Universal’s smash hit musical adaptation is rocketing up the streaming charts following an emotional new trailer release. Under the right circumstances, musicals continue to be big draws for audiences. This includes musicals aimed at younger audiences, but also those intended for viewers of all ages.
La La Land (2016) remains one of the most well-known musicals of the past decade, but other notable тιтles in this genre include Les Misérables (2012), The Greatest Showman (2017), Rocketman (2019), and Beauty and the Beast (2017). Recently, films like Better Man (2024) and Mean Girls (2024) also put their own spins on the musical.
None of these films, however, were as big as the 2024 musical offering from Universal, which grossed $756 million worldwide and united critics and audiences alike with its strong performances, emotional storyline, and powerful songs. Now, a sequel is on the way, with anticipation only continuing to grow.
Wicked Becomes A Top 10 Streaming Hit
Following the release of a new trailer for the sequel, Wicked has become a major audience draw on streaming. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the adaptation of the hit Broadway play chronicles the origins of Glinda and Elphaba, played by Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, respectively.
Now, the story is set to conclude in the upcoming Wicked: For Good. The first teaser trailer for the film arrived several months ago, but a final trailer just recently landed online, teasing a great deal of emotion and more Wizard of Oz connections as the release date approaches.
This trailer evidently got viewers excited, because the original Wicked currently ranks as the seventh most popular movie on Prime Video. The musical beats Trolls Band Together (2023), Hitman: Agent 47 (2015), and The Map That Leads to You (2025), while falling behind тιтles like The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), Morbius (2022), and Novocaine (2025), among others.
What This Means For Wicked: For Good
Wicked reviews were generally very positive from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film enjoys a strong 88%, with the audience-driven Popcornmeter score coming in even higher at 95%. Combined with the stellar box office, this is a film that evidently really connected with the public.
The fact that the original film is now trending on streaming is a positive sign for the sequel, and it could indicate that For Good will be just as big of a phenomenon when it releases in November. Whether it will match the commercial success of the original, however, remains to be seen.
Though anticipation is high for the next installment following the showstopping Wicked ending, reaching $756 million is no small feat in today’s theatrical landscape. Universal is marketing For Good as a grand finale to the story, though, and this tactic is proven to be effective in generating hype among audiences.
There isn’t long to wait until Glinda and Elphaba’s story comes to an end, but Wicked‘s streaming success certainly indicates that viewers are already giving themselves a refresher on the journey so far. If For Good can replicate the original’s success, the world of The Wizard of Oz seems poised for further expansion in the years ahead.
