The second chapter of Universal’s musical saga Wicked stormed into theaters with unprecedented momentum, posting the strongest opening ever for a Broadway adaptation. Its massive debut signals enduring audience enthusiasm ahead of the long Thanksgiving holiday stretch.
Universal's musical sequel Wicked: For Good stole the box office spotlight in its North America debut this weekend, with a record-setting haul to the tune of $150 million, industry estimates showed Sunday.
Variety said the film's debut was the highest ever for a Broadway musical adaptation, while analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research called it a "sensational, record-breaking opening" for a fantasy-adventure sequel.
Tony Award-winner Cynthia Erivo and pop star Ariana Grande return as the magical land of Oz's most notable witches — the green-skinned, outcast Elphaba and the popular, pink-wearing Glinda — to wrap up the storyline introduced in last year's blockbuster part one.
The Wizard of Oz retelling is based on the long-running Broadway musical, itself adapted from Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel.
Part two and its cast
Part two follows Glinda and Elphaba — now dubbed the Wicked Witch of the West — as they struggle against the nefarious mechanizations of The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh).
"This is broad-appeal Hollywood filmmaking at its best, a spectacular adventure story told from a female point of view," said Gross.
"Strong word-of-mouth is going to drive business through next week's five-day Thanksgiving holiday and into December," he added.
In second place at the US and Canadian box office, according to Exhibitor Relations, was Lionsgate's Now You See Me: Now You Don't, with $9.1 million.
The third installment in the crime-heist franchise dropped from the top spot a week prior, when it took in over $21 million.
The film reunites Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco and Woody Harrelson as Robin Hood-style illusionists targeting dangerous criminals.
The rest of the top performers
With $6.3 million, third place went to 20th Century's Predator: Badlands, the latest installment in the decades-old sci-fi horror franchise.
Paramount's The Running Man — a new take on Stephen King's dystopian novel about a murderous game show — fell two spots since its debut last weekend to fourth place, with $5.8 million.
Fifth place went to Searchlight's Rental Family, starring Brendan Fraser as a struggling actor who takes on odd stand-in roles in Japan.
Gross called the film's $3.3 million haul a "soft opening for a fall drama," but said it should get a lift from next week's long holiday weekend, and that international revenue "should be solid," given its setting and Fraser's foreign appeal.
Rounding out the top 10
Sisu: Road to Revenge ($2.6 million)
Regretting You ($1.5 million)
Nuremberg ($1.2 million)
Black Phone 2 ($1.0 million)
Sarah's Oil ($770,000)
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