‘Wicked: For Good’ Dominates Early Box Office Returns with $55 Million Friday Haul

Universal Pictures solidified its hold on the holiday movie season this morning as early estimates indicate ‘Wicked: For Good’ generated $55.4 million across 4,350 North American locations on its opening day. The figure, which includes $18.2 million from Thursday evening previews, places the Jon M. Chu-directed fantasy adaptation well ahead of initial studio tracking, which had conservatively pegged the film for a $120 million weekend. Analysts now suggest the second chapter of the Ozzian saga could climb as high as $145 million by Sunday night, driven by an A+ CinemaScore and surging word-of-mouth across key demographics.

The opening day performance represents a 14% increase over the first installment, which debuted in November 2024. Box office analytics firm EntTelligence reports that foot traffic for ‘Wicked: For Good’ accounted for 68% of all moviegoing activity on Friday, leaving competing titles fighting for scraps. The film’s dominance was particularly pronounced in premium large formats, with IMAX and Dolby Cinema screens contributing $11.5 million, or nearly 21% of the total Friday gross. In major markets like Los Angeles and New York City, average ticket prices for these premium screenings hovered around $24.50, yet exhibitors reported near-capacity crowds starting as early as 3:00 PM.

Exhibitors have noted a significant shift in audience composition compared to the first film. While ‘Wicked: For Good’ skewed heavily female (72%), the demographics for ‘Wicked: For Good’ have balanced slightly to 64% female, indicating a broader appeal for the action-heavy conclusion of the saga. In the Midwest, specifically in markets like Chicago and Minneapolis, theater chains reported record-breaking pre-sales for a musical fantasy, surpassing benchmarks set by live-action Disney adaptations from the previous decade. The intense cold front moving through the Great Lakes region, bringing temperatures down to 28 degrees Fahrenheit, appears to have boosted mall traffic rather than deterred it, further fueling walk-up ticket sales.

Senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian observed that the release strategy has effectively capitalized on the “cliffhanger momentum” established a year ago. In a statement released to industry partners Saturday morning, he noted that the retention rate for the franchise is unprecedented for a back-to-back musical production. He emphasized that the marketing campaign, which pivoted to highlight the darker, more political themes of the second act, successfully converted casual viewers who might have dismissed the first film as mere spectacle. The studio’s decision to release the film one week prior to the Thanksgiving holiday frame mirrored the strategy used for the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise, allowing the film to build a massive financial cushion before ‘Zootopia 2’ arrives on Wednesday.

Merchandising tie-ins have also seen a parallel surge, providing a secondary revenue stream that underscores the film’s cultural footprint. Retail data from major partners like Target and Walmart indicates that inventory for Glinda and Elphaba replica artifacts sold through 60% of stock within 24 hours of the film’s release. In the lobby of the AMC Lincoln Square in Manhattan, concession spending per patron hit an all-time high of $9.45, driven largely by commemorative popcorn vessels shaped like the Emerald City.

Looking ahead to the remainder of the weekend, projections remain volatile but optimistic. Saturday presales are currently pacing 15% ahead of Friday’s non-preview numbers, suggesting the film will avoid the front-loaded drop-off typical of fan-driven blockbusters. If the momentum holds, ‘Wicked: For Good’ will secure the second-highest November opening of all time, unadjusted for inflation. The strong performance provides much-needed stability for theaters heading into December, proving that large-scale genre filmmaking remains a potent economic engine when executed with this level of precision.