Wicked Soars to Record $114M Opening, Led by Ariana Grande Despite Box Office Slump
Ariana Grande's "Wicked" delivers a record-breaking $114 million opening weekend, marking the highest debut ever for a Broadway film adaptation. The musical adaptation's success comes during a critical pre-Thanksgiving period, matching box office levels last seen in 2019.
Star power proved crucial, with 39% of viewers attending specifically for Grande and Cynthia Erivo, while 29% were drawn by the franchise itself, according to PostTrack data.
The film's performance positions it as:
- 10th biggest November opening at domestic box office
- Third largest opening of the year
- Ahead of "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" ($111 million)
Wicked stars pose in character costumes
The pre-Thanksgiving weekend saw strong overall performance, with "Gladiator II" contributing $55.5 million domestically. This timing is particularly significant as Thanksgiving releases traditionally perform well, with Disney's "Frozen" (2013) holding the record for the five-day holiday weekend at $93.5 million.
National Association of Theatre Owners President & CEO Michael O'Leary notes that this success, combined with strong pre-sales for upcoming releases like "Moana 2," signals a robust box office outlook heading into December and the new year, demonstrating the enduring appeal of theatrical experiences.
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