MOVIE NEWS – The movie version of the musical Wicked was expected to be a success, but few thought it would be this successful. After numerous Broadway and world stages, the play about the little-known witches of Oz is now on the big screen. And this is just the first part, because the rich story – and the many songs – fit into two films.

Wicked broke the following records in its first week:

The most successful domestic and international opening weekend for a Broadway adaptation: $114 million in North America and $164.2 million worldwide, breaking the record set by Les Misérables in 2012.

The most successful domestic and international opening weekend for lead actress Ariana Grande, who has 96 films under her belt, but this is her first blockbuster, and…

The most successful domestic and international opening weekend for a Broadway adaptation: $114 million in North America and $164.2 million worldwide, breaking the record set by Les Misérables in 2012. for pop star (Grande).

The most successful domestic and international opening weekend for the other lead, Cynthia Erivo.

The most successful domestic and international opening weekend for director Jon M. Chu, whose previous biggest hit was G.I. Joe: Retaliation had a $173 million opening, which is also a nice result, but not quite as big.

The most successful domestic opening weekend for producer Marc Platt, who earned $95.5 million in the first weekend last year with The Little Mermaid, and…

The second most successful international opening weekend is also for Platt, because Wicked could not surpass the $213 million of 2019’s Aladdin.

The most successful international opening weekend in 2024 for a film that is not a sequel: in this category so far this year, It Ends with Us: Velünk közép ér was the most successful with 80 million.

The most successful domestic and international opening weekend for three-time Oscar-winning composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz, whose previous record was Bübáj with a domestic opening of 34.4 million.

The best result achieved in previews that a Broadway adaptation could ever claim (19.2 million).

On the Rotten Tomatoes critic portal, Wicked received 90 percent from critics and 97 percent from viewers. Critics seem to have run out of words, as they keep repeating that the film is magical, enchanting and irresistible, and that the two main characters, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, are wonderful.

(Wicked – domestic release: December 5, 2024.)

Source: UIP Dunafilm