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‘Wicked: Part I’ recently released to glowing reviews and phenomenal box office success. It’s based on the stage musical ‘Wicked,’ which is inspired by Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, itself a reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.’

The film follows Elphaba, who will become the Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with Galinda, who will become Glinda the Good, set in the Land of Oz before Dorothy arrives.

The main cast of ‘Wicked: Part I’ includes Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande as Galinda, who becomes Glinda the Good. Supporting roles feature Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Ethan Slater as Boq, Bowen Yang as Pfannee, and Peter Dinklage as the voice of Dr. Dillamond. Other notable cast members include Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, and Marissa Bode as Nessarose, Elphaba’s sister.

Chris Pratt’s Jurassic World Prediction ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Call it fate, call it the universe, or just Chris Pratt being Chris Pratt, but the dude predicted his Jurassic World role five years before it happened. In 2010, long before he was out there riding dinosaurs and flexing his raptor-whispering skills, Pratt was still rocking the lovable goofball Andy Dwyer on Parks and Recreation. But in a behind-the-scenes clip, now comedy gold, Pratt threw out a joke that would later turn into his reality.

Picture this: It’s the Parks and Rec set, and Pratt’s doing some DVD extra footage when his flip phone rings. Instead of just checking it, he pulls a complete comedic stunt. “Man, I just got a text message from Steven Spielberg. God, so annoying,” he deadpans. As he pretends to type a reply, he says, “Sorry, Steven. Parks and Recreation asked me to do behind-the-scenes,...

It’s no secret that the Covid-19 pandemic upended the movie theater business in 2020, but in the years since, the industry has slowly climbed back. In 2021, 14 movies were able to cross the coveted $100 million mark at the U.S. box office. In 2022, that number jumped up to 18 films. And in 2023, there were a whopping 25 such blockbusters. So how many features released during the current 2024 calendar year will end up becoming box office behemoths? Stay tuned.

To date, the biggest money-makers of the year are a trio of highly anticipated sequels: “Inside Out 2,” “Deadpool & Wolverine,” and “Despicable Me 4.” Scroll through our gallery above (or click here for direct access) to see all of the 2024 box office hits so far that made more than $100 million in the United States. The number will continue to grow as high-profile movies like “Mufasa: The Lion King” will be released later in the year.

Everyone is feeling Wicked these days. The film starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda has inspired memes, plenty of social media discourse, a surprise piano performance from Jeff Goldblum who plays the Wizard of Oz, and Christmas Day singalong screenings. All the fans want to sing along, including Camila Cabello.

Cabello took to Instagram over the weekend to congratulate the stars and to sing its praises, literally. “You were brilliant Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo,” she captioned an Instagram story, which a fan shared on X,...

Netflix has a pretty long history of giving ambitious shows a chance, only to scrap them early on in their runs. "Kaos," a Greek mythology comedy starring Jeff Goldblum as Zeus, joined that list of shows earlier this year. Created by Charlie Covell ("The End of the F***ing World"), the show was canceled by Netflix In early October roughly five weeks after it premiered. In short, the streamer didn't take long to make a decision on this one.

The show centers on Zeus (Goldblum), who has long enjoyed his status as King of The Gods. He wakes up one morning and discovers a wrinkle on his forehead, convincing him his fall is coming. At the same time, his brother Hades (David Thewlis), God of the Underworld, is losing his grip, with a backlog of dead waiting to be processed. Hera (Janet McTeer), Queen of the Gods, rules over Earth but...

Netflix has axed several shows in 2024 and a few are really angering fans!

It can be hard to be a Netflix subscriber. The streamer is home to some fantastic shows, many of which no other network or creator would take a chance on. Sadly, far too often, a great show only lasts one season, with Netflix canceling them for sometimes little rhyme or reason.

2024 was no different, with several shows ending. To be fair, a few weren’t that good, so they likely deserved the axing. Others just were rather forgettable so no big loss. But then there are a few shows that had great critical acclaim and amassed a loyal following, only to be canceled with little warning.

It’s aggravating and worse when some seem to have been given little chance to grow. Here are the shows Netflix has canceled in 2024 that really stick in the craw of...

Wicked Box Office (North America): Surpasses The Greatest Showman ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo starrer Wicked amaze us even now as it reaches its second weekend. The film has already surpassed the domestic haul of The Greatest Showman in just seven days. It has received a winning boost during this Thanksgiving’s long holiday and is expected to hit a major milestone at the North American box office before the weekend ends. Scroll below for more.

The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman, Zendaya, and Zac Efron, was a biographical musical drama released in 2017. It was directed by Michale Gracey. It is a heavily fictionalized depiction of Pt Burnam’s life. He was a showman and entertainer who created the Barnum & Bailey Circus and its star attractions.

Ariana Grande’s Wicked completes a week at the cinemas, and it has been performing exceptionally well at the box office.

Talk of Grande and Erivo's salary for 'Wicked' left fans raging.MEGAHow Much Did Cynthia Erivo Reportedly Earn for Her 'Wicked' Role?Rumors claimed Grande earned more than her 'Wicked' costar Erivo.Mega

Released on November 22, Wicked — an adaptation of the Broadway musical based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West — stars Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.

According to reports, Erivo only received a salary of $1million for the lead role.

What Was Ariana Grande's Reported Salary for 'Wicked'?Grande allegedly made 15 times the amount Erivo received.Mega

While the Tony-winning actress reportedly scored $1million from the gig, rumors claimed the We Can't Be Friends singer received a whopping $15million for her part in the adaptation.

How Much Did the Other 'Wicked' Cast Members Receive?Grande played Glinda in the adaptation, while Erivo portrayed Elphaba.

Guest Column: Cuny Prof Dr. Mara Einstein has spent the past 20 years immersed in the media industry, holding key roles as an executive at NBC, MTV Networks and major advertising agencies, where she worked on iconic campaigns for brands including Miller Lite, Uncle Ben’s and Dole Foods. Her latest book, Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use the Same Tactics as Cults, explores the psychological strategies marketers use to influence consumer behavior. Dr. Einstein also is a featured contributor in the new Netflix documentary, Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy. Produced by Oscar-winning Grain Media (The White Helmets) and directed by Nic Stacey (The World According to Jeff Goldblum), Buy Now! exposes the manipulative tactics brands deploy to fuel consumption and reveals the profound effects they have on individuals, communities, and the planet.

It was 5 a.m. the morning after Thanksgiving in 2008. Outside a Walmart in Valley Stream, NY, more than 2,000 shoppers braved the freezing cold for hours,...

Cynthia Erivo has taken a side in the debate over whether moviegoers should be singing along to the blockbuster Wicked movie, whilst seated there in the theater.

Based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, Wicked serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, explaining how Elphaba, the “Wicked Witch,” and Glinda, the “Good Witch,” went from being best friends at Shiz University to bitter rivals in the Emerald City. The musical premiered on Broadway in June 2003, winning three Tony Awards.

More from TVLineWayne Northrop, Days of Our Lives and Dynasty Vet,...

Wicked fans won’t have to wait too long to return to the wonderful land of Oz.

The second film in Jon M. Chu’s two-part on-screen adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical is set to hit theaters Nov. 21, 2025, almost exactly a year after Wicked was released. Wicked: Part Two will see the witches of Oz, Ariana Grande’s Galinda — a.k.a Glinda the Good Witch — and Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba — a.k.a. the Wicked Witch of the West — continuing where the story that began with the first film.

Wicked, which arrived in theaters Nov. 22, had the highest opening for a musical adaptation with an estimated $114 million at the domestic box office. (Grande and Erivo, despite an unverified online rumor, were paid equal for their show-stopping starring roles.) The films are based on the 2003 musical of the same name, which was originally based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire.

Currently, Marvel stands as one of the most lucrative brands in Hollywood. Be it the MCU, or the several side projects taken on by multiple studios, Marvel has a hand in so many projects, that it might as well be the one franchise that has given every actor a job in Hollywood.

Avengers in the MCU || Credit: Marvel Studios

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its assorted parallel franchises have some of the best-looking casts in modern filmmaking, there are some actors that are not necessarily the best-looking in the conventional sense. However, their unconventional charm has won fans over and then some, proving to Hollywood that there is no one way to look beautiful.

Matt Smith Credits: Matt Smith in House of the Dragon / HBO

While Morbius was not exactly the best film in Marvel’s canon, Matt Smith turned on his charm for the film’s antagonist anyway.

When it came to her take on Glinda, Ariana Grande didn’t want to stray too far from the original.

Wicked composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz recently revealed that while recording the movie musical’s track ‘Popular’, the actress shot down an attempt to “hip-hop it up a little bit” on the Jon M. Chu-helmed feature adaptation.

“In the spirit of being open to new things for the movie, my music team and I thought, let’s refresh the rhythm. Let’s, maybe, I don’t know, hip-hop it up a little bit,” he told the Los Angeles Times. Ariana said, ‘Absolutely not, don’t do it. I want to be Glinda, not Ariana Grande playing Glinda.'”

Schwartz, who also wrote the Tony-nominated music for the 2003 Broadway musical, did manage to update one part of the song with Grande.

“I had this idea for a new vocal ending,...

Bowen Yang opened up about his experience shooting Wicked in a conversation with fellow SNL alumnus Will Ferrell this week, reflecting on working alongside his star-studded cast while recalling his crazy travel schedule to shoot the musical and television show at the same time.

“I feel like I conned my way into this movie, because they gender-flipped my role,” Yang, who’s emerged as one of SNL’s brightest stars in recent years, told Ferrell in their conversation for Interview magazine. “I’m like, ‘Why am I in a scene...

As the world continues to fly high on Glicked, Paul Mescal is reaching across the aisle and giving a round of applause.

The Oscar nominee praised Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande‘s performances in Wicked after the Jon M. Chu-helmed movie musical adaptation premiered the same day as his Ridley Scott sequel Gladiator II, and following last year’s Barbenheimer box office event.

“I met Cynthia and Ariana at the Academy Gala very briefly, and I’ve seen the film,” he told Attitude. “I think they’re both extraordinary. And I’m a musical theater guy, I’m a big advocate for that film.”

Amid the Glicked craze, Mescal said, “Give it whatever title you want to give it. [Barbenheimer] was an amazing thing for cinema in general. If we can get people in the door for both films, not only is it great for us, it’s great for Wicked,...

Following the release of 'Wicked,' rumors about Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo's unequal salaries went viral.MEGAHow Much Did Cynthia Erivo Reportedly Earn for Her 'Wicked' Role?Rumors claimed Ariana Grande earned more than her 'Wicked' costar Cynthia Erivo.Mega

Released on November 22, Wicked — an adaptation of the Broadway musical based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West — stars Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.

According to reports, Erivo only received a salary of $1 million for the lead role.

What Was Ariana Grande's Reported Salary for 'Wicked'?Ariana Grande allegedly made 15 times the amount Cynthia Erivo received.Mega

While the Tony-winning actress reportedly scored $1 million from the gig, rumors claimed the "we can't be friends" singer received a whopping $15 million for her part in the adaptation.

How Much Did the Other 'Wicked' Cast Members Receive?...

No need to look to the western sky to find Cynthia Erivo — she can now be located in our Oscar experts‘ Best Actress predictions.

Buoyed by great reviews and record box office numbers, the “Wicked” star has soared into the top five nomination rankings of our influential media pundits. As of this writing, the experts collectively predict that the Best Actress Oscar lineup will be Mikey Madison (“Anora”) at 37/10 odds, Karla Sofía Gascón (“Emilia Pérez”) at 9/2 odds, Angelina Jolie (“Maria”) at 9/2 odds, Marianne Jean-Baptiste (“Hard Truths”) at 8/1 odds, and Erivo at 8/1 odds.

Universal Pictures’ “Wicked,” Jon M. Chu‘s long-awaited adaptation of the popular Broadway stage musical, finally opened in theaters on Friday, Nov. 22. Erivo plays Elphaba Thropp, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, and Ariana Grande takes on the role of her frenemy Galinda Upland, aka Glinda the Good Witch. Other notable cast members include Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero Tigelaar,...

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were paid the same salary for their co-starring roles in Wicked, according to a Universal Pictures spokesperson. The response follows unsubstantiated rumors on social media around the Wicked stars’ earnings on the blockbuster musical.

“Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder,” a Universal spokesperson said in a statement to Rolling Stone Tuesday. “The women received equal pay for their work on Wicked.”

TikTok and Reddit users falsely reported that Grande earned $15 million, while Erivo made $1 million.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were paid the same salary for their work on Wicked.

“Reports of pay disparity between Cynthia and Ariana are completely false and based on internet fodder. The women received equal pay for their work on Wicked,” a Universal spokesperson said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday. Multiple sources familiar with the situation also told THR that the actresses were paid the same for their work on the movie musical from director Jon M. Chu.

Unsubstantiated rumors about Erivo and Grande’s salary surfaced this week on TikTok and Reddit, with social media users claiming Grande made $15 million for the film while Erivo earned $1 million. Multiple news outlets picked up the social media commentary, only adding to the firestorm.

Originally based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire, Wicked tells the backstory of the witches of Oz, with Erivo as Elphaba and Grande as Glinda.

You know that thing where social media and the press love to pit women against each other? The Wicked witches are doing their best to resist it, presenting an unyielding united front throughout the entire press tour for their big-budget musical moment. Somehow, the stakes have only gotten higher as...

Wicked Box Office (United Kingdom): Debut Weekend Update (Photo Credit – Instagram)

The weekend actuals for Wicked at the UK box office are here, and it has beaten Deadpool and Wolverine’s debut weekend collection. The film has also set a record for Universal Studios. It is on track to become one of the highest-grossing films of the year, and it might even end up in the top 5. Scroll below for the deets.

The musical fantasy features Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp, who eventually becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. Ariana Grande stars as Galinda Upland, who then becomes Glinda the Good. Besides them, the cast also includes Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum. It has been distributed by Universal Studios.

Wicked collected strong numbers in its debut weekend at the box office in the United Kingdom. Trade analyst Luiz Fernando...

Director Jon M. Chu’s hit movie musical Wicked being out and reigning in the theaters, got fans and media to talk about the film and its cast. Given the staggering opening weekend box office earnings of the film, people got curious to know more about the Wicked leads, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s salary.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked (2024) | image: Universal Pictures

Surprisingly, while Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo have double billing for the Wicked movie, it seemed like one was getting paid several times more than the other. According to reports, as both stars got paid very different amounts for their respective roles of Glinda and Elphaba, netizens voiced their concerns about the horrible Hollywood trend.

Massive Disparity Between Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s Wicked Paychecks

With Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of the Broadway show Wicked out in theaters, fans are more...

A list of rumored salaries for the Wicked movie cast is floating around social media and it has gone viral because of an alleged pay gap between the main stars.

It’s important to note that there is no confirmed source for these numbers and it’s unclear who shared them originally, but many people on TikTok and Twitter are commenting on the reports. One viral tweet has more than 8 million views at the time of this posting, along with thousands of comments.

It has been claimed that Ariana Grande made 15x the amount of money that Cynthia Erivo was paid, even though Elphaba is the lead and Glinda is a supporting role. The report even claimed that Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum earned more than her.

While some are defending the idea of Ariana earning a lot more than Cynthia because she is a more established star and has pulling power,...

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Wicked smashed box office records during its opening weekend, with scores of fans leaving the theater singing “Popular” or holding space for the lyrics to “Defying Gravity.” Although it’ll be a while before the film hits streaming, the soundtrack album is available to stream, and fans can buy physical copies of the CD or Vinyl.

The CD edition of Wicked: The Soundtrack sits atop Amazon’s bestselling...

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Wicked has become an instant hit at the box office, with the movie musical debuting with a record-breaking $114 million on opening weekend. That number helped Wicked open as biggest box office launch of all time for a Broadway adaptation. It’s also the fourth-biggest opening ever for a musical film.

While Wicked is still soaring in theaters, fans can start to prep their Wicked viewing parties at home.

Wicked arrived in theaters this weekend and looks set to continue breaking box office records heading into Thanksgiving. It's already had the biggest global and domestic opening for a movie based on a Broadway show and many believe an Oscar is in Ariana Grande's future.

The stage show is a phenomenon, of course, so this level of success was to be expected. Wicked, the first half of a two-parter, pays homage to that with cameos from Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel.

They played Glinda and Elphaba on Broadway and, according to director Jon M. Chu, finding them a memorable role in the movie was a must.

"They weren’t just going to come to do whatever," the filmmaker tells Variety (via SFFGazette.com). "Our inner circle thought of all sorts of things to present to them. Does Kristin play Glinda’s mom? Are they one of the people who...

Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Nov 22-24) Total gross to date Week 1. Wicked (Universal) £13.7m £13.7m 1 2. Gladiator II (Paramount) £4.7m £18.4m 2 3. Paddington In Peru (Studiocanal) £4.2m £24.4m 3 4. Red One (Warner Bros) £822,000 £5.8m 3 5. Heretic(Efd) £205,457 £205,457 4

Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.26

Wickedcast its spell on UK-Ireland audiences this weekend, bringing in £13.7m in its debut – the best-performing opening weekend for a stage-to-screen adaptation in the territory, and the biggest opening weekend of 2024.

The musical was released at 701 sites, for a site average of £19,543 for Universal.It beat previous stage-to-screen record holder Les Misérables, with £8.1m in 2013. Wicked also knocked Deadpool & Wolverine...

Jeff Goldblum thinks there are big parallels between his Wonderful Wizard of Oz from ‘Wicked’ and the Grandmaster from ‘Thor: Ragnarok’.The 72-year-old actor stars in the musical blockbuster as the deceitful wizard, and has now compared the part to that of his Marvel Cinematic Universe role - who manipulates those around him to maintain his hedonistic lifestyle on the planet Sakaar - as both characters are “abusers of power”.Talking about the wizard in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Goldblum explained: “Everything you do leaves its residue in your nervous system and in your heart somewhere.“I wanted to make this distinct, but [the Grandmaster] had some kind of avatar of himself and is a self-glorifying nincompoop. And he's an abuser of power and has a position of authority.”In ‘Wicked’, the wizard shifts blame for his hate campaign against the animals in Oz onto Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), causing the witch...

Wicked director Jon M. Chu explained his approach to the sweeping musical’s color grading, after some fans online lamented that the film did not contain the same technicolor prowess present in the original 1939 The Wizard of Oz.

In a recent interview with Canadian outlet The Globe and Mail, the Crazy Rich Asians helmer was asked about his approach to the pink-and-green tinged movie, which the interviewer deemed “a little desaturated.”

“I mean, there’s color all over it. I think what we wanted to do was immerse people into Oz, to make it a real place,” Chu said of the decision. “Because if it was a fake place, if it was a dream in someone’s mind, then the real relationships and the stakes that these two girls are going through wouldn’t feel real.”

The filmmaker continued, “It’s also [presented in] a way we have not experienced Oz before.

Universal’s record-breaking Wicked dominated North American box office over the weekend thanks to a confirmed $112.5m launch, while Paramount’s Gladiator II arrived in second place on a strong $55m as total box office combined for a $200m-plus weekend.

Opening in 3,888 theatres, Jon M. Chu’s adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande is the third biggest opening of the year to date behind Deadpool & Wolverine on $211m and Inside Out 2 on $154.2m. It also established the biggest opening weekend by a Broadway adaptation by some distance, eclipsing $31.1m set by Into The Woods in 2014.

Wicked recorded...

Universal’s record-breaking Wicked dominated North American box office over the weekend thanks to a confirmed $112.5m launch, while Paramount’s Gladiator II arrived in second place on a strong $55.5m as total box office combined for a $200m-plus weekend.

Opening in 3,888 theatres, Jon M. Chu’s adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande is the third biggest opening of the year to date behind Deadpool & Wolverine on $211m and Inside Out 2 on $154.2m. It also established the biggest opening weekend by a Broadway adaptation by some distance, eclipsing $31.1m set by Into The Woods in 2014.

Wicked recorded...

Universal’s record-breaking Wicked dominated North American box office over the weekend thanks to an estimated $114m launch, while Paramount’s Gladiator II arrived in second place on a strong $55.5m as total box office combined for a $200m-plus weekend.

Opening in 3,888 theatres, Jon M. Chu’s adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande is the third biggest opening of the year to date behind Deadpool & Wolverine on $211m and Inside Out 2 on $154.2m. It also established the biggest opening weekend by a Broadway adaptation by some distance, eclipsing $31.1m set by Into The Woods in 2014.

Wicked recorded...

Musicals aren’t the most successful genre at the box office. But song-and-dance films may be enjoying — as Glinda sings — a newfound popularity with “Wicked,” Universal’s adaptation of Act One of the beloved Broadway show.

The film collected $114 million in North America and an additional $50.2 million internationally, bringing its global tally to $165 million over the weekend. It’s a huge win for movie theaters (ticket sales have been stubbornly behind 2023 and pre-pandemic times) and Universal. Each installment cost $150 million to produce, not including its inescapable pink-and-green marketing campaign. So “Wicked” needs to resonate at the global box office through Thanksgiving of next year to justify these mega price tags. Then “thank goodness,” as Glinda also sings in the show, that critical reviews and audience sentiment have been euphoric.

Jon M. Chu directed the PG “Wicked,” which stars Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh and Jonathan Bailey. Set before,...

“Wicked” debuted to $164.2 million at the global box office, a towering figure that includes $50.1 million in overseas ticket sales. Universal’s big-budget adaptation of the hit musical was far bigger in North America with $114 million, ranking as the third-biggest domestic debut of the year and the best ever for a Broadway adaptation.

Globally, “Wicked” notched the largest opening for a film that’s based on a Broadway show, supplanting 2012’s “Les Miserables,” which ignited to $103 million. Ticket sales for “Wicked” rank as the fifth-biggest worldwide debut in history for a musical, ahead of Disney’s 2023 “The Little Mermaid” reimagining ($163.6 million) and behind 2019’s “The Lion King” ($446 million), 2017’s “Beauty and the Beast” remake ($358 million), 2019’s “Frozen 2” ($358 million ) and 2019’s “Aladdin” ($213 million).

Jon M. Chu directed “Wicked,” which stars Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh and Jonathan Bailey. Set before, during and after “The Wizard of Oz,” the...

Sunday Update: Moviegoers looked to the western sky this weekend in record numbers, as “Wicked” defied expectations by earning a whopping $114 million at the U.S. box office. That’s the best opening weekend ever for a film adaptation of a Broadway musical, beating the previous record-holder, “Into the Woods” (2014), at $31 million. “Wicked” is now the third biggest domestic opener of 2024, following “Deadpool & Wolverine” at $211 million and “Inside Out 2” at $154 million. Elsewhere, “Gladiator II” brought in an impressive $55 million, good enough for second place. Three cheers for “Glicked”!

Friday Update: Heading into Friday, “Wicked” had already made $19.2 million in previews: $2.5 million from Monday showings, $5.7 million from Wednesday advances, and $11 million for Thursday screenings. Comparatively, “Gladiator II” made $6.5 million in Thursday previews. This is shaping up to be one of the biggest box office weekends of the 2024 calendar year.

What will be the winners and the losers this week at the U.

Jon M. Chu decided early on in development to split “Wicked” into two films, saying it was one of the most important decisions he made during pre-production.

Though some fans may have assumed the first part’s nearly three-hour runtime would have encompassed both acts of the musical adaptation, “Wicked: Part Two” will not arrive until next November.

The director said that it would be a disservice to the fans and the story to try to squeeze both acts into one film, telling TheWrap that both parts of “Wicked” were greenlit simultaneously by Universal.

“If you’re going to make two movies and each is going to be great on its own, then you have to commit to that. You have to then make that first movie as great and emotionally satisfying as possible,” Chu told TheWrap. “You won’t do that if you always have a back door to do one movie.

Bowen Yang’s initial screen test for “Saturday Night Live” did not go well following an interaction with creator Lorne Michaels, according to the comedian.

During a recent interview on “Hot Ones,” Yang recalled his screen test in 2017 for the late-night sketch comedy series.

“The final step in that process is you have a one-on-one meeting with Lorne. It was him and another producer, Erik Kenward,” he said. “The first thing out of my mouth was, ‘I’m Canadian, too. I grew up in Montreal. I grew up in Quebec’ — and immediately it was done, it was a vibe killer. I didn’t get the job because I had pandered to his Canadianness, and it was a disaster.”

Yang was eventually hired in 2018 as a staff writer for “SNL” and, one year later, he was promoted to an on-air featured player. In 2021, he made history as the first “SNL” featured...

Though the movie came in slightly under initial $120M domestic estimates, Universal's Wicked still looks set for a very impressive opening weekend at the worldwide box office.

Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the hit Broadway musical took in $117 million from U.S. theaters and $48 million overseas for a global debut of $165 million.

This gives the critically-acclaimed feature the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway show (ahead of Les Miserables' $103M); the 6th biggest opening weekend of 2024 worldwide; and the 4th biggest global opening weekend ever for a musical (ahead of The Little Mermaid's $163.6M).

Ridley Scott's Gladiator II also opened on Friday (Glicked? Wickiator?), but hasn't performed quite as well with an expected $60 million domestic bow. The sword-and-sandals sequel has been playing overseas since last week, however, and has now passed $131 million across 63 international markets for an estimated $200M+ global haul.

Wicked tells...

Ethan Slater is trying to get used to the attention he’s receiving for both his professional and private lives.

He’s making his big-screen acting debut as the lovesick Boq in Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked” opposite Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Baily, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and Marissa Bode. Last year, Slater and Grande faced scrutiny as rumors about their relationship spread online, coinciding with reports of their respective divorces from previous partners.

“My therapist, for sure,” Slater says when I ask who he’s leaning on to cope with the intense spotlight. “He’s been really helpful.”

Until now, the 32-year-old Washington D.C. native was best known and loved by Broadway fans for his Tony-nominated work in “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical.”

“Ultimately, the thing that’s so important in so many facets of life, whether it’s fame or career or whatever, is just to...

As Wicked takes the box office by storm, Ariana Grande and Kristin Chenoweth are reminding audiences who was the original “friend of Dorothy.”

While discussing her portrayal of Glinda in the Jon M. Chu-helmed feature adaptation of the Broadway musical, Grande responded to fans who think the Good Witch is queer-coded, as well as those who “ship” her and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo).

“Whether it’s romantic or platonic, Glinda might be a little in the closet,” Grande told Gay Times. “You never know. Give it a little time. I mean, it is just a true love, and I think that transcends sexuality. It’s just kind of a deep safety within each other. And that’s why they probably ship it.”

Chenoweth, who originated the role in the 2003 Tony-winning stage musical, shared her successor’s view on Glinda. “I thought so too way back when….” she commented on an...

Jon M. Chu counted himself a fan of “Wicked” long before he was hired to direct the big-budget movie adaptation of the popular Broadway musical.

So it was a question of where, not if, he should pay homage to Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, who originated the stage roles of Elphaba and Glinda, in the two-part film, the first of which landed in theaters on Nov. 22. After much deliberation among Oz’s powers that be, it was decided they would appear in the movie as the stars of Wizomania, an expanded show within the show that plays out when Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) visit the Emerald City during the song “One Short Day.”

“I told them, ‘I want you to experience for the first time what you gave us.’ I saw Idina and Kristin as they were workshopping the show at the Curran Theatre [in 2003]. I’ll never...

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened up about Glinda and Elphaba’s sexualities in Wicked and their characters’ relationship.

In an interview with U.K. publication Gay Times, the actresses were asked for their thoughts about fans romantically rooting for their characters.

“I think Elphie, she goes wherever the wind goes,” Erivo said. “I think she loves Glinda. I think she loves love. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating the deep connection that both of them have. They do have a real relationship. It is true love, which is probably why people are shipping it, you know? Because what they build with each other is an unbreakable bond and love.”

Grande echoed her co-star’s sentiment, adding that they have “trust and truth.”

She continued, “Just such a safe space for one another, which is what all relationships should be, whether it’s romantic or platonic.

“Wicked” posed the greatest world-building challenge of production designer Nathan Crowley’s prodigious career, surpassing “Interstellar” in grandeur and complexity. The return to Oz required a sense of the familiar and the unknown for its origin story about Elphaba/The Wicked Witch (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda/Glinda (Ariana Grande). Yet it also needed a touch of Americana in keeping with director Jon M. Chu’s vision of the American Dream.

“It’s an American fairy tale, and you have to find a way in and do something original,” Crowley told IndieWire. “And that is where the problem starts because there’s many trodden paths here.” He’s referring, of course, to “The Wizard of Oz” 1939 movie classic, Gregory Maguire’s 1995 “Wicked” novel, and the 2003 “Wicked” musical stage adaptation by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman. “So it becomes a challenge to design Oz and you just have to pick away at something,...

Nic Stacey’s latest documentary, “Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy,” arrives on the scene like a digital-age whistleblower, exposing the glossy veneer of modern consumer society. Stacey, best known for his work on “The World According to Jeff Goldblum,” targets global corporate behemoths such as Amazon, Adidas, and Apple, exposing the sophisticated machinery that drives our never-ending consumption cycle.

Perfectly timed before the Black Friday shopping frenzy, the documentary is more than just a criticism; it’s a thorough deconstruction of how digital corporations and apparel designers mislead consumers into buying more and more. The film’s daring approach, which combines insider testimony, archive material, and a purposefully unpleasant AI narrator named Sasha, urges audiences to look beyond the buy button and comprehend the true cost of our shopping habits.

The documentary comes at an important time when consumer awareness of environmental impact and corporate ethics is at an all-time high.

Wicked Box Office (Korea): 3rd Day Update ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Wicked is entertaining fans across the globe and is still in a favorable position on its third day after release in Korea. The film is leading the race against Gladiator II at the Korean box office. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Arivo have done a brilliant job in the musical fantasy. It has earned more than Barbie and Wonka as well. Scroll below for the deets.

Besides Ariana as Glinda the Good and Cynthia as Wicked Witch of the West, the movie also features Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum in crucial roles. It is expected to top the domestic top-five list, pushing Red One and Venom: The Last Dance further down. It is currently the talk of the town also because of the clash with Gladiator II, and so far,...

Jeff Goldblum has certainly been regarded as a legend in the world of Hollywood. Having starred in several iconic films over the years, ranging from his presence in the Jurrasic Park franchise to the recently released Wicked film, there is no denying that he has become an important part of popular culture.

Jeff Goldblum in Kaos (2024) | Credit: Netflix

So much so that he has had a career that has spanned five decades. One can imagine that this led to a lot of lessons, be it learning them or teaching them. Recently, the actor gave an interview where he talked about a very big lesson he learned when he was working on his very first film.

The No Showering Kind of Job

Method acting is one of the most famous and well-known forms of acting in the film industry. It has gained quite a reputation through the years, becoming well-known for its ruthlessness and demanding nature.

Superhero movies and action thrillers are famous for being box office magnates, drawing audiences to the theatres in multitude. Although Barbie was an unexpected (and worthy) hit, films like The Avengers and Top Gun 2 have long dominated the business.

Wicked | Credit: Universal Pictures

However, their dominance might be challenged, and that too by a musical despite the underwhelming performance of Joker 2. Against all odds, Ariana Grande-starrer Wicked seems to be emerging as the next big thing at the box office.

Wicked En-Route to Challenge Films like The Avengers and Top Gun 2 Top Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick | Credits: Paramount Pictures

Now who would have thought that a musical, that too a Broadway adaptation, would one day pose a serious threat to blockbusters like Marvel’s Avengers or Tom Cruise‘s Top Gun: Maverick? Often considered a niche genre, further made infamous by Joker 2‘s terrible box office performance,...

Spoiler Alert: This post spoils some surprise appearances in Wicked: Part One.

Jon M. Chu’s Wicked has a star-studded cast led by Ariana Grande as Galinda the Good Witch and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West.

Several other familiar faces accompany the witches at Shiz University and beyond. Many of them sing at points in the film, including Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh.

Scroll through the below photos o read more about the cast of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: Part One.

Related: All The ‘Wicked’ Press Tour Looks So Far: From Ariana Grande’s Glinda Pink To Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba Green...

“Wicked,” part one of the long-awaited screen adaptation of one of Broadway’s longest-running musicals, has a bevy of seasoned experts in the musical genre both in front of and behind the camera. The film is directed by Jon M. Chu, who previously received critical acclaim for his movie version of Lin Manuel-Miranda’s “In the Heights.” Leading the cast as Elphaba is Cynthia Erivo, a Tony winner for “The Color Purple,” while her love interest Fiyero is played by Jonathan Bailey, an Olivier Award winner for a role in a London revival of “Company.” And beyond being one of the biggest pop stars of the last decade, Ariana Grande is a theater kid at heart who got her start in showbusiness in the ensemble of tween musical “13.”

But in two key roles are actors who are probably the most familiar faces for cinephiles and moviegoers — but not ones known for breaking out in tune.

[The following story includes major spoilers for Wicked.]

One short day. That’s, coincidentally, how much time the Wicked filmmakers had to shoot those cameos for the “One Short Day” scene in the film based on the iconic Broadway musical of the same name.

In the film, when Glinda (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) head to the Emerald City to meet the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), they watch a stage show on the history of Oz. At that point, original Broadway castmembers Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, who played Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, in the musical appear to take audience members through the vibrant story of the city.

“There was no world where we wouldn’t invite them to come be a part of this,” director Jon M. Chu tells The Hollywood Reporter. “The question for us was, how, and how much are they willing to do in it, and how much can the story itself handle it?...