Wicked Passes Mamma Mia! For Another Major Box Office Milestone

Amid its dominant run, Wicked just crossed a major milestone at the box office. Inspired by the Broadway musical, the movie stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp alongside Ariana Grande’s Galinda Upland. It debuted to exceptional reviews and featured a runtime that was the same length as the original play, though it featured only half of the musical’s story. A sequel, the upcoming Wicked: For Good, is set to be released on November 21, 2025. After the success of the original movie, it is poised to see immense success.

According to a report by Deadline, the blockbuster musical just became the highest-grossing stage musical adaptation of all time. With a global estimate of $634.4 million through the weekend, it passed Mamma Mia!‘s $611 million total for the title. Wicked‘s total comes from a split that featured $424 million at the domestic box office and $210 million internationally. Mamma Mia!, by contrast, secured $144 million domestically and $467 million overseas.

What This Box Office Milestone Means For Wicked

This Milestone Comes Before Inflation

To fully understand Mamma Mia!‘s incredible success, it is important to remember that these numbers come before calculating for inflation. With adjustments, Wicked would need to have reached an even more sizable sum. The original record-holder earned $913 million in today’s money, which far outpaces Wicked‘s total. It stands to prove what a remarkable phenomenon the 2008 musical was, especially considering that Wicked has been dominating the box office since it was released on November 22.

The Wicked musical was based on Gregory Maguire’s Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.

As the holiday season continues, the production is likely to continue to build on its take, though it is unlikely to pass Mamma Mia! after inflation. While Wicked‘s showstopping soundtrack has contributed to its overall impact at the box office, it still needs the support of Wicked: For Good to truly cross that milestone. Even so, this is an incredible take that proves that the adaptation was a worthwhile endeavor. It succeeded despite the risks involved with its $150 million budget. Passing Mamma Mia!‘s take is something that no Broadway adaptation has ever managed to do, including 2012’s Les Misérables.

Our Take On Wicked’s Box Office Milestone

It Could Have Done Even Better

As the highest-grossing stage musical of all time, Wicked has undoubtedly obtained success. Tragically, it could have done even better. The movie debuted at a struggling box office, which has yet to fully recover from pandemic-induced woes. Had it premiered before 2020, it might have exploded into an even greater phenomenon. It has also been facing serious competition from other musicals, including Mufasa and Moana 2. In a different window, it could have thrived as the sole musical for audiences to enjoy. Timing simply got in Wicked‘s way.

Source: Deadline