The box office success of Broadway adaptations continues to grow, and Wicked: For Good has officially joined the elite ranks. With a worldwide total of $527.8 million in just three months, the film now stands at No. 3 among the highest-grossing movies ever adapted from Broadway musicals, according to Box Office Mojo’s lifetime global earnings chart.
- The Rise of the Wicked Franchise
- Understanding the Rankings
- Top 8 Highest-Grossing Broadway Musical Film Adaptations
- 8. Hairspray (2007)
- 7. Into the Woods (2014)
- 6. Chicago (2002)
- 5. Grease (1978)
- 4. Les Misérables (2012)
- 3. Wicked: For Good (2025)
- 2. Mamma Mia! (2008)
- 1. Wicked (2024)
- A New Era for Broadway on the Big Screen
This milestone highlights the enduring popularity of stage-to-screen musical storytelling — and the powerful audience appeal of the Wicked universe.
The Rise of the Wicked Franchise
Both Wicked: For Good and its predecessor, Wicked (2024), are based on the beloved 2003 Broadway phenomenon. The first film premiered on November 22, 2024, and quickly made history. Within only five weeks, it overtook Mamma Mia! to become the highest-grossing Broadway musical adaptation of all time.
The original film also earned major critical recognition, receiving 10 Academy Award nominations in January 2025, including acting nods for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. It went on to win Best Costume Design and Best Production Design at the March 2025 ceremony.
While Wicked: For Good has performed strongly at the box office, it did not receive nominations when the latest Oscar shortlist was announced in January 2026.
Both films were directed by Jon M. Chu, whose experience with musical storytelling includes the acclaimed 2021 adaptation of In the Heights.
Understanding the Rankings
Currently, eight Broadway musical adaptations appear on Box Office Mojo’s list of the top 1,000 highest-grossing films worldwide.
One important factor to consider is inflation and rising ticket prices. Classic hits from earlier decades may appear lower in total gross despite their massive cultural impact. For example, The Sound of Music earned $161.4 million globally — a huge success for its time — but does not appear on the modern top-1,000 list due to changing box office economics.
It’s also worth noting that Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is excluded from this ranking, as it is considered a sequel to a film rather than a direct adaptation of a Broadway production. In contrast, Wicked: For Good returns directly to the original stage source material.
Top 8 Highest-Grossing Broadway Musical Film Adaptations
8. Hairspray (2007)
Worldwide gross: $203.6 million
Director: Adam Shankman
Stars: John Travolta, Nikki Blonsky, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron
Broadway debut: 2002
7. Into the Woods (2014)
Worldwide gross: $212.9 million
Director: Rob Marshall
Music & lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Broadway debut: 1987
6. Chicago (2002)
Worldwide gross: $306.8 million
Director: Rob Marshall
Broadway debut: 1975
5. Grease (1978)
Worldwide gross: $396.3 million
Director: Randal Kleiser
Broadway debut: 1972
4. Les Misérables (2012)
Worldwide gross: $442.8 million
Director: Tom Hooper
Broadway debut: 1987
3. Wicked: For Good (2025)
Worldwide gross: $527.8 million
Director: Jon M. Chu
Stars: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo
Broadway debut: 2003
2. Mamma Mia! (2008)
Worldwide gross: $706.7 million
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Music: ABBA songs
Broadway debut: 2001
1. Wicked (2024)
Worldwide gross: $758.1 million
Director: Jon M. Chu
Broadway debut: 2003
A New Era for Broadway on the Big Screen
The continued success of the Wicked films signals a renewed global appetite for large-scale musical adaptations. With ‘Wicked: For Good’ Surpasses $525 Million Globally: A Complete Ranking of the Highest-Grossing Broadway Musical Film Adaptations, the franchise has firmly established itself as one of the most powerful box office forces in the genre — and proof that Broadway magic still translates spectacularly to cinema.
