‘Wicked’ sequel sees green in weekend-winning North American debut

[LOS ANGELES] Universal’s musical sequel Wicked: For Good stole the box office spotlight in its North America debut this weekend, with a record-setting haul to the tune of US$150 million, industry estimates showed on Sunday.

Variety said the film’s debut was the highest ever for a Broadway musical adaptation, while analyst David A. Gross of Franchise Entertainment Research called it a “sensational, record-breaking opening” for a fantasy adventure sequel.

Tony Award-winner Cynthia Erivo and pop star Ariana Grande return as the magical land of Oz’s most notable witches - the green-skinned, outcast Elphaba and popular pink-wearing Glinda - to wrap up the story-line introduced in last year’s blockbuster part one.

The Wizard of Oz retelling is based on the long-running Broadway musical, itself adapted from Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel.

Part two follows Glinda and Elphaba - now dubbed the Wicked Witch of the West - as they struggle against the nefarious mechanisations of The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum) and Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh).

“This is broad-appeal Hollywood filmmaking at its best, a spectacular adventure story told from a female point of view,” said Gross.

“Strong word-of-mouth is going to drive business through next week’s 5-day Thanksgiving holiday and into December,” he added.

In second place at the US and Canadian box office, according to Exhibitor Relations, was Lionsgate’s Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, with US$9.1 million.

The third instalment in the crime heist franchise dropped from the top spot a week prior, when it took in over US$21 million.

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The film reunites Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco and Woody Harrelson as Robin Hood-style illusionists targeting dangerous criminals.

With US$6.3 million, third place went to 20th Century’s Predator: Badlands, the latest instalment in the decades-old sci-fi horror franchise.

Paramount’s The Running Man - a new take on Stephen King’s dystopian novel about a murderous game show - fell two spots since its debut last weekend to fourth place, with US$5.8 million.

Fifth place went to Searchlight’s Rental Family, starring Brendan Fraser as a struggling actor who takes on odd stand-in roles in Japan.

Gross called the film’s US$3.3 million haul a “soft opening for a fall drama,” but said it should get a lift from next week’s long holiday weekend, and that international revenue “should be solid,” given its setting and Fraser’s foreign appeal.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

Sisu: Road to Revenge (US$2.6 million)

Regretting You (US$1.5 million)

Nuremberg (US$1.2 million)

Black Phone 2 (US$1.0 million)

Sarah’s Oil (US$770,000). AFP