“Wicked” still knows about popular. Universal Pictures‘ musical sequel “For Good” swept up a spectacular $68.6 million across Friday and preview screenings from 4,115 locations in North America. That puts it on pace for a $151.5 million opening weekend through Sunday.
It’d be the biggest bow ever for a Broadway adaptation and the second-biggest ever for a Universal release, only behind “Jurassic World.” It’s also well ahead of the $112 million haul that the first “Wicked” debuted to in the same pre-Thanksgiving frame last year. If the Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande film hits its current projections, it’ll rank among the biggest domestic openings of the year, currently led by “A Minecraft Movie” ($162 million) and the “Lilo & Stitch” remake ($146 million).
Though the $68.6 million opening day figure on “For Good” technically ranks as the biggest of the year — ahead of “A Minecraft Movie” ($57.11 million) and “Superman” ($56.5 million) — it comes with an asterisk. Universal lifted the curtain early on the second “Wicked,” adding previews on Monday and Wednesday ahead of the standard Thursday evening kick-off. With early screenings for Amazon Prime members and fan-focused double features, “Wicked: For Good” had already earned $12.6 million before Thursday.
Early-week releases have become more common in recent years. Over the summer, “Superman” held Tuesday screenings for Amazon Prime members ahead of its Thursday previews.
Regardless, it’s still a spectacular start for the PG-rated musical and a shot in the arm for North American theaters, which have been starved of a true blockbuster for several months now. The last film to open in the nine-digits was “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” all the way back in July. The biggest since was “The Conjuring: Last Rites” ($84 million) in early September.
“For Good” has the benefit of getting almost all the Imax and other premium large-format theaters to itself, getting a boost from luxury ticket prices. CJ4DPLex noted that the pink-and-green musical earned $922,000 in 4DX auditoriums and $1 million in ScreenX auditoriums across previews and Friday, marking a 70% uptick from the formats’ collective opening day on the first “Wicked.”
The feature is expected to remain a high-demand release through the Thanksgiving holiday and into December. Reviews have generally been positive, though the reception has been cooler on “For Good” than its predecessor’s awards-heralding raves from last year. Early audiences seem as receptive this time around, with moviegoer pollster Cinema Score turning in an “A” grade, on par with the 2024 predecessor. Universal spent $300 million between both “Wicked” features, not including massive marketing spends, but that investment has delivered not one but two event-status tentpoles.
Lionsgate’s “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” is falling to second after opening atop the charts last weekend. The ensemble heist threequel earned another $2.6 million on Friday, with projections for a $9.4 million sophomore outing for a 55% drop from its debut. Domestic total should hit $37.1 million through its first 10 days. Overseas grosses have been the lion’s share of ticket sales.
“Predator: Badlands” looks to hold in third place, adding another $1.7 million on Friday for a 51% drop from its daily total a week ago. Now in its third weekend, Disney’s sci-fi sequel is set to surpass a $76.5 million domestic total through Sunday — closing in on “Alien vs. Predator” ($80 million) to become the highest-grossing North American theatrical release of the franchise.
Paramount’s “The Running Man” is slipping to fourth, earning $1.66 million on Friday and projecting a sophomore outing of $6 million. That’d be a significant 63% drop after an already underwhelming opening weekend for the $110 million production. Glen Powell and director Edgar Wright’s dystopian action-thriller is slowing down fast, projected for a $27.2 million domestic cume through Sunday.
Fifth looks to go to “Rental Family,” a well-reviewed family drama starring Brendan Fraser as an actor abroad in Japan. The film, from Disney’s specialty Searchlight Pictures banner, earned $1.2 million across Friday and previews from 1,925 locations. The hope is that awards buzz and great audience notices will keep the film relevant moving ahead. Cinema Score notched a strong “A” grade.
Bowing just outside the top five, Sony is putting out Stage 6 Films and Screen Gems’ “Sisu: Road to Revenge” in 2,222 venues. The bloody R-rated period piece earned about $1.2 million across Friday and previews, a smidge behind the $1.3 million opening day haul for the original “Sisu” in 2023. That film wasn’t much of a theatrical performer, finishing with $7.2 million domestic and $14.2 million worldwide, but it evidently drew enough of a cult reputation downstream to justify a sequel. Reviews have been positive for “Road to Revenge,” while Cinema Score turned in a warm enough “B” grade.