Big films this season are showing strong results, which is pleasing investors. The adaptation of the musical "Wicked" from Universal has grossed over $114 million, setting a record for Broadway adaptations.
With the holidays approaching, "Wicked," which started with $100 million, and "Gladiator 2," which brought in $55.5 million, have delivered the best performances in the post-pandemic period, comparable to the pre-holiday weekend in 2019 when "Frozen 2" led the box office.
The success of the musical "Wicked" is largely attributed to Ariana Grande's involvement. According to PostTrack, 39% of viewers came to the film for the stars rather than the story itself.
Movies released around Thanksgiving typically attract large audiences. The record for the five-day weekend belongs to "Frozen," which earned $93.5 million in 2013.
Michael O'Leary, head of the National Association of Theatre Owners, noted that when competition is high and the quality of films is good, it benefits both the market and the audience. The success of films like "Wicked" and "Gladiator 2" shows that moviegoers of all ages love going to the cinema. O'Leary predicts that this will lead to strong box office numbers in December and into the new year.
In November, "Wicked" became one of the highest-grossing films of the year and is expected to set a record for adaptations of Broadway musicals, surpassing "Beetlejuice," which grossed $111 million.
