Understanding Wicked’s Surprising Lone Golden Globes Win

Wicked, the much-anticipated blockbuster, achieved a singular Golden Globe victory during a night filled with surprises. The musical, which has captivated audiences around the globe, was recognized with four nominations for the 2025 Golden Globes, creating high expectations for its sequel, Wicked: For Good. Cynthia Erivo’s compelling portrayal of Elphaba earned her a nomination for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Motion Picture, while Ariana Grande was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.

Despite these significant nominations, neither Erivo nor Grande clinched an award. Demi Moore took home the Best Actress accolade for her performance in The Substance, while Zoe Saldana’s role in Emilia Perez secured her the Best Supporting Actress honor. The disappointment continued as Wicked also lost the Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture category to Emilia Perez. Nevertheless, it did win the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement award, amidst fierce competition from titles like Alien: Romulus, Gladiator II, and Inside Out 2.

Wicked’s Golden Globe for Cinematic & Box Office Achievement

Wicked’s Sole Golden Globes Win: Box Office Success

Wicked’s only Golden Globe win was for Cinematic And Box Office Achievement, which raises eyebrows, given the film’s impressive accolades. Both performances by Grande and Erivo were received with great acclaim, and while Moore’s outstanding role in The Substance could be seen as Oscar-worthy, it seemed likely that Wicked would take home at least one acting award. Furthermore, the assumption was that its nomination for Best Musical Or Comedy Motion Picture was a surefire win, particularly considering its solid 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, outshining Emilia Perez, which garnered only 76%.

Additionally, Wicked’s box office success reinvigorated its presence in Hollywood, while the release of Emilia Perez on Netflix resulted in a more subdued reception. The film was undeniably a dominant force in late 2024, but winning the Cinematic And Box Office Achievement award without securing more significant recognition seems inadequate. Wicked‘s unique ability to combine mainstream appeal with performances and writing worthy of critical acclaim stands in stark contrast to Emilia Perez, which failed to replicate its broad appeal and success.

Wicked’s Golden Globes Win: Confusion Based on 2024 Box Office Trends

Wicked: Not Even the Year’s Top Box Office Triumph

While Wicked did achieve a notable $680 million at the box office, ranking it as one of the highest earners of 2024—specifically the sixth overall—it was not the year’s top-grossing film. Other titles, including Inside Out 2 with $1.7 billion, outperformed it significantly. This raises questions about the Golden Globes’ criteria for awarding, especially when contrasted with other films’ box office successes, which weren’t even nominated. The highest earners included sequels like Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine, yet they walked away empty-handed.

Highest-Grossing Movies of 2024	Box Office
Inside Out 2	$1.7 billion
Deadpool & Wolverine	$1.1 billion
Despicable Me 4	$969 million
Ocean 2	$820 million
Dune: Part Two	$714 million
Wicked	$586 million
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire	$571 million
Kung-Fu Panda 4	$547 million
Venom: The Last Dance	$476 million
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice	$451 million

With films like Despicable Me 4, Moana 2, and Dune: Part Two all outpacing Wicked in box office earnings, it raises questions about the rationale behind its recognition in the Cinematic And Box Office Achievement category. This thought becomes more pronounced when considering that Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine were both larger hits but walked away without acknowledgment. If the awards rely on numerical performance, the choice of Wicked becomes increasingly perplexing.

The Golden Globes: Popularity Over Box Office?

Critical Popularity: Influencing the Win but Not More Awards

Despite not achieving the highest box office earnings among nominees for the Cinematic And Box Office Achievement award, Wicked maintained remarkable popularity with audiences and critics. This trend mirrors the recognition of Barbie in 2023, which won the same category while simultaneously being the year’s highest-earning film. However, WINNER status becomes more difficult to justify for Wicked in this context.

The Golden Globes’ decision to honor Wicked seems to reflect an inclination towards acclaim rather than strict box office performance. If any award appeared to be a certainty for Wicked, it would have been for Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture. Instead, that title went to a Netflix release that didn’t resonate with critics or audiences. Consequently, while Wicked’s popularity may have secured its win for Cinematic And Box Office Achievement, the film’s tangible box office success was not its standout feature. Thus, the overall Golden Globe outcomes for Wicked leave a lingering sense of confusion and unpredictability.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes

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