Wicked continues to fly high this Awards Season and now the smash-hit is soaring to new heights on VOD. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s musical sensation raked in $70 million from Premium Video On-Demand buys in the first week of sales according to The Hollywood Reporter. That’s a record for both Universal with Wicked being the biggest first day ($26 million) and first-week Premium VOD sales in the studio’s history. The success with Wicked also shows that you can have a home release while still driving massive traffic to theaters as Jon Chu’s movie is still adding to that $700 million box office total.
Fans looking to watch Wicked at home can opt for the $30 Premium digital release and $20 to rent on PVOD. That’s both the original film and the sing-along versions. (Yes, the social media discourse around fans singing in the theater probably made this a necessity.) Wicked has been so massive for Universal. The musical adaptation managed to double the first day VOD sales of The Super Mario Bros. Movie last year. Nintendo’s blockbuster was the former record-holder for Universal at $44 million and now they have another major tentpole.
Wicked At The Box Office
Domestically, Wicked has proven to still have legs at the box office. Right now, Grande and Erivo’s pop-culture moment sits at $453 million. But, with the movie landscape still heating up in the early frame of 2025, there might be a chance for Wicked to fly even higher. The VOD performance of Chu’s first entry in this two-part story demands attention whether it’s in a packed theater of singing fans or at home on the couch.
Universal describes Wicked as “the untold story of the witches of Oz.” The blockbuster stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. As the two women meet at a magical school and form an unlikely friendship, the struggles of their time force them towards different paths down the yellow brick road. At the end of this journey, viewers discover how Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West came to be.
What Did We Think?
Here’s what we had to say about Wicked in our review:
“Wicked is a giant undertaking and every person in every department delivers. The costumes are exquisite. Every detail, including a handful of what seemed to be easter eggs, was not overlooked. The set design is truly exceptional, and every editorial choice is intentional and impactful. Even the lighting tells its own story.
Honestly, my only issue is there are times with certain important moments, conversations, and songs are backlit. So much so that I couldn’t see what was going on. I want to see the hard work of every person on my screen, not squint my eyes or miss the incredible footwork. Also, the Emerald City should be more green. If the song lyric says, ‘It’s all grand. And it’s all green’ maybe don’t show a blue building.
That’s truly nitpicky stuff. Wicked is special and truly a magical experience. I went in wanting to hate it and I can’t. Give it all the awards!”
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