Wicked Shatters Sixteen-Year-Old Box Office Record

Overview

The musical Wicked has eclipsed Mamma Mia! as the top-grossing stage musical adaptation worldwide, amassing $634 million.
In its sixth weekend, the film garnered $19.7 million domestically, marking a remarkable 39.6% increase.
Universal released the film for digital download in the US on December 31, which may influence ongoing ticket sales.

Wicked Breaks Box Office Records
- Forecasts for $700 Million Global Revenue

The cinematic adaptation of Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, continues to set unprecedented benchmarks as it remains in theaters. The latest milestone was achieved over the final weekend of 2024 (December 27–29), where the film surpassed record totals set sixteen years prior.

Serving as the initial segment of Universal’s two-part live-action adaptation of the beloved Broadway show, Wicked has established a strong box office presence. Featuring a star-studded cast—including Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeffery Goldblum—the film debuted with an impressive $112 million in North America, shattering the previous record for Broadway adaptations held by Into the Woods ($31 million), and generating $162 million globally. The second installment, titled Wicked: For Good, is set to premiere on November 21, 2025.

Wicked Breaks Box Office Records

Forecasts for $700 Million Global Revenue

Wicked overtakes Mamma Mia at box office

With its current status as the highest-grossing Broadway musical film adaptation ever, Wicked has achieved remarkable financial success, as verified by multiple box office analysts from sources such as Deadline, Box Office Mojo, and Luiz Fernando on X. At the end of its sixth weekend, the film added $19.7 million to its domestic total, bringing its overall domestic earnings to $424 million, while its international earnings reached $210.2 million, totaling $634 million globally. This impressive sum places Wicked ahead of the previous benchmark set by Mamma Mia!, which concluded its run with $611 million.

It’s important to note that this record is based on unadjusted figures; when considering inflation, The Sound of Music (1965) maintains the top spot with a staggering $1.3 billion gross in today’s dollars. Nonetheless, Wicked continues to impress with its box office stamina, as evidenced by its sixth weekend performance, where the domestic gross of $19.7 million represents a 39.6% increase over the previous weekend’s $14.1 million. This figure ranks as the fifth-highest sixth weekend total in US box office history, trailing only behind Avatar: The Way of Water, while surpassing Frozen and Black Panther.

A combination of positive word-of-mouth and an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes has contributed to Wicked’s ongoing success, despite facing tough competition from films like Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 during the competitive holiday season. However, Universal’s decision to make the film available for digital download starting December 31, 2024, may impact ticket sales as it enters its digital phase. While international markets remain steady, the domestic market—accounting for over two-thirds of the film’s audience—might see a decline as audiences turn to home viewing options. Notably, analysts project that Wicked could reach a global total of $700 million, and with a Japan release set for March 7, it may even approach the $750 million mark—an impressive feat compared to its reported $150 million production budget.

Wicked hit theaters on November 22 and is currently screening worldwide, with digital download access in the United States commencing on December 31.

Sources: Deadline, Box Office Mojo, Luiz Fernando/X

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