Universal’s Wicked: For Good has stormed into its opening weekend with a preview performance that is nothing short of historic. The film generated $30.8 million from advance screenings held across Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday — officially making it the biggest pre-opening haul of 2025, according to the studio. For Universal, this marks another major milestone for a franchise that has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most reliable tentpoles.
The preview numbers reflect a wide, carefully staggered rollout strategy. Monday’s early fan screenings, sponsored by Amazon Prime and held across roughly 1,050 theaters, brought in $6.1 million, demonstrating strong demand even four days before the official release. Wednesday’s early shows expanded to about 2,300 locations and delivered another $6.5 million, signaling momentum that only grew stronger as the week progressed. By Thursday — the traditional industry preview night — the film surged to $18.2 million from approximately 3,350 cinemas, thanks to a combination of standard previews and double-feature programming that paired the original Wicked with Wicked: For Good.
With these numbers, the sequel has already surpassed the preview count of the first Wicked film, which earned $19.2 million in 2024 before going on to open at $112.5 million domestically. The preview-to-opening multiplier of the first installment suggests that the sequel’s three-day debut may land on the higher end of industry projections — though studios and analysts remain cautious in today’s post-pandemic, genre-sensitive marketplace.
Industry forecasters currently project a domestic opening weekend of $150 million to $180 million for Wicked: For Good, placing it among the year’s biggest commercial contenders. Universal, however, is reportedly operating with a more conservative internal estimate of around $125 million, an approach studios often adopt when managing franchise expectations and early press narratives. Regardless of which forecast comes closest to reality, one thing is clear: the film is tracking ahead of its predecessor in nearly every measurable metric, especially in pre-sales and early audience sentiment. Wicked: For Good is now Fandango’s top PG-rated preseller of 2025, outpacing not only musicals but also family-friendly blockbusters released this year.
The sequel has opened in 4,115 North American theaters, giving it one of the widest releases of the year. This footprint, combined with strong brand loyalty for the Wicked universe and the musical genre’s renewed post-pandemic resurgence, has positioned the film for a potential breakout beyond fan circles. Early audience reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film currently holds a 97% score, a rare achievement for a major studio sequel and a crucial indicator heading into the weekend. Such strong sentiment suggests that the film could enjoy longevity beyond opening weekend, especially among family audiences, teens, and musical enthusiasts.
Part of the sequel’s success lies in its creative team and cast, which have been carefully curated to appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers. Directed by Tina Shroff, the film reunites original cast members Isla Ramirez and Levon Mitchell, who reprise their iconic roles, while introducing fresh faces such as Amara Fields in key supporting roles. The screenplay, co-written by Shroff and Jared Cohen, balances the fantastical elements of the story with more intimate character-driven arcs, making it accessible to viewers of all ages. The production team, including cinematographer Ravi Nair and composer Sophia Lin, has been praised for creating a visually striking and musically engaging experience, which enhances the theatrical spectacle and strengthens the franchise’s identity.
The Wicked brand has benefited from a unique blend of nostalgia and new-generation discovery. The first film, released in 2024, eventually climbed to over $750 million worldwide, proving that big-screen musicals can still command global attention when backed by strong storytelling, updated staging, and a passionate fanbase. That global success is expected to fuel even greater anticipation for the sequel’s international rollout, with markets in Europe, Asia, and Latin America likely to respond strongly to the franchise’s combination of spectacle, music, and fantasy storytelling.
