Wicked: For Good Surpasses Disney’s 2025 Musical at Box Office in One Weekend
In a surprising twist at the box office, Wicked: For Good has outperformed Disney’s anticipated musical releases for 2025. The film managed to accumulate an impressive $147 million during its opening weekend in the United States alone, quickly surpassing the domestic total of the much-publicized Disney film, Snow White.
Box Office Performance of Wicked: For Good
Wicked: For Good not only dominated the opening weekend but also crossed the $220 million mark globally. This unprecedented success positioned it as the 15th highest-grossing film of 2025 in the U.S. within just three days of its debut. In comparison, Snow White secured only $87.2 million domestically and $205.6 million worldwide, highlighting a stark contrast in performance between the two films.
Disney’s Box Office Struggles
This year has been a challenging one for Disney. With Lilo & Stitch being the sole Hollywood release to crack the $1 billion threshold worldwide, many of the studio’s new titles have disappointed. Snow White, in particular, has faced criticism and controversy, failing to resonate with audiences.
Comparative Analysis of Disney’s Releases
- Snow White: $87.2 million domestically, $205.6 million globally.
- Wicked: For Good: $147 million domestically, $220 million globally in its opening weekend.
- Lilo & Stitch: Only Disney film of 2025 to exceed $1 billion globally.
The performances of Disney’s live-action adaptations, particularly the struggles of Snow White, have prompted a reassessment of the studio’s future projects. This has included a temporary halt on the Tangled remake, which has since been reactivated with Scarlett Johansson attached to star.
Looking Ahead: Disney’s Future Releases
Despite recent setbacks, Disney aims to rebound with upcoming releases. Zootopia 2 is projected to draw significant audiences over Thanksgiving, with estimated earnings of over $125 million possible during the holiday weekend. The film is also set to rejuvenate the Chinese market for Hollywood productions.
December will see the launch of Avatar: Fire and Ash, which is anticipated to be the highest-grossing film of the year, potentially following the financial success of its predecessors. Disney’s efforts to recalibrate its strategy suggest that the challenges of 2025 may only be a temporary setback.
Future Prospects for Disney
The lineup for 2026 appears promising. Projects such as the live-action remake of Moana, Toy Story 5, The Mandalorian & Grogu, and Avengers: Doomsday are all poised to bring Disney back to its financial prominence. As the studio refines its approach, fans and industry watchers will be closely monitoring how these projects perform.
