Following its recent digital release, Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation Wicked, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, has performed remarkably well.
The movie, premiere.Released in theaters on November 22, 2024, it became available to purchase or rent through streamers on December 31, 2024.
Still a big hit for Universal Pictures, as it now holds the title of highest first day and first week of premium video on demand (PVOD) sales for a theatrical film.
It grossed $26 million on its first day of release and grossed a total of $70 million in its first full week, per THR and Variety.
Previously, the Super Mario Bros. movie held the record for the biggest video-on-demand release for the legendary studio after grossing $44 million in its first week of release in 2023.
Wicked will remain available to consumers via PVOD until mid-March, before landing on Peacock.
Following its recent digital release, the film adaptation of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, has performed remarkably well.
From now until spring, fans can rent the blockbuster for two days for about $20 or purchase it for $29.99.
Digital retailers carrying the beloved image include Amazon Prime Video, iTunes, among others.
Movie collectors can also pre-purchase the masterpiece on Blu-ray and DVD at Amazon, Walmart and others ahead of its February 4 release.
Last month, Ariana responded to criticism over her casting as Glinda in the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical.
The 31-year-old music artist appeared on an episode of the Sentimental Men podcast and discussed her role with hosts Quincy Brown and Kevin Bianchi.
Explaining the audition process, she said she felt pressured to overcome the “challenge” of shedding her pop star image.
“I felt a little bit of the initial nervousness or the kind of preconceived notions about what I might or might not offer, or why I would be wrong (for the role) or whatever,” Ariana admitted.
Naming two of his hits, he imagined a critic’s perspective: “Following Side to Side, I probably would have said the same thing. I probably would have said, “Why the fuck? Kill me. I’ve waited 20 years for this. Kill me.” I would have said it as an outside fan. Knowing only 7 rings, you’d probably say, “Well, that’s silly.” So you know, I get it.’
The film, released in theaters on November 22, 2024, became available to purchase or rent through streamers on December 31, 2024.
Erivo and Grande play Elphaba Thropp/The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda Upland/Glinda The Good, respectively, in the hit musical film; the actresses seen in November 2024
The film also stars Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh.
“This is something I really loved about auditioning for Wicked,” he explained.
‘You have to earn it. Anything on this scale, being a part of anything, doesn’t just happen because you’re known for something.
“So, it’s fun to be challenged to reframe people’s perceptions and do the work to earn your way back into other spaces,” Ariana emphasized.
The Florida native studied musical theater from the age of eight and was a longtime fan of the musical, originally starring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, before landing the role.
Wicked follows Elphaba and Glinda as they meet at Shiz University and share a life-changing encounter with Jeff Goldblum’s Wizard of Oz.
Universal has recruited Chu to direct the beloved story in 2021.
Its sequel will be released on November 21, 2025.