WICKED CASTS PRESALE SPELL FOR FANDANGO

Wicked is already casting its spell over the box office, notching the second-biggest Fandango first-day presale of 2024.

The Universal release, which opens on 11/22, trails only Marvel’s Deadpool and Wolverine for day-one take this year. The Jon M. Chu musical, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, hits screens on the same day as Paramount’s Gladiator II, leading some to predict a replay of the “Barbenheimer” effect that boosted box office last year. Wickedator, anyone?

Wicked ranks as Fandango’s top PG-rated first-day pre-seller of 2024 and the service’s third best of all time, behind only Frozen II and The Lion King, both of which had wildly successful box-office runs.

Republic/Verve will issue the Wicked soundtrack the day the film hits theaters. For those who really plan ahead, the second part of the picture is currently slated for release on 11/21/2025.