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‘Wicked’ Becomes Biggest Global Broadway Adaptation; ‘Sonic 3’ Scores Largest International Franchise Debut

Universal’s Wicked has soared to become the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation in global box office history, surpassing 2008’s Mamma Mia. The musical adaptation, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, has amassed an impressive US$634 million worldwide after just six weeks in theaters. For comparison, Mamma Mia ended its theatrical run with US$611 million globally (not adjusted for inflation).

‘Wicked’ Becomes Biggest Global Broadway Adaptation; ‘Sonic 3’ Scores Largest International Franchise Debut

In North America, Wicked has brought in US$424 million, surpassing 1978’s Grease (US$188.62 million) to become the top-grossing Broadway adaptation in the U.S. This remarkable performance bodes well for Universal, which plans to release the second instalment, Wicked: For Good, in 2025. The film’s success also stands out amid a recent trend of underperforming stage-to-screen remakes like 2023’s The Color Purple and earlier efforts such as West Side Story, Dear Evan Hansen, and In the Heights.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Elsewhere at the box office, Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog 3 set a franchise record with a US$74 million debut from international markets. This figure, which includes preview screenings, far outpaces Sonic the Hedgehog 2’s US$33 million international launch in 2022. The U.K. led the charge with US$15.1 million, followed by Mexico at US$10.3 million and France with US$7.3 million. The film has already earned US$137 million in North America, bringing its global total to US$211 million. Sonic 3 is set to open in additional territories, including Korea, Brazil, and Italy, next weekend.

Meanwhile, Robert Eggers’ gothic horror Nosferatu collected US$3 million from five international markets. Domestically, the film has earned US$21.1 million over the traditional weekend and US$40.3 million over its first five days. Universal oversees international markets, with further international rollouts for Nosferatu planned for the new year.

Despite strong showings from new releases, Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King continued to dominate international charts, earning US$77.1 million across 52 territories. The prequel has rebounded from a slow start, achieving US$214 million internationally and US$328 million globally to date.

‘Wicked’ Becomes Biggest Global Broadway Adaptation; ‘Sonic 3’ Scores Largest International Franchise Debut

Disney’s Moana 2 also remained a steady performer, bringing in US$36 million overseas this weekend. The animated sequel’s international total now stands at US$487.8 million, with a global tally of US$882 million. As it approaches the US$900 million milestone, Moana 2 adds to Disney’s stellar year, which has already been highlighted by billion-dollar hits like Inside Out 2 and Deadpool & Wolverine.

With such standout performances, it’s clear that 2024 has been a year of remarkable achievements for Hollywood, particularly in adaptations and sequels.