Universal’s Wicked: For Good delivered a dominant performance in early domestic previews, earning $30.8 million, the highest preview total of 2025. The preview figure surpasses the first film’s $19.2 million by a wide margin, signaling what analysts believe will be a historic opening. The multi-day rollout—spanning Monday Prime screenings, Wednesday early shows, and standard Thursday previews—generated major momentum for what is forecast to be one of the year’s top box office events. Industry trackers project a strong weekend that could redefine expectations for Broadway musical adaptations.
Main Details
The Wicked franchise’s highly anticipated sequel opened with an impressive structure of preview earnings.
Monday Amazon Prime Fan Screenings: $6.1 million
Wednesday Advance Screenings: $6.5 million
Thursday Standard Previews: $18.2 million
These staggered preview windows created sustained audience turnout across the week. According to early industry data, the strong multi-tier release strategy positioned Wicked for a weekend debut projected to exceed $125 million domestically and $200 million globally, marking a potential record for a Broadway adaptation in theatrical history.
Quotes & Analyst Reactions
Box office analysts compared Wicked’s preview pattern to the launch of prior major event films.
“Momentum like this is rare,” one industry analyst told media trackers. “Universal structured the rollout perfectly, and the demand curve suggests a massive three-day take.”
A Reuters box office correspondent added that the preview turnout reflects the impact of preexisting fan bases from Broadway, as well as the star power of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, paired with director Jon M. Chu’s reputation for event-scale productions.
Impact Analysis
The strong preview performance has major implications for the theatrical marketplace. After inconsistent turnout across 2024 and early 2025, Wicked appears poised to deliver a significant boost to theater chains. Exhibitors report elevated pre-sales for IMAX, Dolby, and premium large-format screens.
If the film hits projections, it could become the highest-grossing musical adaptation debut of all time, surpassing prior genre leaders. The film’s early trajectory suggests that audiences continue to support event cinema anchored by spectacle, nostalgia, and established storytelling.
What’s Next
Industry analysts expect Wicked to maintain strong legs beyond opening weekend due to positive audience turnout and holiday-season scheduling. Official weekend numbers will be released Monday, where the film could set several domestic and international benchmarks. Universal is expected to issue additional updates as the film rolls out globally across all major markets.
Sources
Reuters
Associated Press
Box Office industry trackers
Universal Pictures press data
