Universal’s gamble to split Wicked into two films is paying off big time. The first Wicked became the highest-grossing Broadway adaptation ever, setting the stage for Wicked: For Good to explode out of the gate with a stronger opening than its predecessor.
The two-part strategy wasn’t only a marketing swing, but also a structural choice. Director Jon M. Chu had long argued the story was too sprawling for a single film, and Universal backed that vision with a blockbuster-sized budget and a two-year promotional runway.
The success also marks a major reversal for Hollywood musicals, a genre that has struggled on the big screen for more than a decade despite beloved source material. And despite the industry’s rocky track record with multi-film gambits — from Mission: Impossible to Horizon — Wicked is joining the rare club where a two-parter actually lifts both installments.
With a massive brand ecosystem, a savvy marketing campaign, and a fanbase that’s continued to buy in, Universal now has its first musical franchise hit in many years.
