Wicked: For Good Smashes Box Office, Outpaces Disney’s Tron: Ares

Wicked: For Good, which arrived in cinemas on 21 November, has made a thunderous entrance, setting new records and leaving Disney’s 2025 offering, Tron: Ares, in the shade. The musical sequel, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, soared to the top of the global box office, amassing a remarkable $223 million in its opening weekend. This figure now stands as the largest worldwide debut for any Broadway musical adaptation to date.

Box Office Showdown: Wicked vs Tron

The film’s momentum is not only impressive in isolation; it becomes even more striking when compared to Disney’s much-hyped Tron: Ares. Jared Leto’s sci-fi adventure managed $73 million domestically and $142 million globally since its October release. In contrast, Wicked: For Good pulled in $147 million from North American audiences alone in just three days—outstripping Tron: Ares’ entire worldwide haul by $5 million.

The table contains a box office comparison between Wicked: For Good and Tron: Ares:

Movie: Wicked: For Good
Domestic Box Office: $147 million
Worldwide Box Office: $223 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 69% (so far)

Movie: Tron: Ares
Domestic Box Office: $73 million
Worldwide Box Office: $142 million
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 53%

Second-Biggest Domestic Opening of the Year

Following its rapid ascent, Wicked: For Good has become one of the year’s most notable box office stories. The musical’s domestic opening reached $150 million, a testament to the enduring appeal of the franchise among North American viewers. This figure places it just behind A Minecraft Movie, which leads with $162.8 million. Internationally, Wicked: For Good claims the fourth-highest global opening of 2025, trailing only Jurassic World: Rebirth, Minecraft, and Lilo & Stitch.

Despite its commercial success, the sequel’s critical reception has been more reserved. While the original film enjoyed an 88% Certified Fresh rating, the follow-up currently holds a 69% score, suggesting a more mixed response from reviewers.

Wicked Franchise Nears Billion-Dollar Milestone

With two instalments now released, the Wicked series is on the cusp of reaching the $1 billion mark, standing at $979.5 million and climbing. This rapid progress is particularly notable when compared to other major franchises, which often require several films over many years to achieve similar figures.

The combination of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s star power, along with Jon M. Chu’s direction, has clearly resonated with audiences. Their performances have helped transform Wicked into one of the most successful musicals of the decade.

Cast, Crew, and Audience Appeal

Director: Jon M. Chu
Cast: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Colman Domingo, Michelle Yeoh
Rotten Tomatoes Score (so far): 69%
Runtime: 2h 17m

The film’s visual flair and musical energy have drawn crowds back to the cinema, with the franchise’s popularity showing no sign of waning. Wicked: For Good is currently screening in cinemas across the globe.