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).

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.

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.

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.