MOVIE | Wicked is #1 at the Australian box office – Universal Pictures is delighted to announce that Wicked has soared to new heights at the Box Office, shattering records in Australia over the weekend. Defying gravity and reaching over $10.3M in just five days, Wicked debuts as Universal’s biggest opening weekend of 2024, and the biggest opening weekend for an adaptation of a stage musical.
This phenomenal success solidifies Wicked’s status as 2024’s generation-defining cinematic event and underscores the enduring affection for one of the most cherished musicals of all time.
Beyond the land of Oz Wicked has truly cast its spell, with the film smashing box office records with an astounding $164M global haul. This marks the largest global and domestic opening for a film adaptation of a Broadway show, surpassing the $103 million worldwide debut of 2012’s Les Misérables.
Australia was the inaugural stop on the global Journey Through Oz premiere tour, where we welcomed stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater and Marissa Bode to our shores, transforming Market Street in Sydney into a Munchkinland-inspired wonderland for the eagerly awaited Australian premiere.
Wicked was simply unmissable during the campaign, with Universal Pictures partnering with some of Australia’s biggest brands to captivate the imaginations of all moviegoers with large-scale installations and activations across the country. From shopfronts and public transport to influencer events and digital-screen takeovers, Australia was awash in pink and green as Wicked fever swept the nation.
As Australian audiences continue to immerse themselves in the enchantment of Wicked as we head into the most magical time of the year, we’re thrilled our beloved characters’ legacy is now forever cemented in cinema lore…and look towards Wicked Part II in 2025!
Media Release – Universal
Link to Universal content HERE
TV Central News content HERE
Read my Wicked review HERE
MOVIE | Wicked is #1 at the Australian box office
MOVIE | Wicked Australian screening features Ariana Grande – Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning artist and Academy Award® nominee Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) and Grammy-winning multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande (Glinda) arrived at the State Theatre, Sydney this evening (Sunday 3 November) for the star-studded Australian premiere of Wicked.
Erivo and Grande were joined by their co-stars Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Marissa Bode and Ethan Slater at the first stop on the global Journey Through Oz premiere tour, with the State Theatre and Market Street, Sydney, transformed into a whimsical tribute to Munchkinland.
The Journey Through Oz tour is a series of themed premieres across five international cities (Los Angeles, New York, Mexico and London) offering audiences an unparalleled experience of the film’s wondrous, breathtaking world.
Fans can follow The Journey Through Oz on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube and join the global conversation using #WickedMovie.
ABOUT WICKED
After two decades as one of the most beloved and enduring musicals on the stage,Wicked makes its long-awaited journey to the big screen as a spectacular, generation-defining cinematic event, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights).
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.
The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Wicked, the first chapter of a two-part cultural celebration, will be released in Australian cinemas 21 November 2024
Media Release – Universal
Link to Universal content HERE
TV Central News content HERE
MOVIE | Wicked Australian screening features Ariana Grande
