In a twist of theatrical fate, the spellbinding musical ‘Wicked’ has surpassed ‘Mamma Mia’ to claim the title of the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation in global box office history.
‘Wicked,’ featuring the talents of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, has enchanted audiences around the world, amassing $634 million globally in just six weeks. This remarkable achievement edges past the $611 million (unadjusted for inflation) that ‘Mamma Mia’ accumulated in its box office lifetime. The musical’s success continues to ride a high note, having previously outperformed the classic ‘Grease,’ which earned $188.62 million domestically, to become the top domestic Broadway adaptation.
Universal Pictures, undoubtedly delighted by this soaring success, is poised to release the latter half of the big-budget musical titled ‘Wicked: For Good’ in 2025. This momentum builds anticipation and sets the stage for future box office victories.
Meanwhile, Paramount’s ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ has dashed its way into history with a stunning $74 million international debut, marking the franchise’s largest overseas opening. Although slightly boosted by preview screenings, this figure still significantly overshadows the $33 million international launch of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2.’ In the United Kingdom alone, ‘Sonic 3’ zoomed to $15.1 million, with Mexico and France also contributing robust numbers of $10.3 million and $7.3 million, respectively. With its release in additional territories such as Korea, Brazil, and Italy on the horizon, ‘Sonic 3’s global momentum seems unstoppable.
Adding to the cinematic excitement, Robert Eggers’ ‘Nosferatu,’ a gothic horror tale with Bill Skarsgård as Count Orlok, debuted internationally, gathering $3 million from just five markets. Its domestic launch already boasts $21.1 million over the weekend and $40.3 million in the first five days, signaling a strong start for the film.
Despite fierce competition from new releases, Disney’s ‘Mufasa’ commands the international box office with $77.1 million from 52 territories. The film shows resilience after a rocky start, accumulating $214 million internationally and $328 million globally. Meanwhile, Disney’s ‘Moana 2,’ with its vibrant story of a Polynesian wayfinder, continues its success streak by netting $36 million overseas, bringing its worldwide total to an impressive $882 million. As it edges closer to the $900 million milestone, ‘Moana 2’ adds to Disney’s prosperous year, a year crowned by hits like ‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ each crossing the billion-dollar mark.
In this dynamic arena of global box office showdowns, ‘Wicked’ has cast a spell of success, not only securing its place as a top-performing Broadway adaptation but also setting the stage for future triumphs. The continued popularity of ‘Sonic 3,’ alongside the strong performances of ‘Nosferatu,’ ‘Mufasa,’ and ‘Moana 2,’ underscores the diverse appeal of cinematic experiences worldwide, promising audiences more enthralling releases in the months to come.
Source: Yahoo
