$759M Fantasy Hit Wicked Is Climbing HBO Max - Days Before the Sequel Lands
You can feel it in living rooms again - people humming Defying Gravity under their breath, texting friends, queuing up one more rewatch. Wicked is back near the top of the HBO Max charts, sliding into the No. 3 spot, with a strong showing across VOD, too. Not subtle. Very intentional.
Why now? Because the second half of the story, Wicked: For Good, opens this Friday, Nov. 22. Fans are either catching up for the first time or refreshing the beats between Elphaba and Glinda before the curtain falls.
Michelle Yeoh (movies and tv series)
Why viewers are flocking back
The first film was huge - Wicked pulled in about $759 million worldwide at the box office. That kind of run doesn't fade fast, especially when the songs are built to live rent-free in your head. Rewatches were always going to happen; the sequel just puts a date on it.
Ariana Grande (movies and tv series) in Wicked
Maybe it's just timing, but the chart movement says the pre-release push is working. If you cover streaming trends, you know this pattern: rising rewatch energy usually tracks with stronger sequel openings.
Wizard of Oz (movies and tv series)
What the sequel actually covers
Wicked: For Good adapts Act Two of the Broadway show and overlaps with the classic Oz timeline - yes, Dorothy steps in. Per the official synopsis, Elphaba's now demonized as the Wicked Witch and living in exile, while Glinda enjoys the spotlight in Emerald City. When an angry mob comes for the Witch, the two have to find their way back to each other to change Oz - for good.
Early reactions haven't been as glowing as the first film's, but many call it a satisfying conclusion that makes the most of its musical numbers. No shock there - the material swings big in Act Two.
Who's back (and who's new)
- Cynthia Erivo (movies and tv series) returns as Elphaba; Ariana Grande as Glinda.
- Jonathan Bailey (movies and tv series), Ethan Slater (movies and tv series), Bowen Yang (movies and tv series), Marissa Bode (movies and tv series), Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum (movies and tv series) also return.
- Colman Domingo (movies and tv series) joins the ensemble.
- Jon M. Chu (movies and tv series) directs again, with a screenplay by Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox (movies and tv series), drawn from Gregory Maguire (movies and tv series)'s novel and L. Frank Baum (movies and tv series)'s Oz lore.
Where to watch - and what to note
Wicked (2024) is streaming now on HBO Max. Wicked: For Good opens in theaters on Friday, Nov. 22.
If you're tracking performance, the rewatch surge is a clean signal. Strong library engagement usually lifts opening-weekend interest, especially for musicals. And Wicked already proved its reach with a worldwide haul around $759 million, per Box Office Mojo.
Quick context for your notes
- Wicked (2024) rating: PG; runtime: 160 minutes.
- The first film adapts Act One of the 2003 stage musical; the sequel closes the loop.
- Official site for updates and materials: wickedmovie.com.
Bottom line: If your beat is box office and streaming charts, keep an eye on HBO Max's Top 10 and VOD rankings through the weekend. The audience is warming up their vocals - and their wallets - right on cue.
