with $166.14 million made in other countries.

Notably, Wicked is the third highest-grossing movie in the U.S. and the eighth highest-grossing movie in the world in 2024, beating out Despicable Me 4.

It is expected that the movie will end its run in North America with a total of $450 million to $470 million, making its place in the history of film.

Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox wrote the script, which builds on the story in Gregory Maguire’s 1995 book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.

The movie shows how Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) came to be. It starts with them as rival students at Shiz University and shows how they change into the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

People are captivated by Wicked’s mix of Broadway nostalgia, great acting, and stunning visuals, which has made it a cultural and commercial phenomenon.

The Making of Wicked

Moving Wicked from the stage to the big screen required a team of experienced creators who could keep the show’s essence while adding movie-like features.

For the movie version of the popular Broadway musical, which opened in 2003 and has made over $6 billion worldwide, original musical writer Winnie Holzman and composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz worked together again.

With the help of director Jon M. Chu and producer Marc Platt, this classic story was told to people worldwide.

The movie discusses Elphaba and Glinda’s past and deals with identity, friendship, and social bias.

This story takes place in the fantastical Land of Oz. It starts at Shiz University, where Elphaba, a young woman with green skin and magical abilities, meets Glinda, a famous and well-off student.

Their rocky relationship grows through rivalry, jealousy, and mutual respect, and in the end, it forces them to face their fates.

As Madame Morrible, Michelle Yeoh performs excellently, as do Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard.

It also shows Marissa Bode’s first role as Elphaba’s sister, Nessarose. Holzman and Schwartz were excited to return to the story and add to it, using the film’s two-part structure to deepen their understanding of essential scenes.

The first book builds a strong base for the series, and the second book is set to come out in November 2025.

It was also decided that Dana Fox, known for her work on Cruella, would help write the script.

With her help and Holzman’s original plan, the movie combined the magic of Broadway with the grandeur of the film.

With Chu’s bold direction and an all-star cast, Wicked is a tribute to its Broadway roots and a new take on the story for today’s audiences.

Themes of Power, Prejudice, and Friendship in Wicked

Wicked is more than just a story about witches and magic. It’s also an exciting look at power, prejudice, and how complicated relationships can be.

The story of Elphaba and Glinda shows how people are affected by social pressures and their own decisions.

People made fun of Elphaba’s journey because she was green, which is like real-life problems with being different and fitting in.

She doesn’t become the Wicked Witch of the West out of evil but because of things, she can’t change.

The movie also deals with political and social problems by showing the fascist movement in Oz, which wants to silence the Animals that can think and speak.

Dr. Dillamond, a goat professor at Shiz, is hurt by this unfair campaign, which shows how dangerous dictatorship can be.

There are times of hope in the story, like when Elphaba and Glinda become friends, and their relationship grows.

The fact that the two characters can find things they have in typical shows that understanding and sensitivity can help people get along.

These ideas are emphasized by songs like “Defying Gravity” and “Popular,” which mix empowering and satirical lyrics.

Elphaba is a heroine who is easy to relate to because of how Cynthia Erivo plays the part.

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The lightness of Ariana Grande’s performance as Glinda is a contrast that shows how the character changes from being shallow to having real meaning.

They find their way through a world that tests their views and makes them face who they are.

People like Wicked because it shows universal lessons about who we are, what we want, and how to keep going even when things get complicated.

Its complex storyline makes sure that even though the movie is beautiful to look at and listen to, its more profound lessons are still powerful and meaningful.

Wicked Box Office Milestones

Conclusion

1. Wicked has become a culture and box office hit, with audiences worldwide captivated by its captivating story and outstanding performances.
2. The movie not only builds on the rich history of its Broadway roots but also changes the way musical films are made today.
3. Wicked has broken a lot of records and has deep themes about identity, friendship, and problems in society that hit home with viewers.
4. Together, director Jon M. Chu’s vision and the fantastic acting of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande make it an actual movie masterpiece.
5. Fans can’t wait for the second movie in the series, and Wicked’s theme of accepting differences and questioning social norms continues to inspire.
6. Its success shows how appealing the Land of Oz and its magical people have always been.

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