'Wicked: For Good' flies to the top of the box office with $150-million domestic debut

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Elphaba and Glinda have changed the box office, at least for this weekend.“Wicked: For Good” — the conclusion to Universal Pictures’ two-part film franchise — hauled in an estimated $150 million in the U.S.and Canada this weekend, marking the second-highest domestic opening this year, trailing only blockbuster hit “A Minecraft Movie.” Globally, the film grossed about $226 million.The opening weekend audience for “Wicked: For Good” skewed even more female (69%) than the first film, which counted 61% of its viewers as women, according to data from EntTelligence.Lionsgate’s “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” came in a distant second at the domestic box office with $9.1 million.

The third installment of the illusionist franchise has now brought in a cumulative $36.8 million in the U.S.and Canada and a total of $109.4 million globally across its two weekends.Disney’s 20th Century Studios’ “Predator: Badlands,” Paramount Pictures’ “The Running Man” and “Rental Family” from Searchlight Pictures rounded out this weekend’s top five.The Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande-led film was bolstered by a massive marketing push that began early last year before the first “Wicked” movie debuted.

Though the films are based on the hit Broadway play, Universal wanted to expand awareness of the story to markets that had been less exposed to the theatrical show.Hollywood Inc.

Every year we have to launch a new ‘Star Wars.’ Inside the making of ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.’As a result, the franchise has partnered with more than 100 brands, including toy companies like Lego and Mattel as well as more unexpected firms such as household goods giant P&G and online Asian supermarket Weee!, where director Jon M.Chu serves as chief creative officer.The film’s opening weekend success also points to a demand for female-focused franchises.After 2023’s ...