"Wicked: For Good" Smashes Box Office Pre-Sale Records and Prepares for Global Premiere Tour

Jon M. Chu's highly anticipated musical sequel is breaking records on Fandango and generating massive buzz ahead of its release.

The cinematic event Wicked: For Good, the second installment of Universal's acclaimed musical adaptation, is setting impressive new benchmarks for ticket pre-sales. Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, the film has quickly become Fandango's top first-day ticket pre-seller of 2025. This incredible demand highlights the soaring fan excitement for the movie's highly anticipated global debut this November.

Unprecedented Ticket Sales for the Highly Anticipated "Wicked: For Good"

Ticket pre-sales for Wicked: For Good are nothing short of magical, with the film already claiming Fandango's title for the best first-day ticket pre-seller of 2025. It surpassed other major releases like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl, and Superman, signaling immense public interest in the untold story of Oz.

The film's performance places it among Fandango's top 10 best all-time first-day ticket pre-sellers. This elite group includes blockbusters such as Star Wars: Force Awakens, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour. This is a clear indicator that Wicked: For Good is poised to become a significant cultural and box office phenomenon.

Breaking yet another record, Wicked: For Good has also become the best PG-rated first-day ticket pre-seller of all time on the platform. It soared past beloved animated classics like Frozen and The Lion King, as well as K-Pop Demon Hunters: Sing-Along Event. This broad appeal suggests the film is captivating a diverse audience demographic.

Jerramy Hainline, EVP of Fandango, shared his enthusiasm, stating, "With last year’s Wicked breaking records and captivating audiences around the world, it is no surprise that fans are racing to get their tickets to Wicked: For Good." He added that the first film became a "true cultural phenomenon," bringing new generations into the world of Wicked, and fans "can’t wait to see how the story continues on the big screen."

Box office analysts are buzzing, with early projections indicating a spectacular opening weekend of up to $150 million for Wicked: For Good. This level of anticipated success puts the musical sequel in "Marvel movie money" territory. While a billion-dollar worldwide gross is a possibility, industry observers suggest a strong performance in the $800-$900 million range is more likely, which would still be an incredible achievement.

The Enduring Allure and Deep Connection of Oz's Beloved Characters

The first part of the musical saga, simply titled Wicked, achieved remarkable success in 2024. It posted the best opening ever for a Broadway musical adaptation, raking in $112.5 million. The film ultimately became the highest-grossing big-screen version of a Great White Way showstopper, with $473.2 million domestically and $756.4 million worldwide.

Beyond its financial triumphs, the first Wicked film garnered significant critical recognition. It received an impressive ten Oscar nominations, including a nod for Best Picture, and marked Ariana Grande's first Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category. The movie ultimately secured two wins for Costume Design and Production Design, highlighting its visual splendor and attention to detail.

The enduring popularity of the film adaptations stems from the beloved 2003 stage musical, which continues to be an audience favorite at the Gershwin Theatre on Broadway. Based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, the musical features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It won three Tony Awards in 2004, including Best Actress in a Musical for Idina Menzel, and remains the fourth longest-running production in Broadway history.

Director Jon M. Chu offered insights into the creative process during a session at the BFI London Film Festival 2025. He openly admitted his initial concerns about splitting the musical into two films. "You’re never going to get two great Movies," he recalled thinking, questioning how to make the first movie's ending feel satisfying without confronting the Wizard directly. He described an earlier single-movie script as a "200-something page script that was cobbled together, and it felt like a mishmash. It didn’t feel like a real movie."

To overcome these challenges and enrich the narrative, Chu opted to greatly expand on the source material, incorporating more details and backstory from Gregory Maguire’s novel. This approach resulted in the first Wicked movie being ten minutes longer than the entire stage musical. Chu emphasized the importance of building out the world for a wider audience, stating, "Otherwise, we’d be at the end of movie one, and we would just have the Wicked theater fans, which are great, but you need more than that.”

Chu also teased exciting details about the upcoming sequel, particularly regarding the iconic characters of the Tin Man and the Scarecrow. He confirmed that these beloved figures are brought to life through "real, physical makeup and hair" rather than relying on digital effects. Chu added, "It is extraordinary. I couldn’t show anybody here, but when you see it, when you look at it, know that there was no room for error on it. And the team that did it is just incredible."

Fans can also look forward to new musical numbers penned by Stephen Schwartz specifically for the film adaptation. The recently released teaser trailer provided a first listen to two of these original songs: Ariana Grande as Glinda performing "The Girl in the Bubble" and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba singing "No Place Like Home." These additions further expand the beloved musical universe for big-screen audiences.

Star-Studded Premieres and Immersive Fan Events Worldwide

As the November 21 release date draws near, Wicked: For Good is gearing up for a series of high-profile global premiere events. Singapore has been announced as the fourth stop of a five-city global premiere tour, hosting the Asia-Pacific premiere on November 13, 2025, at Universal Studios Singapore within Resorts World Sentosa.

This star-studded event will feature the film's lead cast members, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and Michelle Yeoh, alongside actor Jeff Goldblum and director Jon M. Chu. The evening promises cinematic glamour, including a handprint ceremony and a special screening at the Pantages Hollywood Theatre. An exclusive fan event, held at WEAVE at Resorts World Sentosa, will precede the premiere, offering fans an immersive experience.

Tickets for the Singapore premiere event are available, priced at S$93 for adults and S$72 for children, and include Universal Studios Singapore food and beverage as well as retail vouchers. Ms. Lee Shi Ruh, CEO of Resorts World Sentosa, expressed excitement, stating, "Bringing together the cinematic glamour of Hollywood and the immersive world of Universal Studios Singapore, this event stands as a testament to RWS as a premier destination for world-class entertainment and unforgettable moments."

In the United States, fans in Williamsburg, Virginia, will have an opportunity for an early viewing. A special VIP event for Wicked: For Good is scheduled for November 19, two days before its official theatrical release, at Movie Tavern. This private screening, organized by Three Sisters, Three Cabanas, and local Broadway star Tiffany Haas, promises a magical experience.

Tiffany Haas, who previously starred as Glinda in the Broadway production of Wicked, will make a special appearance to welcome attendees to the world of Oz. Guests can enjoy Wicked-themed cocktails and snacks, and are encouraged to dress in their favorite Glinda pink or Elphaba green outfits. Tickets for this exclusive event are available via Eventbrite for $20. The 2024 premiere event for the first Wicked film sold out within hours, so fans are urged to secure their tickets early for this eagerly anticipated sequel.

Anticipating the Final Chapter's Gripping Narrative and Oz Details

Wicked: For Good is set to continue the captivating narrative of Elphaba and Glinda, exploring how their friendship, and the very land of Oz itself, face irreversible change. With Elphaba now branded as the Wicked Witch of the West, she fights for animal rights as a fugitive. Meanwhile, Glinda, embracing her role as Glinda the Good, rises as a public darling under the watchful eyes of the Wizard and Madame Morrible. The film promises to delve deeper into the consequences of their choices, the corruption around them, and the true meaning of doing good, all while introducing the iconic arrival of Dorothy Gale from Kansas.

The impressive cast ensemble for Wicked: For Good includes Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Ethan Slater as Boq, Emmy winner Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond, Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard. Marissa Bode makes history as the first wheelchair-using actor to portray Nessarose in the musical's history. The film also features stage and screen talents like Keala Settle as Miss Coddle, Bowen Yang as Pfannee, Bronwyn James as ShenShen, Aaron Teoh as Avaric, and Colin Michael Carmichael as Professor Nikidik.

Director Jon M. Chu is already looking ahead to his next musical endeavor. He is currently working on adapting Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat for Amazon MGM Studios. Chu expressed his deep affection for the show, calling it his favorite and noting its playful tone. He will reunite with Scott Sanders, who produced his film In the Heights, to develop the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical.

Adding to the fan excitement, a newly released poster for Wicked: For Good features a clever Easter egg. The promotional image showcases a collage of the cast set against the landscape of Oz, forming the silhouette of Elphaba. Astute fans discovered that when the poster is viewed upside down, the empty space within the silhouette remarkably resembles the original Wicked Witch, portrayed by Margaret Hamilton in the 1939 film, complete with her distinctive pointy nose and chin. This subtle nod to the classic has left many fans amazed, further fueling anticipation for the upcoming sequel.

Release and Premiere Timeline for "Wicked: For Good"

Event	Date	Location
Asia-Pacific Premiere	November 13, 2025	Universal Studios Singapore, Singapore
Williamsburg VIP Screening	November 19, 2025	Movie Tavern, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
Worldwide Theatrical Release	November 21, 2025	Global