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Maharaja Box Office (China): With Impressive Pre-Sales, Vijay Sethupathi Starrer Hints At Defeating Prabhas’ Biggie? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

The countdown is set for Maharaja’s grand release in China. The film is just five days away from hitting theatres, and box office enthusiasts are excited to see how it performs in the country. In the past, Indian films have performed exceptionally well there, earning more than their entire global lifetime collection. However, as far as the Tamil industry is concerned, there aren’t any big money spinners, and that is expected to change with the Vijay Sethupathi starrer.

In China, Indian films with grounded stories and a drama quotient tend to perform brilliantly. Interestingly, almost every larger-than-life biggie that was a blockbuster in India has failed to make it big in China. Smaller films like Secret Superstar, Hindi Medium, Andhadhun, and Mom have fetched massive numbers in the country.

Ethan Slater has claimed 'Wicked' features the "coolest shot" to ever exist in film.The 32-year-old actor plays the role of Boq - the Munchkinlander man who was the school friend of Glinda The Good Witch (Ariana Grande) and Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo) - and he has teased that cinema-goers will witness one of the most "incredible" moments ever filmed for the big-screen in the first of the two-part movie adaptation of the Broadway classic.Asked by Collider what his highlight from filming was, he said: "Whoa. Honestly, maybe for me, it would be in the library. There's a really big wide shot where one of our incredible dancers leaps from the turning shelves and does a roll into a whole crowd of dancers, and I got to be one of the dancers, so I got to be right there as he did the jump and the roll.

The director of “Wicked” encourages spectators to request louder sound levels while viewing the musical adaption, sparking an unusual buzz about the film’s audio presentation. Jon M. Chu turned to social media on opening weekend to advise cinemas to adjust their volume to a specified level, emphasizing the importance of sound quality in musical films.

During the film’s successful opening weekend, expected to gross $117 million domestically, Chu recommended that fans ask theater workers to turn up the noise. “Tell your movie theater to turn it up to a 7,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding that current screenings felt a little subdued at around 6.4 volume.

The desire for stronger sound has elicited varied reactions from viewers and industry professionals. Dana Fox, the film’s co-writer, agreed with Chu’s proposal, stating that a little volume increase improved her viewing experience. Dolby, a premium theater audio firm, also commented on the issue,...

Gladiator II Box Office (North America): Opening Day Collection Update ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Gladiator II, starring Paul Mescal in the lead role, received a decent B rating on CinemaScore. The film has also been praised by critics. Now, the release day numbers have come in, and they are not so shabby. However, it will have to settle for the #2 spot in this weekend’s domestic box office chart. Scroll below for the deets.

Although the film is off to a decent start, it will be plummeted by the debut weekend collection of Wicked. The musical fantasy is eyeing an opening weekend North of the $100 million mark at the box office in North America. However, this sequel by Ridley Scott has earned almost double the original movie’s opening day numbers. However, the Og movie had a better CinemaScore rating than the sequel. It was awarded with an A.

Gladiator II,...

Wicked Box Office (North America): Release Day Update ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Wicked is going wild at the US box office, defying projections with its astonishing opening-day collections. It has already set a few records with its release-day numbers. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s film might turn out to be one of the biggest blockbusters of this season, completely overshadowing Gladiator II. Scroll below for the deets.

Gladiator II is a film of a completely different genre than Ariana’s movie. The clash between the movies is being perceived as this year’s Barbenheimer phenomenon. However, in this case, Ridley Scott’s film is trailing behind by a significant amount. It might have picked up during the weekend, and we will know for sure once the numbers come in.

Trade analyst Luiz Fernando revealed that Wicked registered the biggest opening day ever for musical adaptations with its $46.7 million collection...

Scooter Braun is hyping up Ariana Grande‘s performance in Wicked.

On Saturday (November 23), the famed manager and businessman took to social media to praise the pop star, who is playing Glinda alongside Cynthia Erivo‘s Elphaba in the big-screen adaptation of the beloved musical.

His comments come nearly a year after Ariana hired a new management team, though the duo are still working together on different ventures.

Keep reading to find out more…

Scooter took to Instagram to post about the movie’s release. He praised everyone involved, including director Jon M. Chu and ended by addressing Ariana.

“Now to Ari … for over a decade everything that we did there was always one consistent dream… Wicked,” he recalled. “And after all these years the world now knows why… because you were born for this moment.”

He continued, writing, “Your talent, your dedication, your voice, your ability to make us...

Wicked movie director Jon M. Chu is encouraging audience members to make an unusual request when they see the film in theaters.

Chu, who helmed Universal Pictures’ feature adaptation of the smash Broadway musical, took to X (formerly Twitter) on the opening evening to post that viewers should ask their theater to increase the volume for the musical’s sound. Wicked tells the story of The Wizard of Oz’s characters before Dorothy’s arrival, with Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.

“Tell your movie theater to turn it up to a 7…. I’ve gone to a couple screenings and they are more like a 6.4,” Chu wrote. “If you want it the way it was intended 7 is the way.”

Among those responding to the post was the film’s co-writer Dana Fox, who replied, “We turned it up a clock tick at our screening and it was perfect!

Jonathan Bailey is going viral after revealing an adorable reunion that he had on the set of his new movie Wicked.

The 36-year-old is charming moviegoers across the globe with his performance as Fiyero in the musical movie where he shares the screen with the likes of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.

During a recent interview, Jonathan revealed that he also got to film with someone again from his days on Bridgerton.

Keep reading to find out more…

While on Late Night With Seth Meyers, he said that his horse in the movie was the same as the one that he filmed with on his Netflix series.

“When I met Jon [M. Chu, Wicked's director] for the first time in London, having been invited to play Fiyero, we talked for a couple of hours. And you know, Fiyero has a horse. He has a steed. And I knew there was only one man for the job,...

When the sing-along screenings of “Wicked” go down beginning Christmas Day, I’ll be there — but not because I have any intention of personally raising my voice in song. I do have a natural curiosity about what luck a full house of fans will have in singing along with musical-theater songs this sophisticated… this full of stops and starts and sudden shifts from major to minor chords. There’ll surely be some trained singers and actors filling the AMC seats who can keep up with these tunes. For the rest of us, there may come a realization: I’m not that girl, and probably neither are you.

So what other reason is there to look forward to the official multiplex sing-alongs, if not, like, singing along? That’s easy: the subtitles.

Which is to say: The songs in “Wicked” are so good — some of the best that musical theater has ever produced,...

Bowen Yang’s initial screen test for “Saturday Night Live” did not go well following an interaction with creator Lorne Michaels, according to the comedian.

During a recent interview on “Hot Ones,” Yang recalled his screen test in 2017 for the late-night sketch comedy series.

“The final step in that process is you have a one-on-one meeting with Lorne. It was him and another producer, Erik Kenward,” he said. “The first thing out of my mouth was, ‘I’m Canadian, too. I grew up in Montreal. I grew up in Quebec’ — and immediately it was done, it was a vibe killer. I didn’t get the job because I had pandered to his Canadianness, and it was a disaster.”

Yang was eventually hired in 2018 as a staff writer for “SNL” and, one year later, he was promoted to an on-air featured player. In 2021, he made history as the first “SNL” featured...

Though the movie came in slightly under initial $120M domestic estimates, Universal's Wicked still looks set for a very impressive opening weekend at the worldwide box office.

Jon M. Chu's adaptation of the hit Broadway musical took in $117 million from U.S. theaters and $48 million overseas for a global debut of $165 million.

This gives the critically-acclaimed feature the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway show (ahead of Les Miserables' $103M); the 6th biggest opening weekend of 2024 worldwide; and the 4th biggest global opening weekend ever for a musical (ahead of The Little Mermaid's $163.6M).

Ridley Scott's Gladiator II also opened on Friday (Glicked? Wickiator?), but hasn't performed quite as well with an expected $60 million domestic bow. The sword-and-sandals sequel has been playing overseas since last week, however, and has now passed $131 million across 63 international markets for an estimated $200M+ global haul.

Wicked tells...

Ethan Slater is trying to get used to the attention he’s receiving for both his professional and private lives.

He’s making his big-screen acting debut as the lovesick Boq in Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked” opposite Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Baily, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum and Marissa Bode. Last year, Slater and Grande faced scrutiny as rumors about their relationship spread online, coinciding with reports of their respective divorces from previous partners.

“My therapist, for sure,” Slater says when I ask who he’s leaning on to cope with the intense spotlight. “He’s been really helpful.”

Until now, the 32-year-old Washington D.C. native was best known and loved by Broadway fans for his Tony-nominated work in “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical.”

“Ultimately, the thing that’s so important in so many facets of life, whether it’s fame or career or whatever, is just to...

Bowen Yang is looking back on bombing his first Saturday Night Live screen test after an interaction with Lorne Michaels.

The SNL standout stopped by Hot Ones ahead of the release of Wicked, in which he stars as Pfannee. During his appearance, he recalled his first screen test for the sketch series in 2017.

“The final step in that process is you have a one-on-one meeting with Lorne. It was him and another producer, Erik Kenward,” Yang said. “The first thing out of my mouth was, ‘I’m Canadian, too. I grew up in Montreal. I grew up in Quebec’ — and immediately it was done, it was a vibe killer. I didn’t get the job because I had pandered to his Canadianness, and it was a disaster.”

The comedian and actor continued, explaining that the executive producer asked him if he spoke French and then went out to speak to...

Hollywood has changed. But it’s not just that Hollywood has changed it’s also the fact that people are also changing with it. From original ideas to spin-offs and sequels that are often disappointing, Hollywood movies are not the same anymore.

There’s a disturbing trend in 2024 Hollywood movies | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

There have been rumors and speculations that Hollywood and moviemakers often capitalize on the success of a movie by making sequels, spin-offs, and other projects. Well, the top 10 Hollywood movies of 2024 might prove that point.

All Top 10 Hollywood Movies of 2024 Are Sequels!

Although there were some very iconic and original movies in 2024 like Nicolas Cage’s Longlegs, The Fall Guy, and Rebel Ridge, there were way too many sequels, prequels, and threequels of a franchise.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as Deadpool & Wolverine | Credits: Marvel Studios

Some of these notable names were actually not good as Furiosa,...

Polish-born cinematographer Michal Dymek has won Golden Frog — the main compeition prize — at this year’s Camerimage Film Festival.

Dymek was handed the award this evening at the festival’s closing ceremony by the Camerimage competition jury, which was headed by Cate Blanchett. She was joined by Anna Higgs, Sandy Powell, Anthony Dod Mantle, Rodrigo Prieto, Lukasz Zal, and Jolanta Dylewska.

Directed by Magnus von Horn, The Girl with the Needle debuted at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and has been selected as Denmark’s submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars.

The film follows Karoline (Sonne), a young factory worker, who is struggling to survive in post-World War I Copenhagen. When she finds herself unemployed, abandoned, and pregnant, she meets Dagmar (Dyrholm), a charismatic woman running an underground adoption agency, helping mothers find foster homes for their unwanted children. With nowhere else to turn,...

There was a lot of clamor surrounding the release of Wicked. The live-action adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, which in turn was based on the best selling novel by Gregory Maguire, had found its name in the headlines time and again, for reasons both good and bad.

All of us can remember the row that erupted after Cynthia Erivo criticized the decision to hide her eyes from the poster. The memes about the star’s health were also in traction. But none of that matters in the end, as it looks set to cruise on the Box Office.

Wicked is set to topple some major Box Office records Wicked looks set for a stroll at the Box Office || Universal Pictures

Wicked was touted to give a tough competition to Ridley Scott‘s Gladiator 2, in what would have been a potential repeat of the rivalry witnessed last July between Barbie and Oppenheimer.

“Wicked” first hit Broadway back in 2003, and has since become one of the longest running and highest grossing stage musicals of all the time. Now, the movie adaptation is finally here — but in reality, both musicals are adaptations.

The story centers on Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande), who eventually come to be known as The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, respectively. But before all that, they were roommates at school; enemies turned best friends. Unfortunately, the world got very complicated for them very quickly.

The movie is based on the Broadway musical of the same name, but that musical was actually adapted from a book. Gregory Maguire wrote “Wicked” first as a novel, and it was published in 1995. It was the first in a trilogy of books about life in Oz.

Do the musical and movie stay true to the book?

Like most adaptations,...

Refresh for Latest…: Universal’s Wicked is sitting pretty in its global debut, now with a projected $165M through Sunday. As expected, the bulk of the bucks going into the witches’ cauldron is coming from North America, with the anticipated split at $117M domestic and $48M from the international box office.

Globally, Wicked will see the biggest opening weekend for a film based on a Broadway adaption, ahead of Les Miserables ($103M); the 6th biggest opening weekend of 2024 worldwide; and the 4th biggest opening weekend ever globally for a musical, ahead of The Little Mermaid ($163.6M).

Internationally, Wicked is landing within the pre-opening range. The film is out in only 61 overseas markets, repping 65% of the offshore footprint — such majors as France, China, Germany and Japan have yet to release the Jon M. Chu-directed first installment of the Broadway musical adaptation.

Still, in like-for-like launch markets, Wicked is on...

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened up about Glinda and Elphaba’s sexualities in Wicked and their characters’ relationship.

In an interview with U.K. publication Gay Times, the actresses were asked for their thoughts about fans romantically rooting for their characters.

“I think Elphie, she goes wherever the wind goes,” Erivo said. “I think she loves Glinda. I think she loves love. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with celebrating the deep connection that both of them have. They do have a real relationship. It is true love, which is probably why people are shipping it, you know? Because what they build with each other is an unbreakable bond and love.”

Grande echoed her co-star’s sentiment, adding that they have “trust and truth.”

She continued, “Just such a safe space for one another, which is what all relationships should be, whether it’s romantic or platonic.

Universal’s “Wicked” is kicking off what is expected to be a lucrative holiday season for theaters with $27.7 million grossed on Friday from 3,888 theaters, putting it on course for an estimated $117 million opening weekend. The total is nearly quadrupling the $31 million opening earned 10 years ago by “Into the Woods” to set a new record for a Broadway adaptation.

With $19 million already in the bag from three days of previews, “Wicked” is expected to have massive matinee play from family and female audiences, not just this weekend, but in the weeks to come. That’s even with Disney’s “Moana 2” expected to shatter the Thanksgiving weekend opening record.

Jon M. Chu’s musical has earned stellar reception across the board, including Rotten Tomatoes scores of 89% critics and 98% audience, an A on CinemaScore and a 5/5 on PostTrak, with a stunning 80% surveyed giving the film a “definite recommend,” the highest rating on the audience exit poll.

It’s not at the level of Barbenheimer, but the combo of Universal’s musical Wicked and Paramount’s Gladiator II — call it Glicked, Wikiator or whatever you want — is making for a phenomenal weekend at the pre-Thanksgiving box office.

Based on early returns, Wicked is headed for a domestic debut of $117 million. While that’s behind Friday’s estimate of $120, it’s still a history-making number for a film based on a Broadway musical and ranks among the biggest openings of all time for a big-screen musical. Globally, the movie is anticipating a $165 million launch.

Gladiator II is projecting a $60 million domestic opening, a strong start for a male-skewing, swords-and-sandals film. (It’s expected to draw in huge numbers overseas.) Combined domestic revenue for all films is expected to come in at around $200 million this weekend, a gain of 70 percent over the same weekend last year, when holiday entries Napoleon and Wish opened.

“Wicked” is pocketing lots of green, with the Universal release coming in on the upper side of projections to head toward the third-biggest domestic opening of the year. Now forecasting a $117 million sum for the weekend, that’d only be behind “Deadpool & Wolverine” ($211 million) and “Inside Out 2” ($151 million) among 2024 releases. And Paramount’s “Gladiator II” is no slouch either, landing in second place with a projected opening weekend of $60 million. Theaters should be aglow about the two debuts, after being starved of a superlative hit through the fall. The last film to open with nine-digits (or even above $60 million) was “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” nearly three months ago.

“Wicked” earned $46.7 million from 3,888 theaters across Friday and preview screenings, a good chunk of which were held earlier in the week than Thursday, which is the traditional kick-off for a new release. Although the big-screen adaptation of the beloved Broadway musical landed...

Updated, Saturday AM: Universal’s Wicked is coming in with a $46.7M Friday plus previews which has the studio predicting a $117M opening at this point. Paramount’s Gladiator II stands at $60M after a $22M Friday.

Wicked gets an A CinemaScore, a grade that’s up there with other Broadway feature adaptations such as Les Miserables (A), Chicago (A-), Annie (A-), Mamma Mia (A-) and higher than Into the Woods (B). Gladiator II gets a B versus the original 2000 movie’s A.

Let’s remember a few things in case the marketplace hits a bump:

–It’s a holiday week, so there’s plenty of time to head to the cinemas this week. While there was only 1% K-12 schools off yesterday, that grows to 47% K-12 and 18% colleges on Monday per Comscore, eventually rising to near 100% levels on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, the latter being one of the highest grossing days of the year.

Earlier this week, I predicted that the Glicked phenomenon would pay off handsomely at the box office. That seems to be the case, with Deadline reporting that Wicked is on its way to a $120 million opening, which is exactly the number I pegged it as coming in at. Gladiator II is doing a bit better than I thought it would, with it on track for a $61 million opening, more than the $50 million I called.

The $61 million bow for Gladiator II would mark Ridley Scott’s best stateside opening ever, ahead of the $58 million made by Hannibal back in 2001 (a massive opening if adjusted for inflation). It would also mark Denzel Washington’s best stateside debut, ahead of American Gangster (also with Ridley Scott), which made $43 million on its first weekend. The CinemaScore rating for Wicked is superb, with it scoring an A, while Gladiator II’s is a more disappointing (but not disastrous) B.

Wicked Box Office (Korea): 3rd Day Update ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Wicked is entertaining fans across the globe and is still in a favorable position on its third day after release in Korea. The film is leading the race against Gladiator II at the Korean box office. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Arivo have done a brilliant job in the musical fantasy. It has earned more than Barbie and Wonka as well. Scroll below for the deets.

Besides Ariana as Glinda the Good and Cynthia as Wicked Witch of the West, the movie also features Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, and Jeff Goldblum in crucial roles. It is expected to top the domestic top-five list, pushing Red One and Venom: The Last Dance further down. It is currently the talk of the town also because of the clash with Gladiator II, and so far,...

Red One Box Office (North America): Dwayne Johnson & Chris Evans’ Film Earns Decent Numbers On 1st Thursday ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Red One, starring Dwayne The Rock Johnson and Chris Evans, completes its first week at the theatres. Although the numbers are not splendid yet, it has been holding its own ground pretty well. The action comedy flick grossed winning numbers on Thursday despite Thursday previews of Gladiator II and Wicked. Scroll below for the deets.

Wicked is headed for an exceptional debut weekend at the box office in North America, and Gladiator II is also looking good. This movie, led by The Rock and the MCU star, is already trending in the media, as the audience is enjoying it even though the critics’ ratings are not so good. The Rock’s star power is working wonders in taking the film’s box office collection moving forward.

Trade analyst Luiz Fernando...

Barbie and Oppenheimer presented arguably one of the most iconic marketing campaigns which was spearheaded by the Barbenheimer debate in 2023. But 2024 saw another movie working hard to create the same buzz, Ariana Grande’s Wicked may be embroiled in a lot of controversy but it did one thing successfully.

Despite the audience not being thrilled with the musical angle of the film, the star cast coupled with the Side to Side singer has managed to ensnare their attentions. The movie has garnered the interest of even non-musical lovers, owing to its witty marketing campaigns and Adele attests to it.

Adele is excited to see fellow singer’s musical film Adele on Adele One Night Only | Credits: CBS

The Wicked movie has been creating a lot of buzz ever since news dropped of the Everyday singer joining the cast. Alongside stars like Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, and more, Ariana...

Jeff Goldblum has certainly been regarded as a legend in the world of Hollywood. Having starred in several iconic films over the years, ranging from his presence in the Jurrasic Park franchise to the recently released Wicked film, there is no denying that he has become an important part of popular culture.

Jeff Goldblum in Kaos (2024) | Credit: Netflix

So much so that he has had a career that has spanned five decades. One can imagine that this led to a lot of lessons, be it learning them or teaching them. Recently, the actor gave an interview where he talked about a very big lesson he learned when he was working on his very first film.

The No Showering Kind of Job

Method acting is one of the most famous and well-known forms of acting in the film industry. It has gained quite a reputation through the years, becoming well-known for its ruthlessness and demanding nature.

It's another epic episode of the Empire Podcast this week, folks, as a smorgasbord of stars join us on the pod — all of whom shared the unique privilege of Chris Hewitt's company in person for their interviews. First to have Hewitts about them there's the great Steve McQueen, writer and director of Apple TV+ bound Blitz, to talk about how he approached the World War II drama, and working with Paul Weller [18:56 — 35:15 approx]. Then, Chris has a cracking conversation with The Piano Lesson stars John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler, which veers from the hilarious to the heartfelt in no time at all [56:44 — 1:15:50 approx]. And finally, *checks notes* a Chris Hewitt rounds it all off with an extended excerpt from his spoilerific chat with Transformers One director Josh Cooley [1:39:54 — 1:54:52 approx] The full thing is available to Spoiler Special subscribers.

Either side of those, Chris is joined in the podbooth by Helen O'Hara...

Wicked Box Office (North America): Thursday Preview Collection Update( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, collected splendid numbers on Thursday previews. The musical fantasy opened in the theatres on Friday along with Gladiator II. It has beaten The Avengers’ preview collections. The movie is eyeing a splendid debut weekend. Scroll below for the deets.

The film, directed by Jon M Chu, received great ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. The critics certified it fresh with an 89% rating, while the audience gave it 98%. The critics said, “Defying gravity with its magical pairing of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, Wicked’s sheer bravura and charm make for an irresistible invitation to Oz.”

According to Luiz Fernando’s report, Ariana Grande’s Wicked collected a strong $19.2 million on Thursday previews at the North American box office. It included an estimated $5.7 million on Wednesday and $2.5 million on Monday from the early screenings.

Spoiler Alert !!!Spoiler Warning for Wicked (2024)

Universal’s 2024 Wicked movie based on the book by Gregory Maguire, finally hit the theaters almost two decades later, since the musical began its Tony Award-winning run on Broadway. Released on November 22, 2024, Jon M. Chu’s highly-anticipated film featured Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba.

A still from Wicked (2024) | image: Universal Pictures

Meanwhile, although the early reception of the film has been positive, Jon M. Chu’s Wicked, like any other adaptation, featured a few changes from the original Broadway show. While the entire score in the new film remained the same with a few variations, the 2024 movie featured the biggest change in terms of Elphaba and Fiyero’s first meeting.

Fiyero and Elphaba’s First Meeting in the Broadway Musical

Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West has been one...

Two highly anticipated films, Gladiator II and Wicked, will compete for audience attention this fall, creating a buzz similar to last summer’s blockbuster sensation, though industry insiders believe the comparison has limitations.

The films will be released nearly simultaneously, with theaters expecting good individual performances. “Gladiator II,” directed by Ridley Scott and starring Paul Mescal, and “Wicked,” starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, are attracting a large audience.

The early preview numbers are promising. “Wicked” has grossed $11 million domestically and is expected to gross between $100 and $110 million. “Gladiator II” grossed $6.5 million in previews, with an expected opening weekend of $65 million.

Scott’s sequel has already proved international appeal, grossing £9.1 million in its UK and Ireland premiere weekend—the director’s most regional debut. The picture also had Paramount Pictures’ highest-ever R-rated overseas debut, making $87 million.

“Wicked” shows equally high potential, with Vue cinemas reporting nearly 250,000 advance ticket purchases in the UK,...

Superhero movies and action thrillers are famous for being box office magnates, drawing audiences to the theatres in multitude. Although Barbie was an unexpected (and worthy) hit, films like The Avengers and Top Gun 2 have long dominated the business.

Wicked | Credit: Universal Pictures

However, their dominance might be challenged, and that too by a musical despite the underwhelming performance of Joker 2. Against all odds, Ariana Grande-starrer Wicked seems to be emerging as the next big thing at the box office.

Wicked En-Route to Challenge Films like The Avengers and Top Gun 2 Top Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick | Credits: Paramount Pictures

Now who would have thought that a musical, that too a Broadway adaptation, would one day pose a serious threat to blockbusters like Marvel’s Avengers or Tom Cruise‘s Top Gun: Maverick? Often considered a niche genre, further made infamous by Joker 2‘s terrible box office performance,...

Ariana Grande has been in the public eye ever since she was young, and at times, the audience can be unforgivable and mean. Her successes, achievements, failures, and missteps, are all out in the open for the world to see and judge.

Ariana Grande | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon/YouTube

However, there’s still a sense of grace in Grande, who has shown immense strength over the years while handling criticism and challenges. Despite all the backlash she has received, she has shown up for her fans yet again, and this time, with a beautiful message.

Ariana Grande Thanks Her Fans For Their Unwavering Support Amidst Wicked Ariana Grande in Wicked | Universal Pictures

Ariana Grande has recently shared an emotional message through her Instagram stories and expressed her gratitude for all the supportive fans. Especially the ones who stuck by her during periods of silence, even when she was filming Wicked,...

Cynthia Erivo wore her fitness watch underneath her Elphaba costume on the set of 'Wicked' to ensure she got her daily steps in.The 37-year-old actress plays the Wicked Witch of the West alongside Ariana Grande's Glinda The Good Witch in the two-part big-screen adaptation of the Broadway classic and the self-professed "fitness freak" admits nothing was going to stop her achieving her daily step count whilst filming the fantasy film.Speaking on 'Wtf With Marc Maron', she was asked if she had her Fitbit on underneath her witch ensemble and she replied: "Yes."Asked if she checked it, she said: "I did. I am not even joking. I am being so serious."I had it on me all day. I can either put it in my boot by my ankle, because that is where my pulse is, or I put it on my hip.

Ariana Grande has had some high-profile relationships throughout her career and now she’s actually dating one of her co-stars from the Wicked movie!

The 31-year-old singer and actress sadly went through a breakup during filming of the movie and got divorced from husband Dalton Gomez due to the distance in their relationship throughout production.

Ariana later found love on the set of the project and she’s still happily in that relationship.

So, who is Ariana Grande dating right now?

Keep reading to find out more…

Ariana Grande’s boyfriend is Boq actor Ethan Slater!

Ariana is currently dating Ethan Slater, who plays the munchkin Boq in Wicked. His character is in love with Ari‘s Glinda… and now they’re together in real life!

The two reportedly got together after Ethan broke things off with his wife Lilly Jay, and after Ariana ended things with Dalton, causing plenty...

Spoiler Alert !!!Spoiler Warning for Wicked (2024)

Jon M. Chu’s highly-anticipated film Wicked finally hit the theatres on Friday, November 22, 2024. Starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the Broadway musical adaptation also featured Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey. Releasing over two decades after the Tony-winning musical, the movie has so far attracted a fair share of audiences to the theaters.

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in Wicked (2024) | image: Universal Pictures

However, while Wicked has so far achieved positive reviews, a few changes to the story and subtle plot holes have sparked debates online. Among all, the one thing that left people baffled was Elphaba’s tears, despite Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West clearly stating that water can kill the green witch.

Netizens Seem Confused by Elphaba’s Tears in the 2024 Wicked Movie

With Wicked finally arriving in theaters,...

“Defying Gravity” is one of the most iconic Broadway songs of all time and Cynthia Erivo has given us a perfect rendition in the new movie Wicked: Part One.

The Tony-winning actress belts out the song in the final moments of the movie and sings alongside Ariana Grande throughout the number.

The lyrics in the movie version of Wicked are slightly different than the Broadway lyrics. There’s even a small addition to the end of the song.

In a recent interview, a reporter for Gay Times told Cynthia that “people are taking the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that, and feeling power in that.”

Cynthia‘s response has been going viral.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I didn’t know that that was happening,” Cynthia responded. “That’s really powerful—that’s what I wanted.”

While Cynthia takes a moment to absorb the information,...

Jonathan Bailey is 36-years-old in real life and his Wicked character Fiyero is a college student in the movie, so you might be wondering how old he’s actually supposed to be.

Fiyero is a Winkie prince who arrives at Shiz University in the middle of the school year and disrupts all the order that has been established. In the song “Dancing Through Life,” he reveals he’s been kicked out of several schools, which means he’s tried out plenty of colleges before reaching Shiz.

So, how old is Fiyero?

Keep reading to find out more…

Incoming students at Shiz are believed to be about 17-18. We can assume that Fiyero is a year or two older than everyone else, as he’s been hopping around schools for a bit.

Fiyero is most likely 18-20 in the movie. In the novel Wicked, he’s 18 when he enrolls at Shiz.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the dynamic duo in Jon M. Chu’s Wicked, truly felt unlimited in their approach to portraying the bond between Elphaba the Wicked Witch and Glinda the Good Witch in Part 1 of the film adaptation of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s Broadway musical.

The pair first met at Erivo’s house for a five-hour chat before testing their vocals together singing at Chu’s house, which allowed them to commit to forming their friendship both on screen and off.

“Both of us made the decision and have had the discussion about really being good to each other, making space for each other, being honest with each other and choosing to build our friendship,” Erivo told Deadline.

They also credited Chu’s enthusiasm on set as another key to the final product.

“Everyone feels the love and the warmth and the respect,” Grande told Deadline.

Spoiler Alert: This post spoils some surprise appearances in Wicked: Part One.

Jon M. Chu’s Wicked has a star-studded cast led by Ariana Grande as Galinda the Good Witch and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West.

Several other familiar faces accompany the witches at Shiz University and beyond. Many of them sing at points in the film, including Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Yeoh.

Scroll through the below photos o read more about the cast of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: Part One.

Related: All The ‘Wicked’ Press Tour Looks So Far: From Ariana Grande’s Glinda Pink To Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba Green...

With the Governors Awards just behind us, the Thanksgiving break right in front of us, every major awards hopeful having finally screened for pundits (the last one was unveiled on Wednesday evening) and the 97th Oscars exactly 100 days away, now seems as good a time as any to do a thorough temperature-check of the Oscar race.

Best picture

The main headline, at this point, is that there is no clear frontrunner, unlike a year ago when Oppenheimer was clearly ahead of the pack. Rather, there are, in my estimation, six films that look all but assured of landing one of the category’s 10 slots. Alphabetically, they are: Neon’s Anora, A24’s The Brutalist, Focus’ Conclave, Netflix’s Emilia Pérez, Paramount’s September 5 and Universal’s Wicked. Let’s discuss them one by one.

Anora, which won Cannes’ Palme d’Or, is Sean Baker’s portrait of a stripper-turned-sex worker...

Twenty-four years after the original Gladiator (2000) starring Russell Crowe first stepped into the box office arena, Ridley Scott’s sequel film will arrive alongside Jon M. Chu’s long awaited take on Stephen Schwartz’s musicl Wicked.

A screenwriter change was made before the film went into production with a star-studded cast including Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger and more.

Read on to trace the development and timeline of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II.

Related: Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator II’ Movie Posters and Images: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn & Connie Nielsen...

Ridley Scott is the king of director’s cuts. Some of his films have been completely transformed with alternate cuts (most notably Kingdom of Heaven), and while speaking with THR earlier this month, Scott said he’s already considering an extended cut of Gladiator II.

Gladiator II clocks in at 2 hours 28 minutes, but Scott said his first cut of the sequel was a whopping 3 hours 40 minutes. “It ended around 3:40. I know that’s unrealistic. I think with the titles it’s about 2:33, so the film itself is about 2:20. I wanted to put the opening titles at the beginning, not at the end. But they ran two-and-a-half minutes — which is a long time to look at a black screen,” Scott said. “So I called up [animator Italian artist Gianluigi Toccafondo] who did my [Scott Free vanity card animation] 20 or 30 years ago and asked, “Are you still alive and want to do this?” I had him animate the elements from Gladiator.

The concept of a prequel is a well-worn one in literature. Not only did authors like J.R.R. Tolkien further flesh out their characters and worlds in books set before previously published adventures, but L. Frank Baum, author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," wrote "Ozma of Oz," the first prequel to be set in that particular universe. In cinema, however, the concept took a while to catch on, and it wasn't really until "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace" that the cinematic prequel became popular. To say that the process had some bumps in the road would be an understatement; "The Phantom Menace" and its two sequels were loudly reviled upon their initial release, with everything from their characters to their dialogue to their visual aesthetic taken to task for not looking or feeling enough like the original "Star Wars" trilogy. Despite George Lucas' claims that the films...

Jennifer Garner has reportedly cut off Jennifer Lopez from almost all aspects of her life. Oof!

Though we’ve heard a lot about J. Lo’s failed relationships, those were romantic partnerships.

Sometimes, friends falling out can cut just as deeply — if not more.

Both Jennifers were getting along well after trading Ben Affleck back and forth. But the friendship seems to have ended. Why?

Jennifer Garner attends the 2024 Baby2Baby Gala at Pacific Design Center on November 09, 2024. (Photo Credit: Monica Schipper/Getty Images) Has Jennifer Garner cut off contact with Jennifer Lopez entirely?

According to what inside sources tell The Daily Mail, Jennifer Garner is setting a boundary with Jennifer Lopez.

After months of reportedly acting as J. Lo and Ben Affleck’s marriage counselor, she’s no longer in contact with the singer — except for matters related to her children.

In between Affleck’s two failed marriages to Lopez,...

The Wicked movie is finally in theaters and Ariana Grande is gaining rave reviews for her performance as Glinda, a role she got over many other actresses.

Four stars have confirmed that they auditioned to play Glinda in Wicked, though we’re pretty sure there were dozens of others who were up for the role as well.

“I think one of the most overlooked facts of the #WickedMovie Casting was that Everyone Had to audition. No straight offers & they showed up! It was incredibly humbling to witness these actors spill their guts on the floor for this movie,” director Jon M. Churevealed last year. “Cynthia and Ariana Earned their roles and brought our little audition room to tears multiple times throughout the process. I can’t believe I had the privilege of witnessing the birth of their Elphaba and Galinda. And one day you will too!!”

Tickets are on sale Now for Wicked,...

“Wicked” is now in theaters, and you may or may not know that it is indeed split into two parts. So you might be wondering, does Part 1 give any kind of teaser for Part 2, perhaps in the form of a post-credits scene?

Based on the book and subsequently the Broadway musical of the same name, the movie tells the story of what happened in Oz before Dorothy arrived, when Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West were actually friends. How, exactly, did Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) become so wicked? Has Glinda (Ariana Grande) always been so good?

The first film of the duology charts Act 1 of the musical, ending with the show-stopping anthem “Defying Gravity.” But, where the song took the Broadway show to intermission, the movie sequence takes fans to the end credits of Part 1.

But, might it contain a mid- or post-credits scene giving a...

Several musicians and singers who began their careers releasing albums have crossed over into acting, or some started out as actors to begin with.

From Ariana Grande’s latest blockbuster Wicked alongside Cynthia Erivo to Lady Gaga’s appearance in Joker: Folie À Deuxc and her casting in Season 2 of Netflix’s Wednesday, famous voices and faces go a long way in the entertainment industry.

Read on to learn about more singers who act and/or actors who also sing.

Related: ‘Wicked’ Movie Cast: Who Plays Who?...

Thank goodness! For musical theater kids everywhere who have been eagerly waiting for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s vocal takes on their iconic “Wicked” roles, look no further because “Wicked: The Soundtrack” has arrived.

The soundtrack includes all 11 songs from Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation of Act 1 of the long-running Broadway musical, including a bonus track “Ozdust Duet.” For over two decades, fans have listened to Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel belt out the show tunes on the original Broadway cast recording, and now they will have the chance to hear the songs anew.

Erivo’s iconic Elphaba battle cry in “Defying Gravity,” Jonathan Bailey’s exciting opt-up in “Dancing Through Life” and Grande’s comedic choices in “Popular” bring new energy to the Broadway staples — but you may miss a couple of your favorite hits in the first film.

The iconic friendship duet between Glinda (Grande) and Elphaba (Erivo), “For Good,...