The Broadway adaptationWickedwill need to make a lot of money to break even, leading viewers to wonder just how big its budget is.Wickedspent a long time in development hell. Themusical retelling ofThe Wizard of Ozwas a huge hit when it first premiered in 2003. Looselyadapted from Gregory Maguire’s novelWicked, which is itself a dark preqeul to author Frank L Baum’sThe Wizard of Oz,Wickedis a cult phenomenon with a massive following. However, its movie adaptation faced many delays, recasting challenges, and other production issues in the years since its debut.
The Wizard Of Oz Ending Explained
Decades later, The Wizard of Oz still captivates audiences, but its ending may have some wondering what was real and what was not, and its meaning.
Now,2024’sWickedis set to be one of November’s biggest releases. Starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a misunderstood heroine who eventually becomesThe Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West,Wickedfollows the opening half of the musical.Its planned sequelWicked Part 2is set to be released in November 2025, but this plan could change ifWickedfails to find an audience at the global box office. Like any adaptation,Wickedis a risky investment.Crazy Rich Asiansdirector Jon M Chu has bet big on the musical, judging by its budget.
Wicked’s Budget Is Reportedly $145 Million
Expensive CGI and A-List Stars Justify Wicked’s Large Budget
According toDeadline,Wicked’s budget is around $145 million. This isn’t excessively large considering the musical is marketed as a tentpole holiday hit with numerous A-list stars. As well as Erivo’s Elphaba,Wickedstars Ariana Grande as the Good Witch Galinda, Jeff Goldblum as The Wizard of Oz, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, and Peter Dinklage as the voice of Doctor Dillamond. This starry cast can’t have come cheap, andWicked’s expensive CGI and setsalso undoubtedly account for at least some of its large budget.Wicked’s vision of Oz will be instrumental to its success, and its earliest trailers were criticized for chintzy CGI.
Wicked will need to make around double its budget to be considered a hit at the box office.
Since then, the movie’s finished visual effects appear to have mollified initially skeptical viewers. However,Wickedwill need to be more than passable if the movie wants to turn a profit. Thanks to marketing and promotional budgets,Wickedwill need to make around double its budget to be considered a hit at the box office. This means the adaptation needs to earn over $290 million upon its release forWicked Part 2’s theatrical release to look like a good idea. This is entirely possible, but the movie will face competition fromGladiator IIand Diseny’s upcoming sequel,Moana 2.
Wicked’s Box Office Needs To Make At Least $290 Million To Be A Success
Wicked Part 2’s Theatrical Release Is Contingent On Wicked’s Success
WhileWickedmay well become a success on streaming later on, the movie needs to make at least double its budget to be considered a success upon its initial release. This could be tricky givenWicked’s large price tag, but the star power of its cast and the fame of its songs should help the musical gain a large audience. Even still,Wicked Part Twomay have a harder time winning over viewers a year later. Most of the musical’s best-known hits, like “Popular” and “Defying Gravity,” appear in its opening act and will therefore have been and gone inWickedbefore the sequel even begins.
