Thescreescore – In a surprising turn of events within the cinematic landscape, Wicked: For Good has narrowly surpassed Jurassic World Rebirth in the fiercely competitive domestic box office rankings for Universal Pictures. This significant milestone underscores the enduring appeal of the musical fantasy, even as it navigates a complex financial and critical reception compared to its predecessor.
The latest installment in the Wicked saga has conjured a formidable $340.1 million at the domestic box office, securing its position as the 13th highest-grossing Universal film domestically. This achievement places it just ahead of Jurassic World Rebirth, which concluded its theatrical run with $339.6 million on home turf. While a slender margin, this victory for the Land of Oz’s latest cinematic journey over a prehistoric behemoth is certainly noteworthy.
Globally, however, the narrative shifts. Wicked: For Good has accumulated $518.9 million worldwide, with international receipts contributing $178.8 million. This figure, while respectable, trails significantly behind Jurassic World Rebirth‘s robust international performance of $529.5 million, culminating in an impressive global total of $869.1 million for the dinosaur epic. Furthermore, Wicked: For Good faces the daunting shadow of its predecessor, the original Wicked, which soared to $475 million domestically and a colossal $757.9 million worldwide, benchmarks the sequel is unlikely to reach as its theatrical run winds down.
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Beyond the raw numbers, critical reception for Wicked: For Good proved more divisive. The film garnered a 66% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, a noticeable decline from the first Wicked‘s highly acclaimed 88%. Intriguingly, audience sentiment remained largely consistent, with For Good earning a strong 93% approval rating, only a slight dip from its predecessor’s 95%. This contrasts with Jurassic World Rebirth, which, despite its box office performance, is widely lauded as the strongest entry in the Jurassic World series since the 2015 original, standing out amidst the critically panned Fallen Kingdom and Dominion.
Despite not replicating the gargantuan financial success of other Jurassic World films – all of which surpassed $1 billion globally and $600 million domestically, with the first Jurassic World still topping Universal’s domestic chart at $653.4 million – Wicked: For Good remains a significant box office success. Against a reported budget of $150 million, its current earnings solidify its profitability. As its theatrical journey concludes, the film still has the potential to climb further up Universal’s all-time domestic chart, with Furious 7 ($353 million) and Despicable Me 4 ($361 million) within striking distance. This nuanced performance paints a picture of a successful sequel that, while not reaching the stratospheric heights of its predecessor, has carved its own memorable niche in Universal’s storied history.
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