Wicked is quickly becoming a box office hit, having earned an impressive $19.2 million in its first week, despite upset over lead stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s emotionally charged press tour. .
Amazon Prime screenings on November 18 reportedly generated $2.5 million from 750 theaters nationwide.
Advanced screenings on November 20 grossed another $5.7 million in the United States and Canada.
Following Wicked’s release in theaters yesterday, the film, which is an adaptation of the Broadway musical, grossed another $11 million.
The huge numbers come in the wake of an emotional promotional tour by Ariana, 31, and Cynthia, 37, in which both actresses broke down in tears in multiple interviews.
‘We have cried 500 times today. And honestly, this is a public service announcement. I’m so sorry guys,’ Everyday singer Ariana told E! News earlier this month.
Wicked is quickly becoming a box office hit and has already grossed $19.2 million.
“It is what it is,” added British-born co-star Cynthia. “There’s just nothing we can do about it.”
On Friday, Cynthia explained why she and Ariana broke down in tears on so many occasions while promoting the film.
Speaking on Heart Breakfast, Amanda Holden told Cynthia: “Every interview I read with Cynthia about you and Ariana, she just says that you end up crying all the time.”
Cynthia replied: ‘Yes!
“And I think it’s because people have come in with so much energy and their responses, their emotional responses come into the room with us, it’s the first time we’ve been able to talk about it, so we’re both reliving and repeating all the things we’ve what we have been through and the journey we have taken.
‘We can’t help it. “We got really excited about it.”
Amanda added: ‘Yeah, I don’t blame you.
“You went through Covid, you went through strikes, there were all kinds of obstacles to overcome to make this movie.”
Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo led an emotionally charged press tour
However, for some fans, the touching moments have been too much.
“Does anyone else find it strange that the Wicked press tour seems to be with actresses crying the entire time?” one wrote on X.
“Literally the only Wicked press clips I’ve seen are of these two crying,” another added.
Echoing a similar sentiment, a third said: ‘Really, what’s going on with this Wicked press tour?’ Are these girls okay? They are always crying out loud.
Filming on the 2024 film adaptation of the Broadway musical Wicked lasted about a year, with principal photography beginning in December 2022 in England.
Filming paused in July 2023 due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, only to resume after the winter break of that same year and finally conclude in January 2024.
The couple has cried in several press interviews, with Cynthia admitting that they “can’t help it.”
Cynthia plays Elphaba in the hit musical adaptation alongside Glinda of Ariana.
Director Jon M. Chu decided to film the adaptation in two separate films, meaning the cast and crew will do all the promotional interviews again next year.
Wicked is the origin story of ‘a green-skinned woman who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West’ and serves as a prequel to The Wizard of Oz, exploring the narrative before Dorothy’s arrival and delving into the ancient friendship between the two. characters Elphaba and Glinda. .
Wicked’s critics have already poured in and for the most part have applauded the performances of the main stars.
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian described it as a “sugar-high fantasy with the overwhelming star presence of Cynthia Erivo; It basically immerses you face down in a hyper-realistic ball pit filled with M&Ms for two and three-quarter hours.’
Praising Cynthia’s performance, he added: “Erivo’s charismatic Elphaba exerts a planetary pull on a star-studded cast.”
The Daily Mail’s Brian Viner wrote: “It’s a fabulous show that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible.”