Wicked: For Good’ Scores Massive $30.8M, Biggest Preview of the Year
“Wicked: For Good” is soaring toward a magical box office debut, setting a new high for this year’s preview earnings. Universal’s much-awaited musical sequel collected an impressive $30.8 million before its official opening — though that total comes from several days of early screenings rather than a single preview night.
The studio staggered its rollout to build fan excitement. Monday fan events, supported by Amazon Prime, pulled in $6.1 million, followed by $6.5 million from Wednesday showings. Thursday’s previews — which featured double feature presentations of the first “Wicked” and its sequel — added another $18.2 million, pushing the cumulative number to the top of the 2025 preview charts.
This performance surpasses the previous record set by “Superman,” which earned $22.5 million from Thursday-only previews before opening to $125 million. Now, “Wicked: For Good” is positioned for an even bigger theatrical splash, according to The Variety.
Industry projections show the movie heading toward a $150 million to $180 million opening weekend, which would mark the strongest debut of the year. The current titleholder, “A Minecraft Movie,” launched with $162 million after earning $10.6 million in Thursday previews. Despite the enthusiasm, Universal is offering a more conservative estimate of $125 million, though early audience response suggests the final number could climb significantly higher.
Interest in the film remains strong after last year’s first installment captivated audiences with its vibrant storytelling and star-power performances. Ariana Grande’s Glinda and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba became social media sensations, building anticipation for the conclusion of Jon M. Chu’s two-part adaptation. The original “Wicked” earned $19.2 million in previews and opened to $112.5 million during the same pre-Thanksgiving corridor — and ultimately contributed to a record-breaking holiday weekend alongside major releases like “Gladiator II” and “Moana 2.”
“Wicked: For Good” reunites its celebrated cast, including Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, and Bowen Yang, bringing the “Wizard of Oz” prequel saga to its finale.
The competition this weekend includes Sony’s action sequel “Sisu: Road to Revenge,” expected to start around $3 million after earning $575,000 in previews. Searchlight’s “Rental Family,” starring Brendan Fraser, is also debuting, though forecasts place it in the low single-digit range.
With Thanksgiving approaching and Disney’s “Zootopia 2” arriving next week, the holiday box office is gearing up for another strong season — and “Wicked: For Good” may lead the charge.
