Wicked opened with an estimated $114 million in U.S. and Canadian ticket sales for Friday through Sunday, November 22–24, 2024. That put it third among North American openings reported for the year at the time, behind Deadpool & Wolverine and Inside Out 2—not third among all openings ever.
How much did Wicked make opening weekend?
The Associated Press reported a $114 million domestic opening based on studio estimates announced Sunday, November 24. “Domestic” here means the United States and Canada, and the figure covers the Friday–Sunday weekend. AP’s contemporary weekend chart identified its rankings as Comscore estimates; final domestic figures were expected Monday. AP’s November 24 report
AP put Wicked’s worldwide opening at $164.2 million. That is a different measure from the $114 million domestic total: it includes ticket sales outside North America. Rotten Tomatoes rounded the worldwide figure to $164 million and described roughly $50 million in international sales. Rotten Tomatoes’ November 25 weekend analysis
Was Wicked the third-biggest opening of 2024?
Yes, in the year-to-date North American opening comparison reported at the time—not in an all-time ranking. Rotten Tomatoes’ contemporary figures put Wicked behind two releases and ahead of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
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| Film | North American opening | Place in the 2024 comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Deadpool & Wolverine | $211.4 million | First |
| Inside Out 2 | $154.2 million | Second |
| Wicked | $114 million | Third |
| Beetlejuice Beetlejuice | $111 million | Below Wicked |
The comparison figures are from Rotten Tomatoes’ November 25, 2024 account of the weekend. They describe the contemporary year-to-date opening list, not a later audited year-end ranking or lifetime box-office totals. Rotten Tomatoes
How did Gladiator II do in the same weekend?
Gladiator II opened to an estimated $55.5 million domestically, according to AP. The two releases were paired in media coverage under the nickname “Glicked,” recalling the previous year’s Barbie and Oppenheimer pairing. AP noted that fewer people watched both films as a double feature, and that the weekend did not create the same cultural imprint as “Barbenheimer.” AP
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Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian cautioned that it is hard to know how either film would have performed alone: “Standing on their own, each of these movies may have done pretty much what they did, but it’s hard to know.” On whether the pairing helped or hurt, he said, “Raising awareness can indeed lead to an increase in box office. Let’s put it this way: They didn’t hurt each other at all.” Those comments leave the causal effect uncertain; the shared weekend is context, not proof that one film drove the other’s sales. AP
What do audience and marketing figures show?
AP, citing Comscore, reported that about 72% of Wicked ticket buyers were female, while 61% of Gladiator II ticket buyers were male. AP also reported about 400 global brand partners for Wicked and described themed promotions, including Mattel dolls and Stanley mugs. These are reported audience and campaign details; they do not establish what caused either opening’s gross. AP
Universal distribution chief Jim Orr told AP, “We saw an opportunity to dominate a weekend and get a very large running start into the Thanksgiving holiday.” He also said, “We’re very confident that it will play ridiculously well through the Christmas corridor and into the new year.” Those were his expectations at the time, not a substitute for later performance figures. AP
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why do some reports give a different “third-biggest opening” result?
The ranking depends on territory and time window. Val Morgan reported that Wicked launched in Australia with A$10.2 million and 489,000 admissions over Wednesday through Sunday, including previews. It called that the country’s third-biggest opening of the year. Those Australian figures use Australian dollars and a five-day frame, so they are not comparable to the $114 million North American Friday–Sunday domestic estimate. Val Morgan’s November 26, 2024 report, citing CineTAM
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