The witches of Oz are flying back to the big screen — and Hollywood is betting big on their magic. Universal’s Wicked: For Good is gearing up for a blockbuster Thanksgiving debut and is already being hailed as the film that might finally jolt the sluggish 2025 box office back to life.
Trade projections suggest a massive $120 million+ opening in North America, with worldwide numbers expected to comfortably soar past $200 million during its first weekend. If the film reaches the upper end of projections, it will mark the biggest debut ever for a Broadway musical adaptation, surpassing even last year’s historic run of Wicked, which opened to $112.5 million.
Even Universal, toning down expectations, says anything above $115 million would still be a “huge win” — but early signs suggest the film is about to outperform even the most optimistic forecasts.
Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo Return To Oz
Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked: For Good continues the sweeping retelling of the untold story of Oz’s most famous witches.
- Ariana Grande returns as Glinda, the shimmering Good Witch
- Cynthia Erivo reprises her powerful role as Elphaba, the misunderstood Wicked Witch
The film picks up after the events of the first installment, with Elphaba living in exile and Glinda thrust into the spotlight as Emerald City’s glamorous symbol of “goodness.” But when a dark conspiracy threatens the entire realm, the estranged best friends are forced to reunite — rediscovering their bond while confronting a truth bigger than either of them imagined.
Ticket Sales Are Already Breaking Records
If there’s one thing fans have made clear, it’s that the Wicked universe still has a powerful grip on pop culture.
Since promotions kicked off on October 8, momentum has skyrocketed across platforms. A full-episode collaboration with Dancing With the Stars sparked 57 million TikTok views in just 24 hours and delivered the show’s biggest 18–24 demographic ratings since 2015.
Those numbers helped Wicked: For Good become:
- Fandango’s biggest PG-rated preseller of all time
- One of Fandango’s Top 10 first-day presellers ever
- 2025’s biggest preseller across all films so far
Early audience reactions from preview screenings are just as encouraging — the film holds a 97% audience score, slightly edging out the first Wicked’s 96%.
A Thanksgiving Box Office Showdown
Joining Wicked: For Good this holiday season is Disney’s Zootopia 2, arriving on Wednesday with its own monster tracking numbers — a projected $125 million+ five-day debut.
Thanksgiving week has always been lucrative, but this year’s lineup could be one of the biggest in recent memory.
Last year’s Wicked dominated the holiday frame with over $263 million collected in its first ten days domestically. With fan excitement heating up again, industry analysts believe Wicked: For Good could mirror or even surpass that momentum.
The Legacy Continues
Chu’s ambitious two-part film adaptation draws from:
- the Broadway musical by Winnie Holzman & Stephen Schwartz
- the bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire
- a soaring score from John Powell & Stephen Schwartz
- a screenplay penned by Holzman and Dana Fox
With rich world-building, towering performances, and the emotional thread of Glinda and Elphaba’s friendship, Wicked: For Good is shaping up to be another major cultural moment.
As the countdown to November 21 begins, one thing is clear:
Oz is ready to rule the box office once again.
