The highly anticipated musical film Wicked: For Good has made a significant impression in its Thursday night previews, earning an estimated $20 million to $22 million. This figure will likely increase when including special screenings from Amazon and premium fan shows that took place earlier in the week.
In comparison, the highest preview earnings of the year thus far belong to Disney/Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four: First Steps, which amassed $24.4 million from Thursday screenings starting at 14:00. As always, these figures are based on industry estimates and should be viewed with caution until Universal Pictures releases official numbers.
Strong Start for Wicked: For Good
The previews for Wicked: For Good are reminiscent of its predecessor, which earned $19.2 million in previews a year ago. That total included $11 million from 2 PM showings, $2.5 million from Monday previews, and $5.7 million from Wednesday fan events. Notably, those early earnings accounted for 42% of the film’s first-day total of $46.2 million, contributing to an impressive opening weekend of $112.5 million—the highest-ever for a film based on a Broadway musical.
Despite some projections suggesting a weekend opening exceeding $175 million, industry experts caution that Wicked: For Good may experience a front-loaded box office performance similar to the first film. The original film attracted a predominantly female audience, with 72% of ticket buyers identifying as female and 57% of the audience aged between 18 and 34, according to Screen Engine/Comscore PostTrak data.
Looking Ahead: Record-Breaking Potential
Fans have indicated that Wicked: For Good may be equally as compelling as the original, reflected in its impressive 97% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to the 95% score of its predecessor. The film is expected to generate the majority of its box office revenue in the United States and Canada, similar to the previous installment, which saw 63% of its total global earnings of $758.4 million coming from these markets.
Analysts forecast that the global opening for Wicked: For Good could exceed $200 million, setting the stage for the film to potentially break additional opening records. With excitement building, audiences are eager to witness the magic of this beloved musical on the big screen once more.
