On the back ofturning the Oscars into the “Oz"carsand receiving an enormous 10 nominations for the upcoming ceremony,Wicked’s run at the box office looks like it still has a little bit of steam left. Recently,Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the Broadway hit surpassed the$720 million mark globally at the box office, split between an enormous $470 million domestically and $251 million in overseas markets. Because of this, the movie looks poised to enter perhaps its most impressive box office list yet, joining a prestigious line-up of blockbuster behemoths in thetop 25 highest-grossing movies in U.S. box office history.
Currently,Wickedsits just $7 million behind 25th-placedFrozen II, with the 2019 sequel accumulating a chill-inducing $477 million in theaters nationwide. Based onWicked’s current trend at the box office, it may look as if this gap is too difficult to bridge, especially consideringWickedonly earned just over $1 million more in the most recent weekend. Nevertheless, the film’s pending release in its final market of Japan, as well as the continuation of Oscars buzz, could helpWickedover the line and into gravity-defying territory.
Whether or notWickedenters the top 25 doesn’t impact the film’s already enormous legacy, becoming the highest-grossing movie based on a musical of all time and one of the50 highest-grossing live-action films ever globally. With an impressive88% “fresh” critical rating onRotten Tomatoesto its name, as well as an even better 95% score from audiences, it is clear that the love forWickedis felt from the smallest corners of the U.S. to the bright lights of the Emerald City. InJeff Ewing’sreview of the movie for Collider, he describedWickedas “one of the best silver screen adaptations of a musical in ages,” adding that it is, “easily one of the year’s best pictures.”
What Is the Highest-Grossing Movie in Domestic Box Office History?
Wickedmay have stormed its way to an eye-watering $470 million in the U.S. alone, but it faces stiff competition from entering the top 25. The likes of the aforementionedFrozen II,Finding Dory, Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, and the 2017 live-actionBeauty and the Beastall received bigger domestic box office hauls thanWicked, but still also can’t enter the top 20. The top 5 domesticsuccesses in box office historybegin withTop Gun: Maverickin fifth place with $718 million. Next, in fourth, isAvatarwith $785 million, which loses out on a top 3 spot to a trio of franchise giants. In third isSpider-Man: No Way Homewith $814 million, second place is held byAvengers: Endgamewith $858 million, and first byThe Force Awakens, with people across the country traveling to their 2015 theaters in huge numbers to catch $936 million worth of the return ofStar Wars.
Wickedis on the edge of entering the top 25 highest-grossing movies in U.S. box office history. You can catch the movie in theaters or on VOD now.
