‘Wicked: For Good’ Climbs Higher on List of Highest-Grossing Film Adaptations of Broadway Musicals: Complete Ranking

The latest installment in the Wicked franchise, Wicked: For Good, has raked in $393.3 million worldwide during its first nine days in theaters. This impressive opening propels the film to No. 5 on Billboards ranking of the highest-grossing movies adapted from Broadway musicals. The ranking is based on Box Office Mojos list of the top 1,000 films by global earnings.

Both Wicked: For Good and the original Wicked movie, released in 2024, draw from the 2003 Broadway musical Wicked. The first film premiered on November 22, 2024, and within five weeks, it overtook Mamma Mia! to become the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation at the time.

In recognition of its achievements, Wicked earned 10 Oscar nominations on January 23, 2025, including nods for its lead performers, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. The film secured two Oscars at the ceremony on March 2, 2025, winning for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.

Both films were directed by Jon M. Chu, known for his work on previous Broadway adaptations such as the 2021 musical film In the Heights. Overall, eight Broadway-based films are listed among Box Office Mojos top 1,000 worldwide grossing movies.

Its important to note that historic blockbusters often earned less due to lower ticket prices. For example, the 1965 film The Sound of Music grossed $161.4 million worldwideenough to be a classic but not to appear on the top 1,000 list today.

The ranking excludes sequels like Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, which earned $395.6 million worldwide, since they are continuations of previous films rather than standalone adaptations of stage productions.

Top-Grossing Broadway Adaptations (Worldwide)

• Wicked: For Good Stars: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater; Music by Stephen Schwartz; Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 12 weeks
• Wicked (2024) Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey; Music by Stephen Schwartz
• Chicago Stars: Rene Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones; Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb
• Hairspray Stars: John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer; Music by Marc Shaiman, Lyrics by Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman
• Grease Stars: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John; Music by Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey; Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
• Les Misrables Stars: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe; Music by Claude-Michel Schnberg, Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer; Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 for 1 week
• Mamma Mia! Stars: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan; Music by Benny Andersson & Bjrn Ulvaeus
• Newsies Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande; Music by Stephen Schwartz

Author: Sophia Brooks