Universal’s musical sequel Wicked: For Good stole the box office spotlight in its North America debut this weekend, with a record-setting haul to the tune of $150 million, industry estimates showed Sunday.
Variety said the film’s debut was the highest ever for a Broadway musical adaptation.
Tony Award-winner Cynthia Erivo and pop star Ariana Grande return as the magical land of Oz’s most notable witches—the green-skinned, outcast Elphaba and popular pink-wearing Glinda—to wrap up the storyline introduced in last year’s blockbuster part one.
The Wizard of Oz retelling is based on the long-running Broadway musical, itself adapted from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel.
Part two follows Glinda and Elphaba—now dubbed the Wicked Witch of the West—as they struggle against the nefarious machinations of The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh).
In second place at the US and Canadian box office, according to Exhibitor Relations, was Lionsgate’s Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, with $9.1 million. The third installment in the crime heist franchise dropped from the top spot a week prior, when it took in over $21 million.
The film reunites Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, and Woody Harrelson as Robin Hood-style illusionists targeting dangerous criminals.
With $6.3 million, third place went to 20th Century’s Predator: Badlands, the latest installment in the decades-old sci-fi horror franchise.
Paramount’s The Running Man—a new take on Stephen King’s dystopian novel about a murderous game show—fell two spots since its debut last weekend to fourth place, with $5.8 million.
Fifth place went to Searchlight’s Rental Family, starring Brendan Fraser as a struggling actor who takes on odd stand-in roles in Japan.
Rounding out the top 10 were Sisu: Road to Revenge with $2.6 million, Regretting You with $1.5 million, Nuremberg with $1.2 million, Black Phone 2 with $1.0 million, and Sarah’s Oil with $770,000. AFP
