'Wicked' Movie DOMINATES! $30M Box Office Preview STUNS Industry!

“Wicked: For Good,” the highly anticipated sequel to last year's "Wicked," is off to a blazing start at the box office. Universal Pictures officially announced this morning that the movie has already raked in a stunning $30.8 million in preview screenings from Monday through Thursday. Yes, you read that right. Thirty. Point. Eight. Million. That’s a figure that would make even the Wicked Witch of the West crack a smile.

'Wicked' Movie DOMINATES! $30M Box Office Preview ...

This impressive number makes “Wicked: For Good” the highest-grossing film in preview screenings so far in 2025. To put it in perspective, it blows past Disney/Marvel Studios' “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” which previously held the title with $24.4 million. It's a real showdown between the green-skinned witch and Marvel's heroes. Who would have thought?

Breaking down the numbers, Thursday alone accounted for a whopping $18.2 million from screenings that began early as 11 AM for double features and 2 PM for standard previews in 3,350 theaters. Amazon Prime screenings on Monday added $6.1 million from 1,050 theaters, while Wednesday’s advance screenings brought in another $6.5 million from 2,300 theaters. So, they really covered all the bases.

Now, the big question is whether “Wicked: For Good” can maintain this momentum throughout the weekend. There’s always the concern of a film being front-loaded, especially with a strong female fanbase. Remember last year? “Wicked” was initially projected to open at $120 million, but ultimately settled at $112.5 million because it didn't expand its reach beyond its core audience. However, it enjoyed strong performance over the Thanksgiving holiday as families flocked to see it. The important thing to remember: staying power is key.

Early audience reactions seem overwhelmingly positive. PostTrak exit polls show an impressive 82% definite recommend and 92% positive rating. Fandango previously reported that the Cynthia Erivo-Ariana Grande sequel was not only the best advance ticket seller ever for a PG-rated movie, but also the best pre-seller year-to-date. That's HUGE. The gap in critical vs. audience reviews is interesting, too. Currently, the film has a 70% critic score but a staggering 97% audience score (from initial sneak previews). It seems audiences are really loving this movie, even if the critics are a bit more reserved. Maybe they just don't understand the magic.

Keep an eye on the box office numbers this weekend. If “Wicked: For Good” continues at this pace, we could be looking at a record-breaking opening. And who knows? Maybe we'll all be defying gravity by Sunday.