"Wicked" has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation of all time, surpassing the previous record holder, "Mamma Mia!" which held the title for 16 years. In its opening weekend, "Wicked" made $164 million at the box office, marking the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway adaptation both domestically and globally. By the end of the weekend, it had grossed $634 million, exceeding the $611 million made by "Mamma Mia!"
Despite these achievements, "Wicked" still has a way to go to reach the level of the highest-grossing musical films of all time, which have made over $1 billion in ticket sales. Other blockbuster musical films such as Disney's live-action remake of "The Lion King" and "Frozen" have also grossed over a billion dollars, showcasing the popularity of musical adaptations in the film industry.
Rob Mitchell, the director of theatrical insights at Gower Street Analytics, attributes the success of "Wicked" to its strong fan base, Ariana Grande's star power, and the multi-generational appeal of the Oz story. He believes that the film's production quality and cinematic spectacle have contributed to its box office success.
While "Wicked" has broken multiple records and achieved significant financial success, it still faces tough competition from other blockbuster musical films. Only time will tell if it can surpass the highest-grossing musical films of all time and solidify its place in cinematic history.