Well, slap a broomstick on it and call it history! The 2024 film adaptation of Wicked has officially become the Beyoncé of Broadway adaptations, soaring past all others to claim the title of highest-grossing Broadway movie adaptation ever. (Cue Defying Gravity, because this movie really said, “Catch me if you can, Mamma Mia!”)
According to Variety, Wicked has pulled in a jaw-dropping $634 million worldwide over the last six months. For context, that’s approximately 634 million more dollars than your local community theater’s rendition of Cats. This dazzling number officially knocks 2008’s Mamma Mia—which held on with $611 million for years—right off its ABBA throne. Sorry, Donna Sheridan, you’ve been replaced by green makeup and flying monkeys.
But wait, there’s more! Not only is Wicked conquering the global box office like Elphaba conquering social justice, but it’s also breaking records domestically. With $424 million in U.S. ticket sales, it has obliterated 1978’s Grease ($188.62 million) as the top Broadway adaptation in domestic box office history. Sorry, Danny Zuko—your leather jacket may be timeless, but it can’t beat a gravity-defying diva and a heart-wrenching “For Good” duet.
The star-studded spectacle, led by Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, has everyone clicking their sparkly heels together and heading to the theater. And if you thought Wicked’s reign was over, think again—Wicked: For Good, the sequel, is scheduled to drop in 2025. So, there’s more broom-flying, spell-casting, and melodrama coming your way.
Moral of the story: Don’t underestimate a green girl with a big voice and an even bigger bank account. Broadway adaptations, take note—Wicked just set the bar so high, you’ll need wings (or maybe a time-turner) to catch up.