Wicked 2’s Box Office Is Getting An Incredibly Lucky Boost (Just Like The First Movie Did)

Wicked: For Good, the upcoming sequel to last year’s huge musical hit Wicked, looks set to make a major splash at the box office later this year, especially thanks to one significant detail concerning the film’s holiday release. The box office total for the first Wicked was incredible, earning $738 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing musical film based on a stage play. With anticipation high for the follow-up, coming only a year after the first film’s release, and with new contributing factors, the upcoming sequel has a great chance of breaking that record.

Wicked is an incredible musical that has remained a hit on Broadway and other stages throughout the decades. Drawing from the characters of Gregory Maguire’s Wicked novels, which were themselves reinterpretations of L. Frank Baum’s Oz novels, the musical translation from the books by writer Winnie Holzman and composer Stephen Schwartz is one of the most interesting adaptations ever seen on stage. With Wicked and Wicked: For Good even making changes to the source material in turning them into Hollywood films, there is even more excitement ahead for the new sequel, which is poised to find great success.

Wicked: For Good Will Debut Alongside Zootopia 2

Just Like How Part 1 Arrived Ahead Of Moana 2

Wicked: For Good releases in theaters on November 21, 2025, the week before American Thanksgiving, and Disney’s next big animated film, Zootopia 2, follows only a few days later, on Wednesday, November 26. Following the incredible success of the first Zootopia movie, which made over $1 billion, there is also a lot of interest in this sequel. Bringing back several of the same cast and crew for Zooptopia 2, the new film looks likely to play well for Disney and will surely bring families to the multiplex in droves.

Fortunately for Wicked, a pattern has emerged that has been beneficial for counter-programming. Last year’s release of Wicked saw the same gap between it and Moana 2, and both went on to earn an incredible sum over the historic $414 million Thanksgiving weekend and the following weeks. With the first Moana bringing in a total of $687 million compared to the first Zootopia’s billion-dollar gross, it is possible that there may be even greater profits for the Zootopia sequel, which could bolster the box office in general even further. All of this looks auspicious for Wicked: For Good.

Beloved Disney Sequels Have Historically Boosted Other Thanksgiving Releases

Counter-programming Options Make For A Healthy Multiplex

Competition is an important thing to consider in the cinematic landscape, but it is also a fact that a rising tide lifts all boats. This philosophy has led to more direct successes with viral pairings like Barbenheimer in 2023, but what is especially important here is that a healthy multiplex is generally good for all films playing. Disney sequels have done an especially great job of bringing people to theaters, especially during holiday releases, and once they are there, interest is boosted in other movies.

Looking back at several years of Thanksgiving releases, the availability of Disney animated sequels has tended to raise the figures for other movies released during that time. In 2018, Creed 2, an adult sports drama, opened against Ralph Breaks the Internet, where it worked as great counter-programming, grossing an excellent $56 million across the extended holiday weekend. Frozen 2 released just before Knives Out in 2019, which helped the Rian Johnson mystery open to an excellent $41 million.

Wicked: For Good Is Already Poised To Be A Box Office Success

Zootopia 2 Can Take It Higher By Drawing People To Theaters

The first Wicked was a huge hit, especially domestically, and it was only half of the story. This has led to massive anticipation for the sequel, which, while it does not have any songs that are as beloved and iconic as “Defying Gravity,” will bring another kind of appeal by retelling elements from The Wizard of Oz in a new context. The film was already a likely success for the studio, but great counter-programming like Zootopia 2 will actually help the new movie’s box office prospects, bringing more people to the theaters overall.

Wicked is in the top 50 domestic box office of all time, and the sequel could climb even higher. With the first film being as celebrated and beloved as it was, the next installment should at least replicate its success. After all, while there are reasons to be wary of the use of “Part 1” in a film’s title, as seen with Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning’s title change, “Part 2” films, like Dune: Part Two, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, often gross even higher than the first film.

Wicked: For Good has been a safe bet for the upcoming Thanksgiving season since the first film was released to a great turnout last year, but faith in the sequel’s chances has only grown. The release of Zootopia 2 only a few days afterward actually looks to benefit the release of Wicked 2. There is reason to believe that this year’s Thanksgiving box office could be even bigger than last year’s, with these two exciting sequels leading the way.

Source: The Numbers