Record-Breaking $70 Million Weekend for New Film!

The cinematic adaptation of “Wicked” has rapidly ascended to a position of paramount popularity, both within cinemas and via digital platforms. In an exceptional demonstration of transparency regarding downstream revenue streams, Universal Pictures disclosed that this extravagant musical has accrued a staggering $26 million on its inaugural day and an impressive total of $70 million within its first week of digital distribution in the United States and Canada.

Officially released on home entertainment platforms on December 31, “Wicked” is available for purchase at $30 or for rental at $20, with options for both the original and sing-along versions. According to the studio, this Broadway adaptation has achieved the most substantial first-day and initial week sales for any Universal theatrical release. In a comparative context, Universal’s second-largest video-on-demand launch, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” garnered $44 million within its first week of digital sales and rentals.

Universal anticipates that the financial prospects associated with “Wicked” will continue to flourish, as it retains a two-month exclusivity period on home entertainment platforms prior to its availability on Peacock, the streaming service under the NBCUniversal umbrella. Moreover, the announced sequel, “Wicked: For Good,” which chronicles the Broadway show’s second act, is slated for theatrical release a year later, on November 21.

To date, “Wicked: Part One” has generated an astonishing $682 million at the global box office since its theater debut on November 22. While box office figures are routinely reported, downstream revenues, particularly from premium video-on-demand services, often remain undisclosed or are presented in a manner that lacks forthrightness.

In light of pandemic-induced experimentation, Hollywood studios have recognized the crucial role of theatrical releases in shaping a film’s cultural impact, thereby enhancing ancillary revenues such as PVOD. Universal executives have publicly asserted that premium video-on-demand serves as a complementary mechanism rather than a substitute for theatrical releases. For instance, “Wicked” garnered an additional $10 million domestically in its eighth week in theatres, even while being available for at-home viewing.

Jon M. Chu helmed the PG-rated “Wicked,” featuring a star-studded ensemble including Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, and Jonathan Bailey. The narrative unfurls both preceding and subsequent to the events of “The Wizard of Oz,” elucidating the origins of Grande’s Galinda (later recognized as Glinda the Good) and Erivo’s Elphaba (ultimately branded the Wicked Witch of the West) before Dorothy’s arrival in the illustrious land of Oz. This cinematic offering has emerged as the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2024 and has established itself as the preeminent Broadway adaptation in box office history.