The highly anticipated sequel Wicked: Forever arrived in theaters with overwhelming force even before its general release. According to official figures from Universal Pictures, the film registered more than $30.8 million from its preview screenings between Monday, November 17 and Thursday, November 20 alone, cementing its place as one of the most successful early releases of 2025.
The total amount of $30.8 million includes:
11 million raised at Thursday’s functions.
2.5 million corresponding to the first functions on Monday.
5.7 million earned at special fan screenings on Wednesday.
With these figures, the sequel far surpassed the anticipated debut of the original Wicked, which accumulated $19.2 million in its pre-release period. With this initial performance, Wicked: Forever ranks among the top pre-releases of the year, alongside titles such as: Fantastic Four: First Steps, Extermination: The Evolution, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, The Survivor, Superman and Avatar 3: Fire and Ashes.
These data confirm that the saga continues to be an intergenerational cultural phenomenon with an extremely loyal audience.
The first Wicked movie not only won over audiences, but also positioned itself as one of the most successful theatrical adaptations of all time. Among its achievements are:
More than 700 million dollars in global collections.
The third highest-grossing film of 2024 in North America.
All-time record for the biggest opening of a musical adaptation at the U.S. box office.
First Broadway musical to surpass $3 million in one week.
Top-grossing live-action film with LGBTQ+ protagonist in the United States.
At the Oscars, the film received 10 nominations and won two:
Best Costume Design (Paul Tazewell).
Best Production Design (Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales).
With this precedent, the sequel comes with enormous expectations from both audiences and critics.
Wicked : For Good (Anticipated reception: first positive reviews)
Although not yet officially released, the first reviews of Wicked: Forever have already begun to be published and show a favorable trend. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film debuted with:
70% in the Tomatometer (specialized critic).
97% on the Popcornmeter (anticipated audience score).
These indicators suggest that the sequel maintains the visual, emotional and musical charm that won over audiences in its first installment.
Wicked: Forever opens this Friday, November 21 in theaters worldwide and will be available in multiple formats:
RealD 3D
IMAX
Dolby Cinema
4DX
ScreenX
D-Box
Following Universal’s usual strategy, the film will most likely arrive at Peacock approximately 90 days after its theatrical release.
With its impressive box office debut, strong critical support and the cultural impact of the first installment, Wicked: Forever is shaping up to be one of the biggest movie hits of the year.
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