Wicked: For Good (2025) Box Office Update: A Powerful $440M Worldwide Run Despite Mixed Reviews
- Boxofficehype
- Dec 8
- 4 min read
Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated second chapter of Jon M. Chu’s two-part musical adaptation, has cast another spell over theaters worldwide. Returning stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande lead the sweeping musical fantasy as it concludes Elphaba and Glinda’s journey, adapting the second act of the beloved Broadway classic.
Premiering in São Paulo on November 4 and releasing in the U.S. on November 21, the film arrived with massive pre-sale hype and record-setting demand. Despite receiving softer reviews than the first installment, Wicked: For Good quickly became one of the biggest musical releases of all time — and a major box office win for Universal Pictures.
Here’s the full breakdown of its global performance, critical reception, and audience sentiment.
✨ Key Highlights
Worldwide total: $440.1M
Domestic (US & Canada): $297M
International: $143.2M
Budget: $150M
Break-even estimated around $375M–$400M → already surpassed
One of the Top 10 Films of 2025 (NBR & AFI)
Biggest Broadway-adaptation opening ever
Massive pre-sales across Fandango and major ticket platforms
🔥 Pulse Meter — Performance Snapshot
Domestic Heat: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Worldwide Wave: 🌍🌍🌍🌍
Weekend Momentum: 📈 Very Strong
Audience Buzz: ⭐ CinemaScore: A | RT Audience: 92%
⚡ Flash Snapshot (Quick Summary Table)
Metric | Amount |
Domestic Total | $297M |
International Total | $143.2M |
Worldwide Total | $440.1M |
Opening Weekend (USA) | $147M |
Opening Weekend (Worldwide) | $223M |
Production Budget | $150M |
Estimated Break-Even | $375M–$400M |
💬 Fan Sentiment Meter
Overall positivity: 92% (PostTrak)
CinemaScore: A
Top praise: Performances, music, emotional finale
Main criticism: Pacing + darker tone
🎭 Cast & Crew Boost Factor
Cynthia Erivo delivers a powerhouse emotional performance
Ariana Grande drives massive fan turnout and repeat viewings
Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum add depth and star power
Jon M. Chu’s stylish musical direction boosts rewatchability
🎥 Global Storyline — The Box Office Journey So Far
The first Wicked film became a cultural sensation in 2024, and anticipation for its conclusion was huge. Pre-sales for Wicked: For Good shattered multiple records:
Best first-day pre-seller of 2025
Biggest PG-rated first-day pre-seller ever
Top 10 all-time Fandango pre-sale performance
Opening day brought a massive $69.1M, including $30.8M in preview screenings — the biggest preview total of 2025. Its opening weekend delivered $147M domestically and $223M worldwide, becoming:
Highest opening weekend for a Broadway adaptation
Second-biggest opening of 2025
One of Universal’s biggest openings ever
Top-tier musical opening behind The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast
Even with mixed critics’ reviews, its audience reception — combined with holiday momentum — carried the film to $440.1M worldwide as of December 7, 2025.
🌎 Market Pulse Breakdown (Region-by-Region)
🇺🇸 United States & Canada
Domestic total: $297M
Record-setting previews: $30.8M
Broadway fandom + holiday crowd = exceptional legs
Audience reactions overwhelmingly positive
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Strong openings in London and major cities
Musical-loving demographic boosted IMAX sales
🇦🇺 Australia
Solid turnout from families and musical fans
Healthy weekday performance
🌍 International Markets
Europe: Strong debuts in Germany, France, and Spain
Latin America: Romantic/musical genre resonated strongly
Asia: Mixed across markets but strong fan turnout for Ariana Grande
📊 Momentum Curve — Opening Weekend Trend
(Straight-bar visual chart)
Fri (Opening Surge): ████████████████████████
Sat (Musical Rush): ███████████████████████
Sun (Holiday Hold): ████████████████
Mon (Weekday Drop): ████████████
Tue (Continued Strength): █████████
What It Shows:
Massive preview-fueled Friday
Saturday nearly matched opening day
Sunday held extremely well
Weekdays remained strong due to holiday timing
⚔️ Competition Check
Outperformed the first film
Second-biggest opener of the year
Major hits from Taylor Swift, Demon Slayer, and Fantastic Four couldn’t dethrone it
Strong position heading into awards season
🏆 Record Watch
Biggest opening for a Broadway-adapted film
Top 10 pre-seller of all time on Fandango
One of 2025’s biggest worldwide openings
Named among Top 10 Films of 2025 by AFI and NBR
🌍 Regional Heat Map
North America: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
UK: 🔥🔥🔥
Australia: 🔥🔥🔥
Europe: 🔥🔥🔥
LATAM: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
💰 Profit Radar — Hit or Flop?
Budget: $150M
Worldwide Total: $440.1M
Break-even Estimate: $375M–$400M
Verdict:
💰 Strong Hit — The film has cleared its break-even target and continues generating revenue. Musicals seldom reach blockbuster levels, making its $440M+ performance a major success.
Long-term revenue outlook:
Excellent streaming potential
Strong soundtrack sales
Awards nominations likely to boost interest
🔁 Rewatch Potential Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (High)Musical numbers + emotional resolution = strong repeat appeal.
📝 Critic Score Snapshot
IMDb: 7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 68%
Metacritic: 58
Audience Score: 92% positive
CinemaScore: A
Audiences love it far more than critics — a very strong indicator for legs.
📺 Where to Watch Wicked: For Good (Streaming Info)
Currently Available:
Only in theaters.
No official streaming platform or PVOD date announced yet.
Typical Universal release pattern:
4–6 weeks: Premium VOD (paid rental)
3–4 months: Streaming (often Peacock, but not confirmed)
This will be updated as soon as Universal announces details.
🔮 Pulse Forecast — What’s Next?
Thanks to excellent audience reception and holiday demand, Wicked: For Good is expected to finish with a strong December performance. Awards attention — especially for music, costumes, and Cynthia Erivo/Ariana Grande — could provide a significant second wind.
📝 Final Take
While its critical reception may not match the first film, Wicked: For Good has delivered a powerful, audience-driven box office run. With $440M+ and counting, strong fan engagement, and high rewatchability, the film stands as one of 2025’s most successful theatrical experiences.
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